Central Greene board says goodbye to member
WAYNESBURG – The Central Greene School Board bid farewell and best wishes to 17-year school board member Ron Jesso after accepting his resignation on Tuesday. Though he was not present at the regular monthly meeting, Jesso of Waynesburg was in the thoughts of both board members and the superintendent, all who said he will sincerely be missed.
Jesso and his wife, Sandy, will be moving to Florida in the near future to retire and take care of their grandchildren, said board members.
Superintendent Dr. Jerome Bartley noted Jesso’s willingness to serve on school district committees, including the athletic and activities and personnel committees, on which he served up to his resignation, which he submitted at a committee meeting last week.
“Seventeen years on the school board is unusual in most school districts,” said Bartley. “He will be missed.”
The board is seeking letters of interest from Waynesburg residents who would like to be considered for appointment to the board’s vacant seat. Residents can send letters of interest to the district administration office at 250 S. Cumberland St., Waynesburg, PA 15370.
The board has 30 days to appoint a new member to the board, said Bartley, adding board members will elect the new member from applications received.
In other business, the board voted 7-1 to allow Foreman Architects to proceed with the PlanCon process, namely the project justification and schematic design phases, to be submitted to the state Department of Education for review.
Foreman Architects of Zelienople is performing the schematic design work for the proposed renovation project at Waynesburg Central High School, using a project range of $10 to $17 million.
Actual construction will not begin until next fall, according to district Business Manager Walter Stout.
School Director Joanne L. Brookover cast the sole “no” vote on the motion to proceed with the project, noting after the meeting that she does not believe the school district has that kind of money to dedicate to the project.
Included in project plans are the addition of six science classrooms, increasing the size of the music and arts rooms, replacing the roof over the entire structure, updating the building’s mechanical system and bringing the school into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
The board also approved paying Foreman Architects $22,500 for the schematic design work, and Exterior Systems $82,351 for the East Franklin school re-roofing project. These amounts for the month’s invoices will be taken from the district’s construction fund.