Ambridge Area SD board debates stadium and field-house bleachers, asks staff for formal options and timeline

The Ambridge Area School District Board of School Directors discussed replacement and repair options for stadium and field-house bleachers, plus associated concession and electrical work, during its Sept. 17 meeting, with board members asking staff to return to the October agenda with formal options and cost estimates.

The discussion centered on whether to move forward with one or more components — stadium bleachers, field-house bleachers, a prebuilt concession/restroom building, and an electrical/small utility building — and how to procure them. President Carpenter opened the discussion and said the board needed to “start to move forward and have a plan,” noting that delays would not reduce costs.

Board members and staff described a range of estimates and procurement paths. District staff provided earlier quotes that include: roughly $50,000 as a rough estimate associated with Yates for a part of the stadium work (estimate may change after a site visit), a prebuilt 20-by-32 concession/restroom building estimated about $25,000–$26,000, an electrical outbuilding estimate near $5,200, and competing bleacher options for the stadium that ranged from about 1,200 to 1,800 seats depending on vendor and configuration. The field-house bleacher quote on file covered replacement of one side only; staff said one side of the field-house bleachers is currently stuck and will not retract.

“Either way, I think we need to lean towards somehow moving forward rather than wallowing in indecision,” President Carpenter said. “I would ask your feelings on move … would you be opposed to seeing it back on an agenda next month with options?”

Mrs. Amadeo (district staff) told the board some bleacher options are on state-contracted pricing, which can speed procurement, while elements such as certain electrical work or custom site scopes would require advertising and possible competitive bids. “Those amounts were competitively bid,” she said of the state-contracted items, and added the district would need to advertise any work above the bidding threshold and could present alternatives so the board could vote in October if it wished.

Several board members pressed for both stadium and field-house work to be presented together so the board could see total costs and trade-offs. “I would like to see both of them on the agenda for the next meeting for us to discuss, and we can go from there,” said Miss Fitsko (board member). Dr. Pasquale emphasized concern about timeline: even if the board voted soon, installation and completion would likely be months away and “we wouldn't see anything usable for the rest of this season.”

Members discussed how repairing the field-house bleachers could free more court space — allowing the gym to be split for events or tournaments — and that the district should be careful about assuming revenue from rentals. Board members noted the county grant related to the projects is not yet open.

On procurement strategy, staff said state-contracted pricing could be used immediately for some bleacher products and would avoid the longer advertisement/bid process; other items likely would require bids or a site-specific estimate. Staff also warned that site work estimates often increase once crews begin work.

No formal vote on the projects was taken. The board asked staff to compile formal options and updated quotes — including new field-house bids and revised site-specific estimates — and present them at the next meeting for further discussion and potential action. Staff said if the board wished to vote in October, it would need to expedite some of the advertising and bidding steps.

The board also discussed logistics such as heating and long-term maintenance for site restrooms if permanent facilities are installed; one member noted permanent restrooms would require winter heating and add ongoing operating costs. Members asked staff to include those operating costs in the options provided.

Next steps: staff will seek updated vendor quotes, confirm which products are available under state-contracted pricing, scope Yates Electric (and other site work) for a formal estimate, and present a consolidated set of options on the October agenda for the board to consider.