Improvements to facilities planned by Hampton Township School District

Before his scheduled April 3 retirement, Rick Farino addressed Hampton School Board for a final time as the district’s supervisor of buildings and grounds.

“My 263rd board meeting,” he said on March 13, prior to giving a presentation about the five-year facilities improvement budget for the district.

The budget covers a period starting in 2023-24, and the spending plan lists more than $146,00 in project costs for next school year. Included are:

• Energy-efficient LEDs to replace the existing stage lighting in the middle school auditorium, the usual venue for school board meetings, $5,200.

• Wire fencing at Central Elementary School along Allegheny County trails at Hartwood Acres Park, $20,000.

• Ride-on floor scrubber at Central, replacing 14-year-old unit, $13,000.

• Floor resurfacing and updated logos in the new gym at the high school, $15,000. The district may receive a $35,000 grant from AHN to cover balance, according to Farino.

• Guard rail installation in the parking lot near the field house at Fridley Field. The existing rail is between 15 and 18 years and presents “a safety issue,” Farino said. He has received a quote of $18,500.

• New wrestling mats for the high school, $30,000. Mats at the middle school are included in the budget for 2024-25 at an estimated cost of $20,000.

• Filter and belt replacements for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at the high school and middle school, $5,920.

• Glycol to prevent freezing of the middle school boiler room sprinkler system, $5,500.

• Replacement of a 15-year-old truck used for daily transportation of goods and supplies between buildings, $36,000.

• Double oven as a replacement unit at the high school, $6,500.

• Cafeteria table replacement programs at the middle school and Central Elementary, $4,044 each.

• Reach-in cooler to replace the middle school’s 20-year-old unit, $33,000.

• Ice machine replacement at Wyland Elementary, $2,755.

Farino expressed gratitude to school board members during the three decades he has worked for the district.

“Thank you for your support and everything you’ve done for facilities (and) custodial,” he said. “We really appreciate it, getting through these lists, spending a lot of money, getting work done. And our buildings are beautiful.”