Upper Darby SD details summer 2025 facilities work, cites $1.8M state award and operational savings
June 25, 2026 | Upper Darby SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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Marvin Lee, director of operations for Upper Darby School District, told the district’s finance and operations committee that the operations team completed a slate of capital projects over summer 2025 that included asbestos abatement, floor replacements, classroom furniture standardization, HVAC work and athletic-field upgrades.
Lee said the district prepared in advance by inventorying asbestos-containing materials and was ready to compete for state funding; he reported the district was awarded about $1.8 million from a $75 million statewide fund, the 11th-largest award in the state. "We completed every project several days before our deadlines," Lee said, praising the facilities team and outside contractors.
The presentation outlined a tight 70-day schedule to remove asbestos-containing floor materials and install new floors; the district also standardized floor types and classroom furniture and replaced more than 7,000 pieces. Lee said the business office obtained discounts beyond standard PA COSTARS pricing and that furniture procurement saved the district more than $250,000.
Lee described contractor oversight and safety steps: abatement activities followed federal, state and local guidelines and each space was independently air-tested before reopening, with final testing reports submitted to the district. He said the district also replaced VCT gym floors with a product backed by a 20-year warranty and extended a previously tested floor design from pilot classrooms districtwide.
Other completed projects included HVAC replacements at Beverly Hills Middle and Primus Elementary based on a 2023 facilities condition assessment, stadium lighting upgrades across the district’s secondary schools, and baseball and softball field renovations completed in late 2024 and opened to students in spring 2025. Lee said the three secondary schools’ lighting systems now share a single mobile-app control and carry 25-year warranties.
Operations reported that move-in and summer-cleaning operations went smoothly. Lee cited a principal-satisfaction metric that improved from about 7.08 the prior year to about 8.83 this year at several schools—a reported 18% year-to-year increase. He said district and school staff inventoried and repurposed furniture in good condition to reduce waste and costs.
Construction at Clifton Heights Middle School is ongoing; Lee said the administration is targeting substantial completion on Aug. 23, 2026, and will continue monthly updates on progress. He and Mr. Rogers said they will return next month to preview projects planned for summer 2026.
Board members, including Board President Murphy Morsey and Director Williams, praised the facilities team for its execution, noted the size of the grant award and highlighted the visible improvements in school buildings.
Lee said the district prepared in advance by inventorying asbestos-containing materials and was ready to compete for state funding; he reported the district was awarded about $1.8 million from a $75 million statewide fund, the 11th-largest award in the state. "We completed every project several days before our deadlines," Lee said, praising the facilities team and outside contractors.
The presentation outlined a tight 70-day schedule to remove asbestos-containing floor materials and install new floors; the district also standardized floor types and classroom furniture and replaced more than 7,000 pieces. Lee said the business office obtained discounts beyond standard PA COSTARS pricing and that furniture procurement saved the district more than $250,000.
Lee described contractor oversight and safety steps: abatement activities followed federal, state and local guidelines and each space was independently air-tested before reopening, with final testing reports submitted to the district. He said the district also replaced VCT gym floors with a product backed by a 20-year warranty and extended a previously tested floor design from pilot classrooms districtwide.
Other completed projects included HVAC replacements at Beverly Hills Middle and Primus Elementary based on a 2023 facilities condition assessment, stadium lighting upgrades across the district’s secondary schools, and baseball and softball field renovations completed in late 2024 and opened to students in spring 2025. Lee said the three secondary schools’ lighting systems now share a single mobile-app control and carry 25-year warranties.
Operations reported that move-in and summer-cleaning operations went smoothly. Lee cited a principal-satisfaction metric that improved from about 7.08 the prior year to about 8.83 this year at several schools—a reported 18% year-to-year increase. He said district and school staff inventoried and repurposed furniture in good condition to reduce waste and costs.
Construction at Clifton Heights Middle School is ongoing; Lee said the administration is targeting substantial completion on Aug. 23, 2026, and will continue monthly updates on progress. He and Mr. Rogers said they will return next month to preview projects planned for summer 2026.
Board members, including Board President Murphy Morsey and Director Williams, praised the facilities team for its execution, noted the size of the grant award and highlighted the visible improvements in school buildings.
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