Uniontown board reviews high school upgrade plans
During a brief work session Wednesday, the Uniontown Area School Board heard from three architectural firms about proposed upgrades to the high school. After the board heard from the district’s bond counsel last month about floating a new bond issue for about $8 million to renovate the high school, the directors heard from architectural representatives about the proposed renovations Wednesday.
“We are going to look at the architects’ presentations and make a decision either at Monday’s regular meeting or at the meeting in August,” board President Harry “Dutch” Kaufman said. He said the decision will not be an approval of the renovations but simply to hire one of the firms to explore the issue further.
Kaufman said the renovations would encompass the entire school, including the athletic facilities. He said the building has not been renovated since its completion in 1980 and that the state would reimburse the district for some of the construction costs.
According to Superintendent Charles Machesky, the district would be reimbursed about 47 percent of the total cost.
Kaufman said that once an architect is chosen, the district would need to secure a bond for about $8 million.
He said current low interest rates and the need for upgrades should make the decision easy for the board.
“I am hoping that the board moves on this with the low interest rates available. It is a timely time for us to move on this,” he said.
The firms vying for the job are Altman and Altman from Uniontown, who are working for the district on various construction projects; Foreman Architectural Engineers from Zelienople; and L. Robert Kimball & Associates of Pittsburgh.
The board also heard from construction manager Sam Denney about the current projects at Wharton Elementary School and the high school.
Denney said construction at the Wharton and high school sites are progressing as planned.
He said completion of most of the Wharton project, which will cost the district about $4.2 million, is set for Aug. 15, and the renovations to Bill Power Stadium and other renovations to the high school, which will cost the district about $1 million, are scheduled to finish around the start of school, Aug. 25.
He said the concession stand is nearly complete and that the new light poles should be in soon.
Denney added that the existing lighting will remain in place until the new poles are completed and until the lights are ready to install. He said the lights will be the only things not completed by fall classes.
“All the contractors have been excellent and cooperative, and everyone is working very hard,” he said.