School board to consider closing admin building
In a cost-saving measure, Uniontown Area School Board directors will consider next week the closure of Central School along Church Street, currently used as the district’s administration building.
According to Dr. Charles Machesky, district superintendent, in an attempt to save money, he recommends that the 19 employees currently housed in the building be moved to a location in the high school.
Machesky said school officials have estimated the annual operating cost of the administration building to be between $125,000 and $150,000.
“We have had several retirements (in administration) and those positions haven’t been filled, so there aren’t that many employees left here for that kind of operating expense,” said Machesky, who noted that a declining enrollment in the district has also been considered in the recommendation to move.
“As of March 1, the high school population is 863, down from 1,100 just a few years ago. In kindergarten through ninth grade, enrollment averages about 199 students per class. So we are looking at this declining enrollment and also looking at ways to lower costs in this district,” Machesky said.
Machesky said school officials have surveyed a newly renovated area on the fourth floor of the high school in the Wilson Avenue wing that will allow for ample room for employees as well as adequate storage space.
“It’s also handicap accessible and has a meeting room right off the entrance,” he said. Machesky noted that the area being considered will be accessible to the public, but will be closed off to areas occupied by students.
Rob Smalley, district project manager, told directors there may be a one-time cost for some additional construction to close off the proposed administration space from the rest of the high school and ensure the area is up to fire and safety codes.
On Monday, directors will also decide whether or not the district will have an appraisal completed on the current administration building in preparation for a possible sale in the future.
Solicitor Sam Davis said that if directors vote to close and sell the building, he recommends they do so through an auction process.
“I think the public would have more confidence in an auction rather than a sealed bid process,” he said.
During the district’s planning session this week, board President Lloyd Williams told architects overseeing the high school construction project that while they may be up to code, the railings at the new main entrance aren’t high enough.
“I think it’s a safety concern,” Williams said. “I’d like to see them raised a couple of feet at least.”
Brian Kilgus of Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates of Mechanicsburg told directors the company will look at options about raising the railings.