Perkiomen Valley board approves Evergreen gym renovation, easement with Aqua Pennsylvania and outside counsel for youth education

The Perkiomen Valley School Board on a voice vote approved several operational measures including a contract to replace a failing gym floor at Evergreen Elementary, an easement allowing Aqua Pennsylvania to install a duplicate main, and hiring outside legal counsel to advise on educational services at the Southeastern Youth Development Center.

Under Section 5 the board approved a request from the Safety & Operations Committee to contract Miller Sports Construction to renovate the Evergreen Elementary gym floor at a cost not to exceed $145,870 under a CoStar contract. Committee members and facilities staff described the existing rubber floor as original to the building, more than 20 years old, and exhibiting bubbling caused by moisture that made it a safety hazard for students and community events. The motion to award the contract was moved by Mister Liggett and passed on a voice vote.

The board also approved an easement agreement requested by Aqua Pennsylvania allowing the utility to install a redundant main and repave the surface area above the work. The easement approval was conditioned on final review and sign-off by the district’s business administrator and the solicitor. As counsel explained, the district already had an existing easement for a water main in the same area and the work would create a duplicate main and surface restoration.

On a separate item the board authorized the administration to retain Lehi Legal Group PC to assist in negotiations and contract review related to providing educational services at the Southeastern Youth Development Center. Doctor Russell described why independent counsel was needed: the intermediate unit (IU) and the district share representation with the district’s solicitor, creating a potential conflict. The board amended the motion to limit legal fees to the amount proposed in the district’s budget for that purpose (the administration cited $15,000 as the budgeted figure) and approved the retention with that not-to-exceed cap. Doctor Russell told the board he anticipates returning in April with a fuller recommendation once legal advice and bargaining-unit conversations advance.

Board members said they want a prioritized capital projects list to guide scheduling of the competition gym and other facilities work; administration said it has prioritized projects by building and will share more detailed pricing and priority information at the Safety & Operations meeting scheduled for March 21.

The approvals were part of a larger consent slate that included adoption of the district’s Special Education Plan draft and a revised 2023–24 instructional calendar, both of which were also approved on voice vote earlier in the meeting.

Votes at a glance: the Miller Sports Construction renovation motion and the Aqua Pennsylvania easement were approved with all recorded vocal responses in favor and no recorded opposition; the retention of outside counsel was approved after a friendly amendment capping fees at the budgeted level.