The Upper Perkiomen School Board is expected to award several contracts related to the conversion of the current middle school to a 4^th and 5^th Grade Center at tonight's regular meeting. A meeting agenda posted on the district's website includes action items to award contacts for the general construction, plumbing, HVAC and electrical work at the school, located at 510 Jefferson Street in East Greenville.

            A Lancaster firm has been hired to oversee the conversion of the current middle school into a center for fourth and fifth grade students.  Daniel Cicala, a principal with Fidevia Construction Management and Consulting, expects the work to be completed in time for the start of the 2019-20 school year.

            Fidevia, in partnership with Blackney Hayes Architects from Philadelphia, is providing the pre-construction and construction services for the work to convert the facility at 510 Jefferson Street. Substantial completion of the Upper Perkiomen 4th and 5th Grade Center is expected by Aug. 15. Final completion is still expected by Sept. 1. 

            The management firm previously estimated the cost of the conversion at $4.090 million. That includes a 20 percent design contingency ($818,172), a five percent construction contingency ($265,088), soft costs that account for 20 percent of the hard cost prior to the bids ($1.060 million), furniture, fixtures and other equipment ($530,165).

            The meeting agenda also includes a motion which would authorize the administration to work with Public Financial Management and Eckert, Seamans, Cherin, & Mellot LLP as Bond Counsel in conjunction with the issuance of General Bonds Series of 2019.

            The meeting – held at the district's Education Center, located at 2229 East Buck Road in Upper Hanover – is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.