Laurel Middle School project enters final phase
Contractors have entered the final phase of converting Laurel Highlands Junior High School to a middle school. John Over of project manager K2 Inc. told the school board during a work session Tuesday that he expected the $9.2 million project to wrap up in March. Over said all of the work should be completed and the new wing of classrooms empty to be readied for the sixth grades that will join seventh and eighth grades in the fall.
“You will have a lot of time to get organized for your upcoming school year,” he said.
Over said he had hoped early on that everything would be done sometime this month, but he said the project still remains ahead of the August scheduled completion.
He explained this last phase begins with demolition work within the west wing of the school and the band room, which eventually will be renovated like the rest of the building.
Over had no change orders on project costs to give the board for this month, but he said they may in January receive whatever change orders remain.
Meanwhile, Over quoted prices of about $2,000 to $9,000 for 400 feet of fencing to shield four houses from the junior high school.
School board President Edward S. George said one of the school’s neighbors has asked that the district install a fence for privacy and lighting issues. Board members were reluctant to grant the request. For example, director Judy Browell said she has had requests from residents not to install the fence, and she was concerned doing so may set a costly precedent for all the schools.
The board also discussed quotes of $5,200 to $9,800 for a security system at the junior high school. The system would be paid for through the district’s construction fund.
The board will meet today at 7 p.m. at the junior high school auditorium for the annual reorganization meeting. The regular business meeting will follow.
In other business, Browell asked if the board would consider hiring a teacher or instructional aide for kindergarten at R. W. Clark Elementary School, where the classes have 25, 26 and 27 students this year.
The board members talked about the need, and Superintendent Dr. Ronald Sheba said that because of this year’s tight budget, the district might not be able to hire a new teacher or aide, although he said he might be able to move an existing aide.
The directors also talked about charging groups that use the district’s gymnasiums beyond the regular rate for extra costs the district incurs, like a custodian on a Saturday.
The issue came up with regard to the Fayette County Church League, which had already paid for use of a gym, and Sheba said new requests have come up.
George said the school board wants to accommodate the taxpayers but also has to cover the related costs, again citing a tight budget.
Regarding money, director Tom Vernon suggested that the school board draft a statement to the public on school district finances in the wake of the annual audit for the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
The school board last month accepted the audit by McClure & Wolf Certified Public Accountants and Consultants. The auditors said the school district’s 2001-2002 budget came out with $30.7 million in actual expenditures and $28.6 million in actual revenues for a difference, or loss, of $2.1 million. They had explained that the budget, when it was prepared for the year, showed the anticipated revenue meeting expenses, and the board also figured in a $432,000 fund balance, but the projected figures for the revenue were too high and the expenses too low.
They went over the audit in length last month, but Vernon, who heads the finance committee, said people are still asking what happened, and the school board should put out a report about where the money went and how the figures were wrong.
Among other matters, the board held an executive session to discuss selection of a half-time Access medical billing clerk.