Board to seek new bids for renovations
CONNELLSVILLE – The Connellsville Area School Board will give general construction contractors a second opportunity to offer bids for the proposed high school renovation project, according to action taken Wednesday. The directors unanimously voted to reject the four general construction cost proposals received last week and simultaneously authorized project architect Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates of Mechanicsburg to solicit new bids.
There was no action pertaining to the heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVaC), plumbing, electrical, asbestos abatement, pool construction or food service bids also received last week. The board has 60 days to take action.
Directors agreed to incorporate additional deduction items into the bid specifications in order to determine specific costs, but declined to change the scope of the project to trim the more than $35 million general construction bids.
Board President Kevin Lape said the project is at a crucial stage as the nearly 40-year-old high school building must be renovated.
“(The contractors) know we are not happy with the numbers,” he said. “Hopefully, they are going to crunch their numbers and come back with something lower.”
Lape said that all involved in the process were anticipating the general construction bids to be at or near $30 million.
The lateness of the rebidding, too, said Lape, could help to reduce the costs.
“Maybe some contractors are finishing up some of their other work and will be off for the winter,” he said. “There will be work here to do during the winter months.”
Lape said that he is personally ready to move forward with the project, but the majority of the board is looking for a reduction in the overall cost before they would be willing to proceed.
“And you need a majority to move it forward,” he said.
As to the financing of the project, Lape said he is willing to raise taxes to afford the renovations and new construction.
“We’re going to pay for it just like we have all the other renovations projects,” he said. “If we have to put a burden on our taxpayers, hopefully it will be for something worthwhile.”
Jeff Straub, senior project manager for Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates, said that the advertisement for bids would likely be done by Saturday and interested contractors given approximately three weeks to prepare their cost proposals.
No date for the bid opening was discussed.
In other action, the directors also conducted the following business:
n Issued supplemental contracts to Jarred Dolde, senior high football equipment manager, at a salary of $2,563; Leslee Malia, senior high cheerleader coach, at a salary of $2,375; Laura Martin, senior high cheerleader coach, at a salary of $1,948; Cedar Brunache, junior high boys soccer head coach at a salary of $1,794; Jeffery Kreinbrook, junior high boys assistant soccer coach, at a salary of $1,333; Brad Davis, Junior High East girls basketball head coach, at a salary of $2,563; Jennifer Sanzone, Junior High West girls basketball head coach, at a salary of $2,358; Kris Oswald, Junior High East boys basketball head coach at a salary of $2,100; Pat Mullaney, Junior High East boys basketball assistant coach at a salary of $1,538; Jaime McPoyle, Junior High West boys basketball head coach, at a salary of $2,350 and Alex Fogle, Junior High West boys basketball assistant coach at a salary of $1,538.
n Authorized the purchase of a John Deere lawn tractor through the state bid list at a cost of $9,335.
n Agreed to purchase student desks through the state bid list at an approximate cost of $12,000.
n Approved the attendance of Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC) director Linda Murphy at the Aug. 16-17 PIL Workshop at State College at an approximate cost of $500 for registration, lodging and travel.
n Admitted Heather Prinkey as a non-traditional student in the CACTC cosmetology program.
n Entered into an affiliation agreement with Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Department of Nursing for school health clinical experience.
n Agreed to purchase the Academy of Reading and Academy of Math intervention programs for all grade levels at a cost of $600,000. The cost is to be shared by the Federal Programs and Special Education Stimulus funds.
n Approved a mathematics and communication tutorial class for students in grades 10 and 11 to improve math, reading speaking, listening and writing skills.
n Hired Charles Michael as a year round principal at Bullskin Township and Connellsville Township elementary schools at a salary of $83,688.
n Approved an Aug. 17-20 Kinder Camp for incoming kindergarten students. Camps will be held Aug. 17 at Springfield Township and Connellsville Township elementary schools; Aug. 18 at Dunbar Township and South Side elementary schools; Aug. 19 at Bullskin Township and C.N. Pritts elementary schools and Aug. 20 at Zachariah Connellsville and Dunbar Borough elementary schools. Camps will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
n Entered into an affiliation agreement with Seton Hill University Coordinated program in Nutrition/Dietetics for student clinical experience.
n Agreed to operate a sophomore transition camp Aug. 18 at the senior high school.
n Purchased 20 pin pad card readers from Meals Plus at a cost of $7,980.
n Hired Susan Bucci as a senior high school library clerk at an hourly rate to be determined.
n Approved an agreement with Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services Inc. and New Directions for behavior health academic program at a daily cost of $55 for regular education and $60 for special education students. Placement will be subject to a mutual agreement between parents/guardians and the district.
n Agreed to purchase the eTools Nurse Package from Inner Link at a cost of $9,000.