Board approves $11 million middle‑school boiler replacement; neighbors urge greener options

The Wissahickon School District board voted to award a contract for a middle‑school boiler replacement project, which public speakers and board documents referenced at about $11,000,000. Neighbors and community members urged the district to explore sustainable alternatives and to publish engineering and sustainability analyses before committing to a long‑term fossil‑fuel system.

Public commenters said the district previously indicated support for sustainable projects but that the current design team appeared to be advancing a gas‑based boiler. Eric Rudolph, speaking for neighbors, asked whether sustainability options including geothermal or solar‑hybrid designs had been evaluated and whether incentives or grant eligibility had been considered. He told the board the project ‘‘is now referenced at about a $11,000,000 project.’’

Board discussion noted that an inspector had assessed the existing boiler and that the inspector told district staff that if the boiler were not replaced the district would face a shutdown risk. The board moved to approve agenda item 16.1, awarding the project to Hirschberg Mechanical, and the motion passed during the facilities section of the meeting.

Several public speakers urged the board to pause or reassess and to solicit additional engineering perspectives and grant assessments before moving forward with long‑term infrastructure that can commit the district to fossil‑fuel operations for decades. Those concerns were not resolved by a reversal of the award vote.

Administration said the board had reviewed the project at prior work sessions and that the award was unchanged from the discussion at the work session; the board approved the motion in the regular meeting.

The award advances procurement and contracting steps; concerned community members said they would continue to press for additional sustainability analysis and documentation to be posted in board materials.