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Politics & Government

Long-Delayed Equipment For High School Gym Arrives

District officials optimistic of summer grand opening

School district officials now have a bigger reason to be optimistic of opening their new high school gym before the next school year.

Long-delayed heating/ventilation/air conditioning equipment arrived last last month, according to business manager Jack Myers.

“It's all on the roof. They're still working on some of the attachments,” he said Thursday.

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In addition, Myers said, the floors have been installed and the bleachers and outside paving are almost done.

“Substantial completion should be accomplished within a couple weeks,” he said.

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Myers and Superintendent Bill Gretzula said they remain optimistic of a grand opening this summer.

Ground was broken for the 45,000-square-foot facility at Bensalem High in July 2009.

The HVAC equipment, imported from Jordan, was due to arrive more than seven months ago, according to Myers.

The company from which the district purchased the equipment, Petra, provided temporary units at no extra cost to the district to cool the building so that the wood for the floor could get acclimated.

Myers previously said the district may have to file a lawsuit against Petra. This week he said that is still a possibility.

“It depends upon the assessment of other contractors. …if it (the delay) costs us or other contractors extra money,” he said.

The combination gym and community center has a planned price tag of about $15 million.

 

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