Ambridge board approves $9,000 fire-alarm replacement and authorizes donated demolition of quarterback club as bleacher removal begins

The Ambridge Area School District Board of School Directors on Aug. 20 approved a $9,000 proposal from Johnson Controls to replace the fire alarm control panel at State Street Elementary and authorized donation-funded demolition of the quarterback club building on the high school visitor side.

Board members said the new fire alarm panel will be procured through the Pennsylvania COSTARS contract. Mrs. Perriconia, presenting buildings and grounds items, read the demolition recommendation and said, “The demolition will cost $0 to the district and to be performed without further remuneration by Tom Sipes Demolition as a donation subject to agreement finalization.” The vote to adopt buildings-and-grounds items carried on a roll call vote.

Why it matters: district officials said the State Street panel has produced recurring false alarms and vendors recommended replacing the control unit to prevent future disruptions and 9-1-1 contacts. The quarterback club building and the visitor bleachers were discussed at length because the district wants to clear the site so it can develop options — ranging from modest aluminum visitor bleachers to a larger outbuilding that could house electrical equipment, concessions and restrooms.

Board discussion and logistics Board members and staff described immediate steps for the visitor-side work. Officials said the bleacher demolition may begin with small preparatory work and that heavier equipment would arrive the following Monday; the contractor indicated a demolition window of about two to three weeks for the initial removal work. District staff said generators have been arranged to power stadium lighting for the coming fall season and that some salvageable electrical equipment would be removed and stored for potential reuse.

Kevin Martin, the district maintenance representative, told the board that maintenance staff believe the small quarterback club structure can be made serviceable if a new roof and cosmetic work are performed, but several board members and community commenters argued replacing it would be better for long-term operations and appearance. Board members raised the possibility of budgeting a phased project — new visitor bleachers first, with a follow-up building project (including possible restrooms) in a later budget cycle — and asked administration to gather cost estimates and examples from comparable recent stadium projects.

Next steps and community input Board members asked administration to solicit cost estimates, to consult recent local projects for pricing guidance and to gather community feedback. The board said it will notify the contractor, Tom Sipes Demolition, of the decision and directed staff to ensure utilities are properly capped and that PA 1-Call notifications are completed before heavy demolition begins. No final decision was made about a replacement building; several board members cautioned that a larger rebuild with restrooms and permanent electric service could substantially exceed initial roof-repair estimates and would require future budget approvals.

Vote and timing The buildings-and-grounds items, including the Johnson Controls fire alarm panel replacement at a cost of $9,000 and the authorization to accept the donated demolition of the quarterback club, were approved by roll call (motion carried). The contractor told the board demolition work would begin with small preparatory tasks immediately and major equipment the following Monday, with an estimated two- to three-week period for the primary teardown phase.

Community context Board members and many residents described the stadium and its visitor side as a longtime community landmark used for football, band, graduation and other community events. Speakers noted the trade-offs between short-term repairs to an aging structure versus committing to a larger, more expensive replacement that could include concessions, bathrooms and covered electrical housing.

Provenance Topic introduced: transcript block starting at 334.27, excerpt: "...State Street, Elementary, fire alarm panel... proposal from Johnson Controls to replace the fire alarm control panel at State Street Elementary in the total of $9,000 through the state bidding process, Co Stars." Topic last discussed: transcript block starting at 2810.6, excerpt: "...we go ahead Go ahead and make the motion to approve 1, 2, and 3."