South Middleton SD board authorizes bid solicitation for natatorium renovations

The South Middleton School District board on March 17 authorized the administration to solicit bids for mandatory improvements to the district natatorium, voting 7-0 with two members absent.

Administration presented a detailed scope prepared by DI Associates that includes pool shell repairs and a new quartz-aggregate plaster finish, refurbishment of return lines, a new filtration and water-chemistry control system (including ultraviolet treatment), updated pool deck tile with an alternate to remove and replace the setting bed, mechanical and HVAC upgrades, new plumbing fixtures and drains, and electrical updates including new lighting and a sound system. The design team also proposed alternates such as a backwash holding tank to prevent discharge to the sanitary system and an optional scoring platform and concessions area.

Why it matters: the work is intended to address aging infrastructure, improve water treatment and energy systems, and allow the pool to remain a usable community and school resource. Administration said documents are ready to go out to bidders and that a pre-bid meeting is scheduled for March 31 with bids to be opened April 14.

"We're ready to go out to bid," said the administration during the presentation, and DI Associates—representative Adam Kerr walked the board through mechanical, plumbing, architectural and electrical line items, noting some items would be handled as alternates depending on bid results. Kerr said the team expects to evaluate bids and work with a contractor to begin construction as early as June 1; administrators used a conservative closure window of mid-May through mid-October for the pool, acknowledging that some demolition work could begin earlier in mechanical areas.

Board members pressed for details about alternates: removing concrete risers in the balcony could add seating ("maybe one more row," the designer said) and would require noncorrosive materials; the "Clear Comfort" hydroxyl/UV-related treatment was described as a safeguard to keep UV bulbs and glass lenses clear and to assist in controlling biological load, which can reduce chemical demand.

The motion to authorize bid solicitation carried on roll call: 7 yes, 2 absent. The facilities committee will review returned bids and is expected to make recommendations to the full board for consideration at a future meeting.

The next procedural steps are the pre-bid meeting March 31 and the bid opening April 14; administration said a facilities committee review is planned so the board can act on recommended base bids and alternates at a subsequent meeting.