North Pocono tweaks project priorities
MOSCOW - North Pocono School Board members unanimously tweaked a list of high-priority needs on Tuesday for a long-term project totaling $11.17 million.
A project the district has discussed for months, the cost was estimated during the summer at close to $13 million. Some projects were removed from the list, such as a nearly $1 million synthetic turf field. North Pocono School District Superintendent Bryan McGraw said the renovations will likely begin after graduation in June and continue during the summer through 2015.
"We're upgrading our facilities for the next 25 to 30 years," Mr. McGraw said.
While North Pocono High School was built in 2009, other facilities in the school district date to the 1960s. The largest proportion of the project will go to North Pocono Middle School, which will include an upgraded heating and cooling system. Other expenses include new floors, roofing and security systems.
Mr. McGraw also announced at the board meeting that state Department of Education officials recently approved the renovation project to qualify for state reimbursement. While state aid traditionally has paid significant school construction costs, Gov. Tom Corbett's moratorium on new school construction prohibits state support for projects after Oct. 1.
Although approved for potential state reimbursement for a portion of the project, actual reimbursement depends on state funds available.
The North Pocono School Board is expected to finalize the project next month and accept bids in January.
The project isn't expected to result in a tax increase, because the district plans to pay off a significant amount of previously existing debt.
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