Eastern York School District’s quest to solve the mold problem that forced the closure of the middle school for more than a month last fall has the district on the horns of a dilemma, according to a report from the engineers hired to find a solution. The district can likely fix the immediate mold issue for about $450,000, or it can pursue a long-term solution to the building’s aging HVAC systems, which would cost about 10 times as much.
The problem, district Superintendent Joseph Mancuso explained at the April 16 school board meeting, is that the less expensive approach involves modifications to the building’s current system, including new rooftop units and new controls, that would not be compatible with the sort of new system that will eventually replace the existing one.
Costs to remediate the mold discovered last August in the building totaled more than $750,000. Students in grades 6-8 were temporarily housed in the district’s three elementary school buildings while cleanup work was done. The district has purchased a number of industrial-sized dehumidifiers to help address the problem, but Mancuso said the dehumidifiers were just “a step in between” until a decision is made on which option to pursue for HVAC upgrades.
The middle school has a two-pipe HVAC system, which means it must operate in either heating mode or cooling mode. “Architects don’t recommend that type of system anymore,” district Business Manager Teresa Weaver said.
Upgrading the building to a four-pipe system, which would give the district greater control over its operations, would cost about $4.5 million, according to the report from Barton Associates, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers hired in December to assess the situation.
“That is for a brand new system that would let us heat and cool the building at the same time,” Mancuso said. “It’s not just about mold. That would allow us to actively dehumidify the entire building.”
Modifying the existing system could be done over the summer, in time for the start of the 2019-20 school year. “The drawback,” Mancuso said, “is that these modifications go with the existing system and if we move to something new, they cannot be modified or reused. The current system is potentially nearing the end of its expected service.”
If the district chooses the full replacement option, it is possible financing for project could be folded into the financing of a potential new building project. The district is currently in the midst of a study of its elementary buildings with an eye on possible consolidation.
Mancuso said the next step will be for the school board’s Operations Committee for further discussion at its May 14 meeting.
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