School board reviews $15'$20 million plan to fix moisture and safety issues in 1950s wing

The Noble Borough School Board heard detailed findings May 19 from contractors about long-standing moisture, siding and structural problems in the school's 1950s wing and the proposed repairs to reopen that section for fall.

Carrie Warm, vice president of EEI, said the design team has completed Matterport scans, a wetlands delineation, a structural analysis and 90%-complete mechanical, electrical and structural drawings. She told the board subcontractor bids returned around May 20 and financing discussions were underway: "we would be kind of at a goal for that final scope contract the first week of June with financing closing end of June," she said. Warm told the board the most comprehensive estimates could be in the low tens of millions: "it could be upwards of 15 20 million," she said, while stressing numbers are preliminary and value engineering will narrow the scope.

Architect Ann Keter described the technical cause of the damage: inconsistent weather barrier and cladding installation that allowed water to enter wall assemblies. "What we found with this building is where you would have the weather barrier ... it's inconsistently applied," she said, explaining that replacement siding, a continuous weather barrier, improved insulation and a rain-screen with an air gap were part of the recommended exterior repairs.

The team identified several near-term and summer milestones. Warm said asbestos abatement is scheduled to begin May 26 and remediation of basement and subflooring work will follow; facilities staff reported roughly 130 dumpsters are already filled from basement cleanout. Subcontractor pricing was due May 20 and the design team aims to finalize a contract scope the first week of June. In a best-case scenario the 1950s wing could be substantially complete by early October, the presentation said, but the team emphasized unknowns will remain until demolition and further investigation are complete.

Board members and staff discussed options organized as "good/better/best" tiers so the board can prioritize immediate needs while holding longer-term capital items for future budgets. The architects said some items (for example, door closers, selected HVAC and envelope repairs) are necessary to prevent the problem from recurring and to extend the life of the building.

Facilities staff also told the board the district is seeking a fire-marshal permit for a temporary classroom and coordinating logistics to complete remediation with minimal disruption to the school year. The board scheduled a budget workshop for June 3 to review pricing and a public follow-up so community members can see the finalized numbers.

Next steps: contractors will return final subcontractor pricing to the board'review meeting; the board will review financing terms and vote on a final scope at a subsequent meeting. The district stressed all costs given at the May 19 presentation were preliminary and subject to value engineering and formal bids.