ESASD Property & Facilities Committee Meeting (Nov 4)

The ESASD School Board Property & Facilities Committee met on Nov. 4, 2026 (the meeting metadata lists Nov. 5 UTC). The committee reviewed completed work, including Trane energy upgrades and the East Strasburg Elementary fire-pump controller repair by Pye-Barker, as well as JM Hill emergency heating-valve replacements by Superheat. Early South High School utility-bill data showed reported year-over-year reductions of 27% in costs and 36% in electricity consumption; weather normalization is still pending. Members also discussed a proposed $1.4 million JM Hill roof project, potentially eligible for 75% DCED grant reimbursement, and the proposed Trane North Layman HVAC and boiler work, estimated at about $11.2 million. The latter was not approved: the committee emphasized that decisions depend on DCED grant results, available capital, and next year’s budget. A possible solar project and North Layman cooling-tower replacement were also explored, with further cost and payback analysis requested. Trane’s projections included an assumed $2 million grant, while the district has applied for $8.6 million; a $240,000 utility rebate was also anticipated in the projections.

The committee unanimously recommended items A–F for Board consideration and approval/payment. These included Trane application for payment No. 4 (the transcript gives the amount as approximately $899,072), a forestry RFP, renewal of the Aspen Pest Control contract, Trane Mechanical Services and building-automation-system service agreements, and the Bushkill Elementary intrusion-alarm upgrade proposal from Pye-Barker. The committee noted the service contracts were budgeted. The Bushkill alarm is currently nonfunctional; a completion timeline was requested but not provided. No final award or authorization for the larger proposed capital projects was recorded.