Quakertown’s board agreed to advance facilities planning for athletics and building systems, approving a motion to solicit bids on capital projects and separately to engage CHA to develop conceptual drawings and price options for softball-field solutions.

CHA engagement
After discussion of multiple options — converting an existing multipurpose field, upgrading fields at Veterans Park, or pursuing a new field at Rassett/RASA fields — the board approved a motion to authorize administration to engage CHA to conduct site visits and develop conceptual drawings with an a la carte list of improvements at a cost not to exceed $15,000. The motion was clarified during debate to ensure the consultant would price multiple options for comparison rather than commit the district to construction at this stage.

Softball and foul-ball net projects
Facilities committee members reported the foul‑ball net project was complete and that final repairs were under way after fence damage; tournament play occurred over the weekend. Committee reports also described outreach to Richland Township for input on Rassett Fields and said the administration expects to return more concrete options and budget numbers next month.

Chiller for Sixth Grade Center
Facilities committee members said a planned engineering review will produce a rough cost estimate for replacing or upgrading the chiller at the Sixth Grade Center; presenters characterized the item as a large budget need and estimated “nearly $900,000 all said and done.” Members said the district will refine scope and value-engineer the project before formal bidding.

Process and funding
Board members asked about cost limits and funding sources for consultant work and noted capital-reserve and budgetary reserves could be used. Administration said the CHA engagement would be funded from capital project funds; the board inserted a $15,000 not-to-exceed cap into the motion so the district would receive a detailed proposal before any larger commitment.

Next steps
CHA will return with conceptual drawings and itemized pricing for each option; administration will present funding and bonding implications as part of a future capital discussion. The board asked for clarity on bid/bond thresholds and the schedule for the engineering review of the chiller.

Ending note
Members emphasized the need to balance athletic facility needs with larger capital priorities, including the significant chiller cost for the Sixth Grade Center.