Aug 13, 2003 By Josh Krysak 2 min read

During a brief work session and special meeting Tuesday, the Uniontown Area School Board again heard from construction manager Sam Denney about progress with the Wharton School renovation project. Denney told the board that while not all the construction for the $4.2 million project will be completed for the first day of school, the building will be operating at full capacity, and students should encounter no delays.

“All in all, the contractors have done an excellent job, considering the weather and the pyrite they found. It will be ready to go by the start of school,” Denney said.

He said the library section of the addition will not be done by Aug. 25, but all classrooms will be finished. He said the administration section of the building also will be one to two weeks behind schedule, but the kitchen renovations, which were slated to be finished in mid-October, probably will be completed early.

He said the parking lot will be much improved with additional spaces along the sides and front, and some grass will remain out front to make the school aesthetically pleasing.

Superintendent Charles Machesky, responding to repeated telephone calls from concerned parents, said that school will begin on time and that no students will be moved or inconvenienced by the construction.

The board also conducted the following business during the special meeting:

– Hired Altman and Altman as the architectural firm to represent the district for the upcoming high school renovation project.

– Hired Gerald Shimko as an assistant varsity girls basketball coach for the 2003-2004 school year.

Also, during the work session, the board considered filling three elementary teaching positions at Lafayette and Marclay Schools, a librarian’s position at Lafayette and a school nurse’s position for the district for the upcoming school year.