North Allegheny reviews capital programs for 2023-2024
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The North Allegheny School District will focus on immediate needs for its facilities in 2023-2024 and plan for bigger projects, according to NA finance assistant director Kermit Houser, who presented a five-year outline of proposed construction work and related funding to the North Allegheny School board on Nov. 16.
“From an economic and budgetary perspective, what we look to do in our capital projects is to make sure we preserve the overall life of our investments and enable the full utilization of each facility and assets for our students and staff,” he said.
Proposed 2023-2024 projects include bus purchases and improvements to athletic facilities and information technology.
There will be challenges paying for recommended or required projects beyond 2024-2025. Proposed long-range projects, repairs and maintenance exceed the district’s current financial resources, Houser said.
Reprioritizing capital projects can help with financing. Conducting facility and educational assessments are key to planning, Houser said.
Some buildings are due for work, including Hosack, Ingomar and Peebles elementary schools, which are in the first phase of renovations at $8.1 million. The last major work on these three schools occurred 23 years ago.
The second phase of middle school renovations, costing a projected $31.8 million, is expected to begin in 2026. Planning will begin in 2023 with an update of the needs, budgets and timelines outlined in a 2017 facilities assessment.
“That’s where a major focus is on this year and the next few years,” Houser said.
Projects can be reprioritized as the district’s needs change.
Renovations are not planned at the middle schools any time soon, but the high schools are being assessed by a third-party vendor, Weber Murphy Fox.
An 18-month design phase for the high schools is proposed for Spring 2023. Projects that will impact each other include renovations at both high schools, improvements to athletic facilities and auditoriums, and a new pool/natatorium at the senior high.
The district will utilize a 2019 bond fund as a major source of funding for capital projects. The district can also dip into its general fund, its financial reserves and its technology fund.
As of Oct. 31, the 2019 bond fund contained more than $4.2 million. Once these funds are spent, the district will need to issue additional debt, increase annual transfers from the general fund or reduce capital expenditures, according to Houser’s presentation.
Houser said the Baierl Center athletic center hasn’t been renovated or had major construction work in 21 years, and the senior high school in 20 years. It’s been 18 years since Carson and Ingomar middle schools have had any major work, according to Houser presentation.
All other facilities have had work within the last six years.
The district will save money by purchasing six, 84-passenger buses through Blue Bird Bus sales, according to the presentation. By submitting an order prior to a December deadline, the district saved about $75,000 on the $797,000 purchase.
“We were ahead of the game on that,” Houser said.
The district plans to spend more than $1.5 million for information technology in 2023-2024.
A copy of the presentation is available on the school district website, www.northallegheny.org.