NL to spend $10M on facility upgrades

Northern Lehigh School District plans to embark on a $10 million facility improvement project.

The school board Monday approved the McClure Company to complete all necessary planning and work for the project at a cost not to exceed $10,079,787.

That decision came after the board heard a presentation from Shayne Homan of McClure.

Before the vote, several board members weighed in on the matter.

Director Mathias Green wanted to be sure that the work was needed before the board would make the financial commitment.

Similarly, Director Kristie Wilk said she was interested in having detailed financial information.

“I agree the work needs to be done,” Wilk said. “I want to know how we’re going to pay for it.”

Director Robert Keegan Jr. noted that interest rates aren’t going down, and recommended that the district move forward with the project.

“This is what our community expects, quality facilities,” Keegan said.

Improvements will include middle school HVAC upgrades — unit ventilators; middle school HVAC upgrades — ducted tail vertical unit ventilators; high school HVAC upgrades; middle school roofing upgrades; high school roofing upgrades, 30-year; field house roofing upgrades, replacement, 30 years; districtwide LED lighting upgrades — interior/exterior; high school boiler, pumping and control upgrades; Slatington Elementary School, Peters Elementary School, field house, and controls integration; and districtwide building envelope upgrades.

Also as part of the project, the board agreed to enter into the guaranteed energy savings agreement with McClure Company and authorized a notice to proceed agreement for expedited work for an August substantial completion.

The expedited work includes HVAC related engineering services necessary to secure permits; major equipment design and selection; roofing subcontractor purchase orders; major HVAC equipment purchase orders and submittal processing; and major subcontractor coordination.

As part of that, it will come with a guaranteed 20-year energy and operational savings of $5,039,711.

Major construction will occur from June through August, with the work being done before students returning to class for the start of the new school year.

Exactly how the district will pay for the project will be discussed at next month’s finance committee meeting, according to Sherri Molitoris, co-director of business affairs/human resources.

The board will then discuss at next month’s meeting whether it will take out a bond, take the money out of fund balance, or a combination of both, Molitoris said.

In other related matters, the board:

• Agreed to execute an agreement with RBC Capital Markets LLC, to serve as underwriter or bank loan agent in connection with the issuance of financing for the ESCO project.

• Agreed to execute an agreement with PFM Financial Advisors LLC, to act as financial advisers to provide advice and supervision for the district in connection with the issuance of financing for the ESCO project.

• Recommended that the board retain Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC, as bond legal counsel for the issuance of financing for the ESCO project, and on the district’s behalf, allow them to transfer all files from the previous bond counsel, Rhoads & Sinon, who are no longer in business.