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District seeks $69,955 summer fix to update high school stage rigging after 2022 safety assessment
Summary
Facilities staff recommended replacing aging manila ropes and outdated rope locks in the Boyertown Area High School auditorium; Sapsus Rigging quoted $69,955 (COSTARS vendor) and an alternate vendor quoted $99,800. Staff said work could be completed over the summer and urged prompt approval to ensure student safety.
The Boyertown Area School District’s facilities director told the facilities committee that the auditorium at Boyertown Area High School requires a safety-focused rigging overhaul identified in a 2022 assessment.
Mr. Bramble explained the auditorium’s original hemp/manila ropes and some improperly installed rope locks no longer meet current ANSI standards for heavier loads. He said manila lines exhibited dry rot and that rope locks were not installed to today’s standards. The recommendation is to replace those lines and rope locks with modern cable systems and upgraded rope-locking hardware.
Sapsus Rigging, a COSTARS vendor, updated a proposal for $69,955; an alternate vendor provided a higher quote of $99,800. Bob Ramsey, the high school’s business teacher and stage director, described the auditorium’s increased use by renters and students and said the equipment holds “hundreds of pounds of weight” and is used by students in productions; he urged the board to pursue repairs promptly to avoid creating an immediate safety issue.
Mr. Bramble said the vendor indicated work could be done after school ends and estimated a few weeks to complete the changes. The committee did not vote on the funding during the meeting but expressed support for bringing the proposal back for approval as a summer contract.
Next steps: staff will bring the updated vendor proposal and timeline for board consideration; no contract award occurred during this meeting.
