School board to move ahead with project
CONNELLSVILLE – It appears the Connellsville Area School Board is ready to move forward on a less costly high school renovation project after the building and grounds committee met Tuesday with the district architectural firm. Dr. Paul Means, board member and chairman of the building and grounds committee said that it is likely he would make a motion at tonight’s regular meeting to put the project on the fast track while reducing the original $60 million price tag to approximately $45 million.
A week ago, the board by a 5-4 vote rejected all construction bids due to the higher than expected cost to revamp the 40-year-old building.
“If I can wait a week to save $15 million then I will,” said Means, following Tuesday’s meeting.
Means, along with board members Denise Martin, James Fabian, Tom Dolde and Dr. P.J. Carte voted to reject the bids.
To reduce the overall cost, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates senior project manager Jeff Straub said that the proposed Olympic-sized swimming pool, auxiliary gymnasium and a two-story main commons area would be nixed. Instead, the in-place swimming pool will be renovated and the current building design will stay intact.
The auxiliary gymnasium was to be constructed in the same area as the current swimming pool.
The cost reductions involve maintaining the current gymnasium, auditorium, music wing and cafeteria, all slated for reconfiguration in the original plan.
Other proposed modifications include reductions of the bus and visitor parking areas and the elimination of upgrades to the faculty parking areas.
It is also likely that the district administration office will stay at its current Connellsville Township Elementary School location with the space designated at the high school for the administrators instead be utilized for classrooms, said Straub.
The revised space use will also increase the state Department of Education reimbursement amount, he added.
“The wow factor is still going to be there,” said Means of the reconfigured project.
“The main focus is not to impact education; it is still going to be a new building with new surfaces and finishes.
“Some of the architectural (enhancements) and external things are going to be eliminated.”
Board member Francis Mongell questioned whether the downsized project would meet the needs of the district in the years to come.
Douglas Rohrbaugh, co-owner of the architectural firm, said that while the renovations have been reduced, it will not impact the educational levels sought by the district.
“If you start cutting to the point it does impact education, I will tell you,” he said.
Means said that the cost reduction will also be beneficial to the district budget.
“My goal is to reach the $45 million mark,” he said. “We already have a $30 million bond issue and with the (anticipated receipt) of the $15 million QZAB (Quality Zone Academy Bond) we don’t have to get another bond issue.”
The QZAB is a 15 year, competitive, no-interest loan, made available to districts by the education department.
“That will allow us some room if we have to do some other renovations at other schools,” said Means.
Director Gary Wandel, who along with board members Jon Detwiler, Francis Mongell and Kevin Lape voted to move forward with the original project said that he was pleased with the streamlined project and speculated it would likely have the needed support.
“This is fine,” he said.
The plan is to have documents prepared for the contractors to review by the end of January and bids opened by spring.
“We want this to be the first large project out on the street,” said Straub.
If the contracts are awarded, the construction work would begin prior to the end of the school year.
Means said that further details would be provided at tonight’s regular board meeting.