The State College Area School Board on Monday authorized district administrators to put out for bid more than a dozen capital maintenance and replacement projects expected to occur over the summer.
In total, 18 capital projects totaling $10,165,621 are planned for the summer. Each is funded through the deferred maintenance capital projects fund. Deferred maintenance is transferred from the general fund to the capital projects fund, Finance and Operations Officer Randy Brown said. The funding includes the balance of 2019 bond funds.
Two Memorial Field projects — turf replacement and lighting upgrades — will be funded with a prior donation made to the State College Area School District Education Foundation’s fundraising campaign for the stadium’s renovations.
District capital projects planned for the summer are below. Several previously received permission to bid. High school North Building renovations and heating and hot water system upgrades will be brought to the board for approval at a future date.
• Bus garage oil delivery system and containment. Estimated cost: $75,000.
The project will automate the process for utilizing waste oil to provide partial heat to the workshop space of the bus garage, eliminating safety concerns from manually moving 55-gallon drums. It also includes spill containment to reduce risk of environmental hazards.
• District equipment sheds. Estimated cost: $8,000
Storage sheds for Physical Plant equipment are located at all district buildings except Mount Nittany Elementary and are in varying states of disrepair. The project is meant to assure they do not become safety hazards and that equipment will be kept clean and dry.
• Easterly Parkway Elementary emergency generator system. Estimated cost: $350,000
The project is expected to provide a system which can keep students in the school in the event of a long-term power outage.
• Ferguson Township Elementary drainage issues. Estimated cost: $115,000
The lower parking lot at the school holds water, creating a safety hazard, and there is currently no storm drain system in the area. A new storm drain system will connect with another basin in the general vicinity.
• Ferguson Township Elementary handrail replacement. Estimated cost: $85,000
The handrail adjacent to the ramp and steps at the west entrance of the school has deteriorated beyond repair. The project will repair the concrete curb and install a new surface mounted handrail system.
• Ferguson Township Elementary entrance repair. Estimated cost: $35,000
Wood showing signs of deterioration in the south-facing arched entrance will be repaired and replaced. The project also will remediate any lead paint present.
• Grays Woods Elementary fire suppression system replacement. Estimated cost: $350,000
Work includes a piping and sprinkler head replacement on the entire dry system that provides coverage to non-conditioned spaces and which has had numerous repairs
over the years.
• Grays Woods Elementary hot water pump replacement. Estimated cost: $60,000
• Memorial Field lighting upgrade. Estimated cost: $325,000
Fixtures will be replaced and upgraded to LEDs with a 25-year warranty and decreased energy costs.
• Memorial Field turf replacement. Estimated cost: $440,000
The turf has reached its life expectancy and will be replaced with new turf appropriate for both football and field hockey, which are the primary users of the field.
• Mount Nittany Middle School fire alarm system upgrades. Estimated cost: $600,000
The fire alarm system at the school has had numerous issues over the years due to aging and obsolete components, and physical plant staff have had trouble getting timely repairs for deficiencies. The project includes installation of a turnkey system and all necessary detectors, annunciators and controllers while also bringing the building up to current codes.
• State High North Building heating, domestic hot water and air handling unit upgrades. Estimated cost: $2,712,110
Two oversized steam boilers and the domestic hot water boilers were not included the scope of the North Building remodel for the Delta program and are now nearing their life expectancy. Ten air handling units that supply the common areas of the North building, including seven at the end of their life expectancy, will be converted from steam to hot water coils, allowing for the use of high efficiency hot water boilers and reducing maintenance costs.
• State High North Building former CTC renovations. Estimated cost: $3,250,000
The project will build out the former Career and Technical Center space, which was not included in the State High project. It will include space for the Reclaiming Individual Talent (RIT) program and Virtual Academy, both currently located at the Fairmount Building, along with the district’s information technology department, which is currently housed in the Panorama Village Building.
• North tennis court resurfacing. Estimated cost: $175,000
The tennis courts at Community Field are showing severe signs of wear, including stress cracks, surface delamination and water ponding. The project will include milling, resurfacing and painting of the courts to keep them in playable condition.
• North Field fencing upgrade. Estimated cost: $10,000
Fencing that runs along the south side of the North athletic field is close to the lined playing surface and does not provide adequate space for teams or equipment to safely use the non-playable area between the field and the fence. The project will move the fence approximately 10 feet back from the field playing surface.
• Park Forest Elementary building automation system upgrade. Estimated cost: $300,000
Physical Plant recommended a replacement because the existing system is no longer supported by the district’s current vendor as well as new issues surrounding IT security. The project includes a turnkey complete HVAC automation system replacement with all new hot water valves and damper actuators. The same system is already in use at Radio Park, Spring Creek and Corl Street elementary schools and would result in energy and maintenance cost savings.
• Park Forest Middle HVAC upgrades. Estimated cost: $150,000
The project will replace HVAC equipment that is past its useful life.
• Park Forest Middle Sidewalk Repairs. Estimated cost: $65,000
SCASD’s Physical Plant performed an audit of all concrete platforms and sidewalks in 2022 to determine areas most in need of repairs. The project will focus on small, repairs with a focus on safety of students and staff.
Summer maintenance plans also include $900,000 for engineering costs for the projects and $150,000 for contingency.
