Northern Lehigh administrators outline $26.8–$30.2 million common‑campus option, ask board to seek bids on asbestos work

Northern Lehigh School District administrators presented a feasibility study to the buildings and grounds committee that outlined options ranging from targeted infrastructure repairs to a full consolidation of elementary schools onto a single campus, with a total estimated construction cost of roughly $26.8 million to $30.2 million.

The presentation, led by district administration, reviewed building‑by‑building needs compiled by the district’s architect and partners and identified immediate priorities such as ADA and fire‑safety items, public‑address and clock systems, roofing and mechanical upgrades. Administration also reported the district had won an asbestos grant for the high school and asked the board whether bids should be limited to asbestos‑covered areas or include additional flooring work to avoid incompatible finishes.

Why it matters: a consolidation would reshape grade configuration, facility use and transportation across the district and require major capital investment. Administrators said accurate cost‑per‑square‑foot bids and staffing/transportation analyses are necessary before any direction is given.

During the committee meeting, Mr. Mann, who presented buildings and grounds details, said the district had sold an older tractor and proposed using $15,946 of the $32,000 proceeds to buy a zero‑turn mower and a bagger for the new baseball field and routine grounds work. "We were able to get 32,000 for it," Mann said when explaining proceeds and the recommended equipment purchase.

On remediation, administrators described the asbestos grant as covering mastic beneath VCT tile in areas identified on floor plans; they noted additional rooms (newer cafeteria and band room) would not be covered. Mr. Mann told the committee preliminary contractor quotes for epoxy flooring ran from $9 to $18 per square foot and that the additional work to complete everything outside the grant area totaled about 28,000–29,000 square feet. "So it could be as low as 9, and I've seen it as high as $18 a square foot," he said.

Administration reviewed how a consolidated campus could be configured: moving sixth grade to a renovated middle school would add roughly 150 students and about 18,500 square feet. The study listed potential benefits — improved special‑education continuity, operational efficiencies, and shared resources such as a single cafeteria and bus run — but also raised questions about underutilized space at Slatington Elementary and what to do with Peters Elementary if students were relocated.

Committee members pressed for more details. Mr. Christman asked for a total rollup of costs and for a breakdown showing the most urgent (red) items by building versus full renovation; several members requested life‑cycle and maintenance‑savings calculations comparing existing tile maintenance (strip and wax) with epoxy options so the committee could weigh upfront cost against long‑term savings. Mr. Bridal, administration, summarized next steps: go out to bid to secure apples‑to‑apples square‑foot pricing, analyze transportation and staffing impacts and then return with more granular options for the committee and public review. "We would like to go out to bid so we can get the additional information and then also have time to answer some of the other questions that came up," Bridal said.

The committee did not vote to adopt any reconstruction plan; members agreed administration should continue exploring options, develop public engagement (surveys and outreach), and provide the requested cost and staffing analyses before any final decisions are made.