Board to consider design contracts and $2.4M building-automation replacement at next meeting

Facilities staff presented several items that will appear on the Oct. 21 regular meeting agenda, including design contracts for elementary renovations and outdoor learning, and a construction award recommendation for building‑automation replacement.

Staff proposed a design contract (~$25,425) to create construction documents and bid specifications for renovations at Chadds Ford and Hillandale Elementary School to support the FTK program (funded from the district’s long‑range facilities plan). A second design contract (~$33,215) would fund design and permitting for outdoor learning spaces (covered pavilions) at Unionville and Chadds Ford, using a Longwood grant the district recently received. Facilities staff said they expect work to be bid in spring with construction over the following summer.

For Unionville High School, staff recommended awarding a construction contract to Tryon Group to replace building automation system controllers for heating and hot‑water systems; the recommended award was $2,400,740, based on a CoStars pricing contract and funded from the long‑range facilities plan. Staff described the replacement as intended to improve energy efficiency, reliability and comfort for students and staff.

Board members asked whether the design contracts were only for design (a separate construction bid would follow) and whether the projects fit the current long‑range plan. Facilities staff confirmed design-only scope and said initial budget allocations ($100,000 per project placed in plan last year) are consistent with the expected scope; if construction bids vary, staff will return with updated estimates.