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JERSEY SHORE -- Tasked by the last board of directors to keep spending for capital projects around $1 million, the current Jersey Shore School Board held a capital project committee meeting this week to discuss what projects at which district buildings take top priority.
Board member Harry Brungard chaired the meeting.
Referring back to a feasibility study done by Hunt Engineering in 2020, Brungard listed priority items that were cited in the study.
These included the dust collection system at the high school in the construction trades classrooms; the boiler system at Salladasburg Elementary School; and the boiler and control system at Avis Elementary.
"The Avis control system was Mark Wall's top priority out of the entire Hunt study that was done," Brungard said.
Wall is the director of buildings and grounds and maintenance in the district.
The current control system is outdated and isn't getting the heat to the correct classrooms and maintaining them at the right temperature, Brungard explained.
The committee, according to Brungard, thinks it is best to proceed with the dust collection system and the boiler and control system at Avis.
"I think that's where we were leaning until we get more money," he said.
A cost analysis for district buildings stated that it would take roughly $5.7 million to correct the problems at Avis cited in the Hunt study.
For Salladasburg Elementary, the cost would be $16.6 million to bring it up where it should be according to the study.
"The Middle School is the worst one which will go over $20 million to bring that up to bring it up to where it's suitable," Brungard said.
These costs were projected for six to eight years out, which board member Michelle Stemler questioned referencing the fact that costs have increased over the past six months for some of the projects the district is considering.
"My question simply is this, obviously as time goes on, these numbers, the $16 million over six to eight years and the $20 million over six to eight years aren't going to stay at those figures. I think we can pretty much say it's going to be a much higher cost," Stemler said.
Stemler then questioned if it would be cost effective to not put money into any of those buildings.
"I think it's important for myself to know that as I'm spending taxpayer money and making votes in the future to make important repairs to the buildings," she said.
In order for the projects the committee chose to meet a deadline for work over the summer, the district must post 10 days prior to the board meeting that they're planning to do a project to let the public know that the board will vote on it and what the cost if projected to be, Superintendent Dr. Brian Ulmer explained.
Because of the timing it is expected that Avis' boiler and control system work will be voted on at the February board meeting and the dust collection system in March.
Board member Mary Thomas questioned what happens to the work needed on Salladasburg Elementary's boiler system, since it was taken off the list for this year.
"If you look at the cost on that, we're definitely not going to do anything, I believe, this year," Brungard said.
"I'm okay with the direction that they tend to want to go, I was just asking that we're not forgetting Salladasburg," Thomas said.
"I understand it can't be done -- probably not done this year. I don't have a problem with that, but that's the clarity I wanted," she added.
It was noted that the boiler system at Salladasburg has better control systems than Avis and that the existing boiler is being well-maintained.
The next regular board meeting is at 7 p.m. Feb. 12, at the District Administration Building, 175 A&P Drive.