Jan 22, 2007 By Patty Yauger 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – A Connellsville Area School District board member was critical this week of the lack of communication concerning the costs for the move from the former administration building to the Connellsville Township Elementary School. “There’s no doubt the move was necessary,” said board member Tom Dolde. “What I don’t understand is why I didn’t know what it cost to do it until this week.”

Dolde said that a cost sheet was included in his January informational packet prior to the board’s agenda-setting meeting, five months after the move was completed.

“I just think everyone should know what it cost (to relocate the administrative staff),” he said.

After nearly three years of discussion, the board last year approved the relocation from the former Crawford School to the under-utilized elementary school.

District maintenance workers completed the bulk of the construction work during the summer that included dividing the classrooms, adding storage areas, and constructing a wall that sealed off access from the student-used portion of the school.

According to figures produced by Eugene Cunningham, district business manager, the cost tallied $62,134 for various construction, plumbing, paint, window, security, carpeting and electrical supplies, plus salaries for maintenance workers and custodians.

The school library staff was paid to move the contents of the library to another location within the school.

The total outlined by Cunningham also included needed supplies for the new administrative offices.

Board member Ed Zadylak, who spearheaded the relocation, said that the move was warranted as the administration building was having heating problems and if the system were to be replaced, it would cost the district upwards of $50,000.

“It was a good decision,” said Zadylak, pointing to the 2005-06 operational costs of both locations.

Cunningham said that operational costs for the former administration building totaled $68,000 while the Connellsville Township building cost the district approximately $74,000 in utility, communication, repairs, maintenance and custodial supply costs. The amounts do not include salaries for building personnel or any related insurances.

The Seventh Street property was later sold to Eric Gordon for $76,800.

Dolde, meanwhile, said that he was satisfied with the information.

In a related issue, board members agreed to revise an earlier motion that called for the move costs to be taken from a capital improvement fund to instead be taken from the construction fund.

Cunningham said that the Internal Revenue Service requires the district’s in place construction fund to be utilized within a three-year period and the time limit is near expiration.

The account, said Cunningham, has sufficient funds to cover the costs related to the move.

In other action, the school board:

– Approved the attendance of Linda Michael and Irene McKenna, Dunbar Township Elementary School teachers, at a state educational technology expo and conference in Hershey at a total cost of $400.

– Approved the attendance of Terry Boors, senior high school teacher, to an EMS update conference at Seven Springs Mountain Resort at a cost of $200.

– Entered into an articulation agreement with Penn State University mining technology program for two years, whereby high school students can receive college credits.

– Named Susane Borek as a long-term substitute social studies teacher and Dominic Grenaldo as a long-term substitute teacher.

– Extended Brad DeMarco as a long-term substitute English teacher, as needed.

– Hired Beth Dunn as a secondary guidance counselor and Stephanie Romanishan as a biology teacher at a salary of $32,356.

– Added Benjamin Faris, E. Jude Gore Jr., Lora Pirl, Dylan Ramsier, Candise Miller, Johnathan Gamon and Jennifer Stinnett to the professional substitute list.

– Approved the attendance of William Wilson, federal programs director, to a federal programs conference in Pittsburgh April 15-18 with all costs to be paid by federal funds.

– Authorized Vonda Brewer and Jamie Bielecki to attend student assistance program training at Saint Vincent College March 13 and 14 and April 18 and 19, with all costs to be paid by federal funds.

– Added Anayansi Baltz, Tammy Hall and Susan Johnson to the cafeteria substitute list.

– Hired Vida Nicholson as a four-hour cafeteria employee at an hourly salary of $11.02, pending a 30-day probation period.

– Added Michelle Keefer and Erica Bodkin to the support professional substitute list.

– Approved the purchase and installation of three additional cameras, a monitor and a multiplexer at Clifford N. Pritts Elementary School at an approximate cost of $2,900.

– Renewed a one-year school agreement operating license service agreement with Insight for Microsoft computer software at a cost of $61,260.