Palmerton gets high school window prices

A window and door replacement project at Palmerton High School may be phased in over the next two summers after the district’s board of directors tabbed a Harrisburg company under a potential energy savings agreement Tuesday night.

Hershocks Inc. submitted one of two proposals for the project and won unanimous approval from Palmerton’s board over Penn Builders, who completed a window replacement at the district’s junior high school several years ago.

Alyssa Wingenfield, account executive with the McClure Company, said the bids were proprietary as of Tuesday night.

“The project timeline calls for a final project cost and energy savings review to take place March 3, followed by a board action to approve the project on March 17,” she told the board during a presentation.

Because it is an ESCO project, McClure is guaranteeing the district a certain amount of money in energy savings. That dollar figure will be provided at a future meeting, Wingenfield said. If that dollar amount is not met, McClure is responsible for the difference. An ESCO project also means there will be no change orders, within the scope of the project, for the district.

Wingenfield said the windows would match the design of those installed at the junior high school. One major difference from the windows at the junior high, however, could be whether the windows can be opened.

The junior high windows are operable, district officials said, but Wingenfield told the board a significant cost savings could be realized if nonoperable windows are installed at the high school.

“It’s a savings of between $700 and $1,000 per window,” Palmerton board member Barry Scherer said.

It is estimated the high school has around 30 to 35 classrooms.

During board discussion, Director Audrey Larvey pitched the scenario of what would happen if the air conditioning system in the school failed and none of the windows could be opened.

“It will be like you’re in a tin can,” Larvey said. “I can certainly agree to a compromise that not every window be operable, but at least one should be for cross-ventilation.”

Board member Earl Paules favored all nonoperable windows, saying the cost savings could be used for other educational purposes.

“If it’s that hot outside, one window isn’t going to make a difference,” he said.

The board eventually took a straw poll, with five board members favoring one operable window per classroom and three in favor of all nonoperable windows.

Wingenfield said Hershocks did submit the option of phasing the project over the next two summers, an idea that appealed to Palmerton’s board.

“I’d rather see it over two summers, because that guarantees we’ll get it done,” Scherer said.

While the project cost has yet to be made public, Palmerton business manager Ryan Kish said both the window and door replacement, as well as renovations to S.S. Palmer to establish a secured front visitor entrance, are within the district’s capital reserve fund balance.