Easton Area Public Library’s chiller gave out over the summer, forcing the Easton Area School District to look at replacement options.
A solution is on its way, but it’s costly.
The district’s school board approved a library chiller replacement on Tuesday night, with all except Mike Simonetta in favor of it.
At last week’s committee meeting, administrators explained the project totals about $832,000, including engineering fees, with the possibility of a $33,000 deduction if the district opts not to remove the old unit, according to proposal documents.
Assistant Superintendent for District Operations Josh Ziatyk told board members the administration had no choice but to pursue a full replacement after the chiller failed in August.
On the board, the most pointed skepticism came from Simonetta, who pressed the administration on the cost of the project.
“How are we paying for this?” he asked. “We’re using our resources. Plus, this is just a start for the library.”
While the district is ultimately responsible for the cost, Superintendent Tracy Piazza said the district is working with the city to secure additional state-level funding.
Easton City Council approved a resolution last week authorizing the city to apply for a $750,000 Public Library Facilities Keystone Grant.
Simonetta said the district faces additional large building expenses in the coming years that could add up to $5 million, and argued that it may no longer make financial sense to be the library property’s landlord.
“I know this is an unpopular conversation, but we’re talking $5 million in the near future, taking out of our resources from our students while we’re reducing staff, trying to find money for our high school for our kids,” Simonetta said. “I think we really have to rethink what we’re doing and where we’re directing resources.”
Other board members acknowledged his concerns but stressed that the district remains contractually responsible for maintaining the building. Board member Susan Hartranft-Bittinger said the library’s HVAC problem has gone unresolved for too long, and the district has no choice but to address it now.
Board member Meg Sayago said that despite the costs, the library is a crucial resource for children and families.
“The cost of the library is already shared in the tax that we pay, and that frankly does need to be increased. We are not paying enough to support what is a very valuable resource in our community.”
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