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Facilities committee previews 2026–27 capital plan; PFOA tests read below regulatory threshold, Pine Forge boiler replacement discussed
Summary
Administrators told the committee the district’s capital balance (after planned deductions) supports a slate of 2026–27 projects; Gilbert'sville PFOA point‑of‑use filters reduced readings to about 1.7 ppt from a building annual average of 8.68 ppt (below the cited 14 ppt threshold), and staff sought direction on Pine Forge boiler replacement and cost‑sharing with the BCIU.
Administration presented a broad capital‑projects preview for fiscal 2026–27 and sought committee direction on several maintenance priorities, PFOA mitigation work and the replacement of a failed boiler at Pine Forge.
Mr. Lent summarized the capital fund picture: the district began the year with about $34.3 million; after accounting for planned deductions (including Gilbert'sville water treatment, Boyertown Elementary HVAC/roof and the Bash fields) and a projected $4 million year‑end transfer, available capital funds were presented as roughly $21.9 million. Lent said staff will return to the board in April with detailed pricing for individual projects so summer work can be scheduled.
Mr. Yanuzi (supervisor of facilities and operations) walked the committee through candidate projects: paving and striping work at multiple schools, tennis court replacement at Middle School East, gym‑floor replacement at Middle School West, access and nurse‑suite modifications at Washington Elementary, stage curtain and rigging replacement at several elementary schools, sidewalk and trip‑hazard repairs, and ongoing camera add‑ons to cover hallway blind spots.
On air and water quality, staff reported that pre‑work testing at Boyertown Elementary (following a 2023 asbestos abatement) found asbestos samples below analytical detection limits and indoor bioaerosol (mold) samples within normal ranges compared with outdoor samples; administration plans a repeat test after corridor ceiling tiles are removed. On PFOA, the Gilbert'sville building’s running annual average was recited as 8.68 parts per trillion (ppt), below the 14 ppt parts‑per‑trillion regulatory value cited in the presentation; point‑of‑use filters installed at bottle fillers, fountains and kitchen/nurse areas returned readings in the 1.66–1.87 ppt range.
The committee also reviewed a Pine Forge emergency: one of two boilers experienced a fire and the building is currently operating on a single boiler. Staff solicited three co‑star vendor quotes for replacement; the transcript records an initial lower quote around $36,200 and an estimate of roughly $13,000 for smoke remediation. Administration noted the district’s insurance has a $50,000 deductible, making a small claim unlikely. One vendor (3B) revised its quote upward during the meeting (the transcript records the revised figure as “74,5259”; staff discussed that revised figure in context with other quotes around $74,500). Administration asked whether the committee would support moving forward with a Burnham standard linkage boiler (Birkshire quote) and pursuing cost sharing with the BCIU, which rents space at Pine Forge; the IU indicated it would be amenable to splitting some costs.
No formal board vote was recorded on capital approvals at this meeting; staff asked the committee for direction to obtain final pricing and to return recommended procurement items to the full board for approval in April. The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn and the next facilities committee date announced for May 26, 2026.
