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Plum Borough SD board moves to advance $3.46 million middle‑school projects; emergency high‑school roof flagged for immediate work
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Summary
The board was presented with bid results for phase‑2 middle‑school work totaling roughly $3.46 million (hard costs) and a near‑$3.9M soft‑cost total; staff recommended repairing the track corner now and consulting the borough on longer resurfacing options. The meeting also identified a 30‑year‑old high‑school roof leaking onto technology infrastructure as an emergency need.
The Plum Borough School District board heard detailed bids and staff recommendations for summer construction at Plum Middle School and an emergency high‑school roof repair during its regular meeting.
Jade Mayer, the project lead for the middle‑school work, reported the base general‑contractor bid for the select alterations was $1,088,000, with a gym alternate at $196,000, mechanical and plumbing bids about $51,000 each and electrical about $267,777, producing a select‑alterations total near $1,810,463. Mayer said combined hard‑cost bid results for the summer projects totaled about $3.461 million and, after adding typical soft costs, the estimate approaches $3.9 million. Mayer also presented three resurfacing price options from Keystone Sports: about $194,001 for a base rubberized surface, a mid option near $233,289, and a high option around $271,008, and emphasized those figures cover only surfacing (no demolition).
Board members and staff recommended a limited, phased approach: first correct the unsafe track corner and the end zone so the field is safe for athletics, then pursue further information and borough coordination before committing to a full rubberized surface that could require altering the football field. "If we can correct and get the M zone off of the track," a board liaison said, "that allows us to think about what the options are moving forward." The liaison noted public concern and email volume about the project, and urged the board to make an informed decision.
Separately, district staff described an emergency roof replacement at the high school. The administration said a 30‑year‑old roof above technology infrastructure and the TV production room has begun to leak; staff reported hearing dripping in the auditorium during the meeting. Administration noted they have applied to DCED grant funds but may have to complete the work first and request reimbursement later, which carries a risk the state could decline the reimbursement. A facilities representative said coordination with boiler, chiller, and other mechanical projects will be required to avoid voiding warranties if multiple contractors work simultaneously.
Board members gave preliminary consent to move the middle‑school and roof items forward to the board’s next voting meeting so purchase orders and preparations can begin if the vote passes. The board will return with additional pricing and borough coordination on the track resurfacing option before taking a final vote on any larger resurfacing project.
The board’s consent to advance these items came without a recorded roll‑call tally in the transcript; the administration said more granular cost and scheduling information would be provided at the formal vote.
