Board approves renovation option for Junior High West
CONNELLSVILLE — Following numerous feasibility study meetings and months of discussion, the Connellsville Area School Board decided to move forward with a renovation plan for Junior High West.
Dr. Paul Means, board vice president, introduced a motion to approve one of the six renovation options presented by John Pappas, vice president of Eckles Construction Services Inc. of New Castle.
The board approved an option that includes kindergarten and first grade in the renovated east wing, with fifth and sixth grade on the second floor. This option will also provide individual first-grade toilets, and is the most expensive option at a little under $1.5 million.
Means said he thought this was the best option.
“It does include restrooms for the primary grades, kindergarten and first grade,” he said. “It also eliminates the smallest of the classrooms in Junior High West and turns those into the kindergarten and first-grade rooms by consolidating them.”
Board member Francis Mongell was the only member to vote against the motion. He said since he came on the board in 1995, the board recognized that it needed to renovate 12 buildings.
“Once the high school is done, we’ve gotten six of those 12 completed,” Mongell said. “During every renovation process, there were certain rules and recommendations made to the board of directors. One was to do the worst first.”
The board was also told to plan ahead and to make sure there was a balanced budget before a renovation project was started.
“This current project doesn’t meet any of that criteria,” Mongell said. “So I’ll be voting no for this.”
Prior to the vote, Connellsville resident Sherry Shultz expressed her disappointment with the district’s decision to close Zachariah Connell and move the students to Junior High West.
“You have a building sitting on South Side that needs a lot of work,” Shultz said. “You’re putting money into a building that’s not needed. You say you want to save money … but you’re not saving anything. You’re spending more.”
Board President Jon Detwiler said, “It’s a done deal.”
“You spend to save,” Detwiler said. “We’re trying to make a great place for your children. I guarantee it, when they get out there, it’s going to be a really nice place.”
Pappas said that a lot of good dialogue and discussion has started regarding the renovation, and that the mechanical and electrical engineers have already started to work as well.
He said he hopes to put the drawings out to bid in January, receive the bids in February or March and complete the project by July 2013. “We’re really moving forward on our end to hit the dates you have,” Pappas said.
Turning to other matters, the board:
n Appointed Andrews and Price LLC of Pittsburgh as special counsel regarding the district’s current litigation over the Ten Commandments monument.
n Approved more than $17,000 in change orders for additions and renovations to the senior high school.
n Approved to hold its monthly work session and regular meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The work session will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m.