Methacton Board reviews $11M in near-term facility projects, hears high‑school renovation schedule and $15M borrowing proposal

The Methacton School District Board of Directors on June 24 reviewed a draft three‑year capital improvement plan for 2026–2028 and heard an update on the high‑school renovation program, and district staff said they will ask the board in July to consider up to $15 million in borrowing to support both sets of work.

The draft plan lists about $11,060,002 in projects across the district over three years and was presented by Dr. Sorgini, a district staff member, with architects David Schrader and Devin Bradbury of Schrader Group and Josh Grice of CHA, the district's owner's representative. “This capital plan … has been developed with the full understanding that a significant high school construction project will be occurring concurrently,” Dr. Sorgini said.

Why it matters: district staff said the near‑term projects are intended to preserve safe, usable facilities while the larger high‑school work proceeds. The borrowing request, if approved, would provide funding to start both the smaller capital items and design work tied to the high‑school renovation.

Major projects and cost estimates listed in the plan - Eagleville Elementary: parking lot seal coat and crack sealing — $172,396; chiller replacement — $943,320; generator replacement — $163,909. - Woodland Elementary: asphalt mill and overlay for parking — $579,251. - Worcester Elementary: parking seal coat — $217,219; roof replacement and minor brick veneer repairs — $1,680,994. - Arcola / Skyview: Skyola roof replacement moved up to 2026 because of roof failures; Arcola facade repair (to address heaving brick veneer and corner cracks) — $2,060,000. - High‑school campus: tennis court resurfacing — $489,250; replacement of artificial turf on stadium and auxiliary fields and track resurfacing — $2,482,506; sewer treatment plant upgrades — $169,000. - Districtwide: security bollards at all buildings except the high school — $515,000; elevator upgrades at four buildings (Eagleville, Worcester, Arcola and the high school) — $675,305.

Dr. Sorgini said some projects were moved earlier in the schedule from the district’s earlier 13‑year master facilities plan and that staff looked for modest cost reductions by accelerating work (a cited “de‑escalation” of about 3% where applicable) and by seeking economies of scale by bundling similar jobs across sites.

Board questions and timeline for the high‑school program Schrader Group and CHA presented a schedule of decision and review dates. Devin Bradbury said the team has been modeling existing high‑school buildings and meeting biweekly with district administration to develop concepts and cost estimates; staff aim to show concepts at an August work session and a final presentation in September, with a possible governing‑board decision in October.

Board members repeatedly pressed staff about the natatorium (the high‑school pool) because relocating or rebuilding the pool would change available swing space for renovation and affect which renovation options are feasible. “If we just renovate in place, [not moving the pool] … that limits what other things can be done,” a board member said; Bradbury and Sorgini said an earlier pool decision would allow the design team to narrow concepts. Staff signaled a July 22 meeting as a possible opportunity for more detailed pool discussion and said they could return with estimated pool costs at that time.

Other schedule and scope points discussed - The team expects a 12‑month land‑development/township review and permitting window once the board endorses a concept; staff said they do not plan to start township processes until the board signs off on a complete site and building concept. - Bidding and construction sequencing will depend on the concept selected; staff said bids are more likely to be issued in early 2027 with construction following in 2027, but that exterior work could begin earlier depending on chosen options. - Transportation center: the transportation building on the campus is on the three‑year list for a roof replacement ($108,452). Several board members asked that the property committee review the broader condition of the transportation facility before committing major expenditures there. - Sewer connection: staff explained that tying the campus to public sewer had been more feasible in a full new‑build scenario because the required earth disturbance would have been part of the new construction; without that disturbance, creating a public sewer connection is substantially more expensive.

Funding and next steps Dr. Sorgini said the district will present a proposed borrowing of $15,000,000 for board consideration in July to support the high‑school work and the identified capital projects. Staff and the architects will return with concept cost ranges, further detail on pool options, and an updated longer‑range (13‑year) facilities plan for committee and full‑board review in September.

What was not decided There were no formal votes at the June 24 meeting to commit to any of the projects or to approve borrowing; the board requested additional cost and sequencing detail and indicated a preference to resolve the pool question earlier in the process so the architects can incorporate that decision into the concept designs.

Ending note Staff said they will present more refined cost estimates and concept options at upcoming meetings and that any borrowing request would return to the board for formal action in July.