Preliminary capital project discussions underway in Souderton Area School District

By Jarreau Freeman jfreeman@montgomerynews.com @JarreauFreeman on Twitter

The Souderton Area School Districts operations committee discussed some of the upgrades the district is looking into for 2015 through 2020. A majority of the proposed projects were brought to the committee last spring; however, district staff wanted to update the board on a few additional projects added to the list.

The capital projects, many of which focus on school safety and energy efficiency, include upgrades specific to each of the schools in the district, as well as districtwide improvements, according to the five-year capital projects plan presentation given by Business Affairs Director William Stone.

Through the course of the next five years, the district upgrades are projected to cost $10 million.

The projects will be funded from the capital reserve, which is currently housing $750,000, and the general fund budget, but the general fund figures could change based on the annual budget reviews, Stone said.

Other monies the district is slated to receive and possibly allocate toward capital projects include an estimated $6 million from the sale of the former Souderton Area High School building, as well as an estimated $1.85 million from the sale of the former Lower Salford Elementary School building. Both properties are under an agreement of sale.

In addition, a projected $1.9 million in assigned fund balance will also be available, the presentation outlined. There is a possibility that unassigned fund balance transfers may be directed toward capital projects, but thats pending 2015-16 budget reviews, Stone said.

Each school has a series of upgrades being proposed for the next five years that consist of things like paving repairs in the school parking lots, HVAC, lighting, security camera and generator upgrades and upgrades to the gymnasiums, the presentation outlined.

It appears that Indian Valley Middle School will see the most repairs in the next five years with upgrades like a new emergency generator, library and modular roofing repairs, auditorium upgrades and painting, sidewalk and curb repairs, exterior door replacements and track installations slated for the school, according to the presentation.

A few more projects have been added to the list for several of the other schools. E. Merton Crouthamel Elementary is slated for renovations that call for safety and equipment upgrades to bring the building up to code. Stone highlighted the fact that the district is scheduled to receive the results from a feasibility study in January or February of next year, after which the district will assess the design, pricing and construction of the building, he said. Continued...

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Preliminary capital project discussions underway in Souderton Area School District