Credit:Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The Neshaminy School Board Tuesday night unanimously voted to approve a $20.89 million plan to upgrade three elementary schools.
The now-approved Act 39 Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA) upgrades to Herbert Hoover Elementary School, Albert Schweitzer Elementary School and Carl Sandburg Middle School will take place over summer and be finished by early in the 2014-2015 school year.
Advertisements
The vote on the plan gives Harrisburg-based Reynolds Energy Services time to finalize deals with contractors and vendors, Damian Spahr of Reynolds said.
The district and Reynolds both will hammer out the final details on the contract in the coming weeks.
Neshaminy solicitor Thomas Profy said if a bond is not obtained for the work, the project will not move forward.
Advertisements
The district plans to go ahead and vote on a roughly $50 million bond in the coming weeks. The bond would cover the GESA work and the cost of a $30 million, 800-student new school in Lower Southampton, which still has to be voted on by the board.
The work will upgrade window, heating and cooling systems, security areas, roofs, electric distribution throughout the three schools. All three buildings will also undergo asbestos abatement. Reynolds officials said the new windows will present a quieter learning environment for students.
Advertisements
The asbestos abatement and majority of the work will be completed by the time students return to school, Reynolds officials said.
Reynolds said the upgrades will save the district close to $1 million over the next 20 years. The saving are guaranteed by the company.
The vote only authorized Phase I of the upgrades to the district’s schools. Officials said Phases II and III include work to other district buildings. Those projects are expected to cost less than the current $20.89 million price tag.
Advertisements
School board member Mike Morris asked during the meeting why the board wasn’t presented with more detailed information on the exact equipment that would go into the upgraded buildings. Superintendent Robert Copeland said that information and shop drawings would be completed now that the board has approved the project.
Only two residents asked questions about the plan during the sparsely attended meeting.
Advertisements
“I think the school district and community should be very proud of what happened here today,” school board member Mark Shubin said. “What is great now is that we are moving forward with a very comprehensive approach.”
Board member Stephen Pirritano, who has pushed for the plan, said he expects the GESA improvements to improve the district going forward.
Advertisements
The district still has several move issues to tackle as they move forward with their “roadmap” for the district.
Get Our Daily Newsletter
Our daily newsletter features the top stories of the day sent to your inbox every evening.
Advertisements
