Avon Grove board hears $400,000-plus cleanup from Engle Education Center roof work; small retrofit proposals added to capital plan

The Avon Grove School District heard an update Wednesday that cleanup from recent roofing work and a March storm at the Fred S. Engle Education Center will exceed $400,000, with district responsibility still under discussion.

Mr. Lubitzky (CCIU representative) reported that roof replacement work began March 10 but was suspended March 17 because ceiling-grid supports had been incorrectly affixed to the roof deck. The work was paused so that interior drop ceilings, light fixtures and related systems could be properly secured. A heavy rainstorm on March 31 then caused clogged drains and water intrusion into the lower level through unit ventilators; cleanup costs alone are expected to surpass $400,000, Mr. Lubitzky said. The district estimated it may be responsible for about $50,000 of the roofing-correction costs, but that figure was preliminary.

"The ceiling grid that was improperly secured to the roof decking has been rectified and work on the roof is now in progress," Mr. Levitsky told the board. He added that the separate flooding cleanup will require replacement of floor tiles, cove base, sheetrock and cabinetry.

Board members said they want clearer cost-responsibility estimates. Mister Wood said he was reluctant to accept roofing costs as the district's responsibility until concrete figures are available. Doctor Lin said the matter would be revisited once more precise estimates are delivered and discussed with the board.

Separately, the board's operations committee recommended a facilities improvement plan to upgrade bathrooms and locker rooms to provide private, secure spaces. The high school recommendation includes installing fob-card access for four single-use bathrooms and adding privacy doors to individual shower stalls in male and female locker rooms. The middle-school recommendations include fob access for two single-use bathrooms and creating single-use shower/changing areas within existing locker-room footprints. The committee estimated a high-point cost of about $74,000; some work could be completed in-house and lower the cost. The committee agreed the improvements will be incorporated into the district's long-range capital plan.

What's next: Administration said insurance will cover a majority of the Engle cleanup; the board will receive more detailed cost allocations when available and will revisit the question of district liability and project timing during budget deliberations and future committee meetings.