LH board approves next step in renovations
Renovations to the Laurel Highlands High School took another step forward Thursday.
The school board authorized the architect to prepare the planning documents to be filed with the state Department of Education for a project not to exceed $40 million. The plans to be developed by the architect are to include separate alternative bids for an additional instructional wing, an auxiliary gymnasium and additional storage facilities.
Board president Angelo Giachetti said having the option to add or delete various elements is key to doing the project.
“If the cost is not what we want, we can always scrap that project and go on with the next one,” Giachetti said of the alternate bid process.
Board member Beverly Beal passed on the vote saying she had just heard about the resolution at the board meeting and school director Tom Vernon was absent from the meeting. The remaining seven board members voted in favor of the resolution.
A building and grounds committee meeting will be held Tuesday, January 25, though the time was not set as of Thursday’s meeting. The committee meeting will be advertised.
“If anybody has any questions they can direct them to our building and grounds director, which is Craig McKee,” Giachetti said. “I would encourage the community to come out and participate with us.”
In other matters the board adopted an Act 1 resolution agreeing not to raise taxes by more than 2 percent in the coming budget, the limit set by the state.
The millage rate is currently 13.93 mills, meaning taxes could not go up more than .27865 mills.
The board voted 7-0, with Beal passing to hire Andrew Loy as a guidance counselor at the high school with the position paid for by the Smaller Learning Communities grant. Beal said she had not been involved in the interview process.
The board also authorized federal programs director Jessica Scott to look into starting a pre-school program at Clark Elementary in conjunction with the Private Industry Council. Clark said she would like to have pre-school classes in all the elementary schools eventually to better prepare students for kindergarten and first grade.
“Our strategic planning goal is to have all children at grade level for reading and math by third grade,” Scott said.
Scott said pre-school doesn’t push academics on young children, but offers opportunity for development.
“Just having the social situation and activities and creative play is making the connections in their brain,” Scott said.
The board announced that it will be holding kindergarten registration the week of April 11-15 in conjunction with the Albert Gallatin, Frazier, Brownsville and Connellsville school districts in an effort to get as many students registered for kindergarten and academically assessed prior to the start of school next fall.
It was also announced that the district has received an anti-bullying grant for Marshall Elementary School to be used for staff and student training and development and related purposes.
The board also approved an amended school calendar, making Jan. 24 and Feb. 21 snow make up days for student instruction.