School board directors in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will vote next week on replacing the 15-year-old high school safety netting. The board will also be looking at an updated design for a new middle school in January.
Director of Facilities James Whitesel said the current netting, which exists between the field and the track, has become frayed and brittle andis starting to break down.
“This proposal is just to replace the netting and the top and bottom cables, and the attachment hardware. We will continue to utilize the existing poles and anchor sleeves,” Whitesel said.
He added that this will be funded through the Long-Range Facilities Plan.
The proposal for the netting is from Aluminum Athletic Equipment Co. of Royersford, which has quoted the work at $16,182.
After his very brief presentation, Whitesel looked ahead to some projects to be reviewed by the board after the winter break. He said there are three projects currently out for bid. Those projects include the rebidding of the exterior learning spaces at Chadds Ford and Unionville elementary schools, the high school rooftop solar project, and the Unionville Elementary School HVAC renovation project.
He said bids for those projects are due in December and will be voted on in January.
“Along with those projects, we’ll also have a presentation on the schematic design of a new middle school. We’ve been working with Breslin Architects this past summer on what the building and the site might look like. We’ll be providing updated renderings, floor plans, site plans, along with an updated project budget, project schedule and financial plan,” Whitesel said. “January will be a busy month.”
Other business
According to Communications Director Nikki Laroya, the district will be looking to upgrade its website through the company Final Site on a special custom design for a one-time fee of $22,525. The project is expected to take about 18 weeks. The cost includes a 15 percent discount, according to Laroya. The board will vote on the matter next week.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
