Reading Schools to Weigh $3.65M Auditorium Job

The Reading School District's Board of School Directors is set to award about $3.65 million in contracts to renovate the auditorium at Southern Middle School when it meets Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 7 p.m.

This is the Reading School District, the public school system, not the City of Reading government. The two are separate bodies with separate budgets and separate boards. The district's board holds its regular meetings in the Administration Building Boardroom at 800 Washington Street, Reading.

The main vote: four contracts for one auditorium

The board will vote to hire four separate companies to renovate the Southern Middle School auditorium. Under Pennsylvania's Separations Act, public school construction has to be bid out in separate prime contracts for the general, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, so one project ends up with four winning bidders instead of one.

The recommended awards, listed on the agenda as item 12.01, are:

• General construction: Uhrig Construction Inc., $1,653,000
• Mechanical: ASL Refrigeration, Inc., $251,200
• Electrical: Schipsi Electric, $1,475,770
• Plumbing: Vision Mechanical, $267,000

Added together, the four awards total about $3.65 million. The agenda lists the four line items separately and does not print a combined total. It also does not state how the project will be paid for, when work would start, or when it would finish. Those details are not on the agenda.

Weapons detection at events

The board will also consider buying two CEIA OPENGATE weapons-detection systems, a type of metal detector, from School Specialty at a cost not to exceed $45,651.13, paid from the general fund. The agenda says the units are "to be deployed at athletic events, senior graduation, and prom."

Other construction and money items

Several more building items are on the agenda. The board will weigh a $54,000 proposal from Consolidated Engineers to design a new fire-alarm system at Central Middle School, which the agenda describes as "an emergency due to the state of the current fire alarm system."

Other items include a $88,625.25 change order at Reservoir Field for sound reinforcement, a $54,500 amendment to an architectural agreement with AEM Architects for the Reading High School kitchen and cafeteria renovation, and $44,470 to Unified Door and Hardware to replace six sets of entrance doors and hardware at the Northeast auditorium, purchased through a state Co-Stars contract.

The board will also consider a contract with Arbor E&T, LLC (Equus Workforce Solutions) to serve as the "employer of record for student interns," at a cost not to exceed $237,395, paid from federal funds.

For scale, the district's August bills totaled $13,411,252.77, so this is a routine month of construction and operating business at a large urban district rather than a single outsized purchase.

School construction and district spending show up on local tax bills, since the school-district portion is the largest piece of most property tax bills in Berks County. For background, see our Berks County property tax explained guide and our earlier coverage of the Reading school district cafeteria workers contract. To track other local governments, use our guide to find your township or borough meeting schedule.

How to attend or comment

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in person at the district's Administration Building Boardroom, 800 Washington Street, Reading. The district streams and records its board meetings on its YouTube channel, per the district. Residents can offer public comment at the meeting. Confirm the meeting location on the district's board page before you go.

We will post a recap once minutes or video from the meeting are available.