Brownsville school board to seek more construction proposals
BROWNSVILLE – The Brownsville Area School Board opted Monday to continue the process of seeking architectural proposals to construct a new K-5 elementary school despite assertions from a board member that doing so could result in litigation. With a 4-3 vote, the board decided not to rescind last month’s motion to seek architectural proposals, meaning the district will move forward. Plans are to demolish the former Redstone Middle School and build a new elementary center on the site.
Board member Andy Dorsey said he wanted to rescind the motion to seek architectural proposals because of the “possibility of an existing contract.” Dorsey said the board already looked at drawings.
Board member Stella Broadwater said solicitor James T. Davis had advised the board against moving ahead. “Davis told us we could face litigation,” Broadwater said.
Superintendent Larry Golembiewski pointed out that the motion is “only to seek RFPs” (requests for proposals) and not to hire another architect.
Michael S. Molnar, the district’s current architect, said that a “rule” for architects is that they can’t submit proposals while a contract is in place. Molnar is currently the architect for the district’s $23 million middle/high school complex renovation project.
Broadwater said she thinks the board should “stand still, get this load out and come back with something brand new.”
The motion to rescind last month’s motion failed with Dorsey, Broadwater and Nena Kaminsky voting in favor of it and Sandra Chan, John Evans, Ellen Rohrer and Rocky Brashear voting against it. Francine Pavone and Roxanne Markovich were absent.
When the motion to rescind failed, Kaminsky made a motion to use the district’s $18 million credit line to build a new stadium with a track near the high school and demolish the Redstone Middle School. Broadwater seconded the motion.
Business manager Michael Huth confirmed that the board will have one year from August to use the credit line.
Kaminsky said the money must be used in a year and everything has been talked about for “years and years and years.”
The motion failed when only Kaminsky and Broadwater voted in favor of it. Dorsey said he is in favor of a new stadium but didn’t feel it would be a good idea to move ahead without plans.
Evans said he didn’t think the district could afford to build a new stadium and a new elementary school.
After the vote, Dorsey said the board needs to set a meeting to discuss the projects. He said they need to move on instead of arguing.
Following a discussion, the board voted unanimously to seek bids to either refurbish the existing sound system or seek bids for a new sound system for the Brownsville Area High School auditorium.
When questions arose about why a new system is needed, Molnar said the current system is OK but this is a chance to have a “state of the art” system.
Molnar said there was some damage to some parts of the system during construction.
Jay Paroda of Maccabee Industrial Inc., the district’s construction manager, said if anything was damaged, it was not the contractor’s fault because the school district was informed that all the components were to be removed. He said most were moved and are being stored elsewhere in the district.
Broadwater said it is common sense not to smash up the equipment. Paroda said there are missing components.
Molnar said the difference between refurbishing or purchasing new equipment could be a difference between paying $10,000 or $60,000.
Dorsey said if components have been destroyed or gone, it is negligence.
Paroda said most of the sound equipment is six years old, and some is older. He said if the board opts to purchase a new system, they will never have to replace it again.
During the superintendent’s report, Golembiewski said it appears that the construction work is progressing ahead of schedule for the middle/high school renovation project. Golembiewski said he will put out a warning that there will be no delay for the beginning of school this year.
Golembiewski said if there is a delay in the start of school, like there was last year, he will recommend a delay of payment to the contractors. Golembiewski said he has been assured that the cafeteria will be ready and the only concern is if the tile will be installed in time.