Connellsville renovation project receives finishing touches
CONNELLSVILLE — The junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams were able to utilize the newly renovated gym Monday night as contractors are putting the “finishing touches” on the Connellsville Area High School renovation project.
John Pappas, vice president of Eckles Construction Services in New Castle, reported at the school board’s work session that the bleachers, flooring and gym equipment have been installed and that the locker rooms are “substantially complete.”
The natatorium has also seen substantial progress over the last month, Pappas said.
The pool liner has been installed, and the contractor will begin filling the pool with water beginning Monday.
Once the chemicals are added and the pool is balanced, the Pennsylvania Department of Health will perform an inspection, Pappas said.
While the project is wrapping up, Pappas said the landscaper still has a “tremendous” amount of planting to complete, but hopes to make some progress over the next couple of weeks.
School Board President Jon Detwiler said the board is considering the possibility of holding an open house near the end of October.
Also Monday, the board reviewed pending change orders totaling $58,382 for the renovation project that it will likely approve on Wednesday.
In a related matter, Detwiler said the board should consider conducting another feasibility study with regard to potential school closings, considering the building changes and renovations the district has undergone over the last few years.
Pappas said the last feasibility study was conducted more than three years ago, and the state Department of Education does not consider feasibility studies that are more than two years old.
“Certainly we can look at providing a new study — an updated study,” Pappas said.
Turning to other matters, the board is likely to conduct the following business at Wednesday’s meeting:
n Approve Donna Benzio, health assistant instructor and Violet Quashnock, R.N., as the instructors for the mandatory clinical field experience portion of the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC) Nurse Aide Program, at a cost of $21 per house for about 75 hours during the school year.
n Approve the Middle States Association Team Evaluation of the senior high programs which will take place from Nov. 12 to 15 at an approximate cost of $3,000.
n Approve the Communities in Schools agreement for community-based integrated student services.
n Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Hifade LLC and the school district to professionally evaluate teaching staff using the Eval software application at a cost of $2,4000.
n Approve CACTC staff and about 16 students to participate in the Skills USA Western Region Leadership Conference from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at an approximate cost of $2,200 for student registration, lodging and meals.