Salisbury to upgrade four district buildings

Four buildings in the Salisbury School District will go under much-needed upgrades during the summer break, including replacing toilets that were installed in the 1970s.

Work at Truman Elementary, Salisbury Middle School, Western Elementary and the district's administrative building will begin immediately after the last day of school, director of facilities Bill Brackett said.

The school board last week approved contracts with Alan Kunsman Roofing and Siding of Freemansburg for a full roof replacement for Truman at a cost of $1,851,100; with Diefenderfer Electrical Contractors of Allentown for a backup generator for the administrative building at $99,950; with Bracy Contracting of Allentown for the replacement of 300 student lockers at Salisbury Middle School at $101,500; with CMG of Easton Inc. for a complete plumbing overhaul at Salisbury Middle School and Truman for $716,500; and with Bracy for door, hardware and key replacements at all four facilities at $556,000.

Directors voted to hold off on a decision regarding the replacement of floor tile at Western Elementary until a later meeting so they can choose between two bidders and two types of flooring.

The bid for the new generator came in at $30,000 less than the estimated cost, Brackett said. The cost of locker replacement includes salvaging 30 that would be mismatched with those to be installed because of their color and relocating them to the boys and girls locker rooms, he said.

Plumbing work at Salisbury Middle and Truman proved more costly than anticipated because of the scope of work and the rising price of fixtures, Brackett said. He told the board that the final cost was $194,000 more than what the district had estimated.

The work will include a total overhaul of toilets, urinals, sinks and plumbing fixtures dating to the 1970s.

"We're not looking to build the Taj Mahal," Brackett said.

Doors and hardware for the four facilities will include interior work at each building and exterior work at Harry S. Truman and the middle school.

The board will decide whether to accept a bid of $75,500 by Bracy to install VCT tile or an outlay of $149,000 for Terrazzo flooring through Yorie Tile & Terrazzo.

Originally posted here:
Salisbury to upgrade four district buildings