Salisbury Township SD presents five‑year facilities plan; district flags high‑school HVAC and athletic‑field needs

Salisbury Township School District officials and CHA consultants on Sept. 10 presented an updated master facilities plan that lays out prioritized repairs and renovations across a five‑year horizon, highlighting the high school HVAC system and several middle‑school athletic‑field projects.

Bridal Neswender of CHA, who led the presentation, said the district has "a little over 435,000 square feet of buildings" and that the plan follows industry guidelines on lifecycle renewal. She said the district should target annual reinvestment near recommended levels: "you'd be looking at a little bit over $2,000,000 that should be invested, annually to keep your buildings in good condition." The plan uses a $325 per square‑foot renovation value and a logic matrix that weighs safety, curricular value, educational impact and life cycle when prioritizing work.

Bill, district facilities staff, walked members through recent summer work and the proposed 2026 slate. He said the district completed an elementary library reconfiguration and a middle‑school fire alarm upgrade this year, and noted roughly $8 million in in‑house work over the past three years. On larger items, CHA flagged the high‑school HVAC replacement as the most substantial near‑term capital need; Neswender warned it could span multiple summers and require staging and careful budgeting.

Athletic‑field conditions drew extended discussion. Bill described water‑retention and compaction problems behind the middle school and proposed moving the 60‑foot softball field into the footprint of an unused 90‑foot field to use better natural drainage. He gave contractor estimates for field rehabilitation: "We're looking at $150,000 to turn the field over and seed it," and, he added, an additional roughly $130,000 to sod instead of seed. Bill said sod shortens the period the field is out of use, while seeding would put the field off‑limits for 18–24 months.

Committee members and consultants also weighed turf conversion. CHA estimated a turf conversion for a large area at about $2 million, while one board member suggested a figure closer to $3 million depending on amenities such as bleachers and access roads. Consultants noted that turf fields typically last 15–20 years depending on product grade and maintenance.

Staff urged a pragmatic bidding approach for 2026: group like projects (asphalt together, concrete together) to attract bidders and gain economy of scale. CHA said all cost estimates carry contingencies and design fees—roughly 30%—to account for permitting and unforeseen items. Officials also discussed sequencing options to smooth budget impacts, including splitting large mechanical replacements across multiple years.

The committee asked staff for more detailed cost breakouts for the middle‑school field line item and agreed to return with supplemental figures. The district will consider grant opportunities, pay‑as‑you‑go funding, capital reserves and limited borrowing to finance the prioritized work.

The presentation concluded with staff offering to refine assumptions (salaries, benefits and contract specifics) in the five‑year model so projections better reflect actual costs rather than flat percentages.