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Tyrone Area School Board members were presented with bids for a proposed auditorium renovation project at the district's physical plant and financial operations committee meeting Saturday morning.
The total from the three bids -- general, mechanical and electrical -- came out to approximately $3.7 million, $130,932 more than projected in 2021.
That increase of 3.5% is still "not as high as we were expecting," according to buildings and grounds administrator Jordan Good.
The board will convene for a special voting meeting Tuesday evening to decide whether to go through with the project, which would start this summer and be done "hopefully by November-ish," according to Superintendent Leslie Estep.
The board seemed mostly in agreement that the project is necessary, though lengthy discussion took place.
Board Vice President William Lash expressed concern that the electrical bid was "so high."
"We'd be removing the lighting panel on stage and relocating it completely," Good explained. "There will be more power draw due to eight electrical motors. It'll be a lot more than what's in the space, and, with cable and wire prices high, a lot of money will be wrapped up with the material alone. We have to pull new wire."
Board member James Raabe raised a question: "If we decide not to do this, what other safety things would we have to do? What's the cost from a safety standpoint?"
Good said main safety concerns are with the stage, as its wood is splintering. At the very least, the wood needs to be sanded and resealed, Good added, estimating this would cost about $20,000.
But that's just the beginning, Good said, adding that all of the seats need to be replaced, which will cost about $225 apiece.
Raabe said that upgrades will be costly.
"You're going to be, at minimum, in the $250,000-350,000 range just to make it safe," Raabe said.
Some of the project will be covered by ESSR funds, Estep noted. That requires approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, but that's been taken care of, Estep said. "We've done that work already."
Board member Jeffery Long said he was concerned about losing the funding if the board chooses not to go through with the project.
"If we don't do this, are there other projects we could do so we don't lose (the money)?" Long asked.
"We'll reallocate the money if we don't do this," Estep said. "It doesn't need to be spent on physical plant projects at all."
Board member Randy Miles concluded that the project is ultimately necessary.
"In my opinion, this auditorium has to be done," Miles said.
Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 8149467428.