May 24, 2007 By Patty Yauger 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – District school board members got their first opportunity to review renovation proposals for the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC), with associated costs that appear to be reasonable to most members of the panel. “I was very surprised,” said Connellsville Area School District board President Francis Mongell following the Tuesday meeting with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates project manager R. Jeffrey Straub. “The numbers that I saw last week made me sick; the ones we were shown tonight indicated that he went back and took another look.”

The overall estimated figures range from $14 to $18 million, depending upon the scope of work to be completed. It is anticipated that the Pennsylvania Department of Education would reimburse the district for about $4 million in each option scenario.

Each proposal includes the construction of a two-story classroom wing and a combination gymnasium/kitchen wing, plus the replacement heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing and lighting systems.

The least costly proposal makes moderate renovations to the bulk of the center and extensive repairs to others.

“You have a 35-year-old building that has had relatively nothing done to it in that amount of time,” said Straub. “While it has held up pretty well, the systems have outlived their life cycles.”

The school was built in 1972.

The renovation is the first phase of a long-range plan laid out by the majority of the board two years ago and includes reconfiguring the grade levels and closing a few elementary schools. No formal action has been taken to close any schools or to reconfigure the grade levels.

The renovations at the center will also allow for the 11- and 12-grade students to remain at the school throughout the day.

A proposed renovation option which appears to be favored by several members of the board, includes the construction of theory rooms for classroom instruction that would permit English, science, math and history courses to be taught at the center.

Currently, all students spend a portion of the day at the career center and then move to the high school for academic classes.

The full-day center program for the 11- and 12-grade students will be in effect when they return in the fall.

According to prior board action, sophomores will continue to split their day between the high school and the center and the ninth-grade rotation program will remain intact.

The scope of the renovation work does depend upon the findings of a geo-technical and structural engineer who are attempting to determine the cause of structural damage in the rear wing at the center

Nearly a dozen years ago the concrete flooring and walls in the wing began to crack causing concern as to the safety of the building.

Board member Kevin Lape said that an analysis of the site indicated the building was constructed on an area of pyrite that shifted and caused the damage.

Although there has been no further shifting, Lape said that he would reserve making a decision on a renovation course of action until engineers can confirm the surface is structurally sound.

“We really can’t make that decision until we get those reports,” he said.

Straub said that a preliminary investigation of the site has revealed the area is safe, but may require the flooring in the entire wing to be replaced, which would increase costs.

“We believe we can resolve the problem, but we need to do our investigation,” he said.

A fourth renovation option and the most expensive would demolish the wing and rebuild the shops.

Board member Ed Zadylak indicated he would not take any action until financing of the project was considered.

“You gave us the plans and they are nice,” he told Straub. “Now we’ll sit down with the finance committee and determine what we can afford.”

According to Straub’s proposed timetable, if the board can determine which option it favors, the firm will likely advertise for bids from construction contractors in the spring with construction to follow.

He estimates the renovations and new construction would be complete by August 2009.

Straub requested the board make a determination within the next month.