AG board agrees to pay construction bills
The Albert Gallatin Area School Board Wednesday approved paying continued costs for the construction of a new A.L. Wilson Elementary School to the architect and engineering firms involved in the project. The board at the regular monthly meeting approved paying Michael Molnar Associates in Uniontown $20,000 as a construction document phase fee, K2 Engineering, Inc., in Uniontown $2,500 for the construction code plan review and Mier Energy Engineering LLC $1,400 for work for the school to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which will cause project reimbursement from the state to be higher.
All nine members were present.
The board awarded construction contracts for the $9 million project in late February, but Superintendent Walter Vicinelly said on Wednesday contracts have not been signed and construction of the school will not begin until the state Department of Education approves PlanCon Part G, stage seven of the 11-step PlanCon or Planning and Construction Workbook process initiated when a district undertakes a major construction project and seeks reimbursement from the state.
A project’s eligibility for reimbursement is determined at this step. Architects previously projected the state to reimburse 24.9 percent of the project, but had said it would be higher if the district receives LEED certification.
A.L. Wilson is the last school in the district to undergo renovation/new construction, said Vicinelly.
In other business, two groups of students were honored before the board.
A group of junior high students was honored for their participation in the Math Counts program. Fifteen students participated in the program and some will go onto the state competition in Harrisburg. Board member John Gruskowski said the team was one of the best in the region.
Future Business Leaders of America students were honored for their participation in a regional competition, while some members have qualified to compete in the state competition in Hershey. If they place among the top competitors there, the students could enter the national competition in Chicago.
“Here’s the proof that public schools are working,” said board President Edward Sutton. “What makes this happen is good parents and teachers.”
The board also conducted the following business:
– Accepted the retirements of Deborah Park, fifth-grade teacher at Friendship Hill Elementary School, and Christine Bryan, teacher at D. Ferd Swaney Elementary School.
– Hired Kristen Martin as a high school English teacher, Erin Drury as a high school music teacher and band director, and Lindsey Smart as a family consumer science teacher.
– Agreed to transfer 1.7-acre piece of land located behind the Masontown Elementary School to the Masontown Volunteer Fire Department for use as an emergency helicopter landing site.
– Awarded cafeteria positions to Janet Smearcheck at George J. Plava, Carolyn Hoover at the high school and Michelle Dice at AG South Middle School.
The board entered into executive session regarding the move after Vicinelly said the district has been contacted about the grievance process for one of the positions.
– Revised the school calendar to set the last day of school as June 11 and graduation as June 12.
– Granted the purchase of an online Encyclopedia Britannica for students and parents at a $1,800 cost paid by federal Title 1 funds and $8,340 in software for a paperless employee time clock system.
– Approved the senior class trip to Orlando, Fla., and the high school band trip to Virginia Beach, Va., both to take place in April.
– Announced the next regular board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 18 in the D. Ferd Swaney Elementary School cafeteria.