Testing proves ground lacks asbestos
CONNELLSVILLE — After hearing concerns from parents in the district, the Connellsville Area School Board asked an environmental company to test the ground at the former Junior High West.
School Director Kevin Lape reported Wednesday that parents came forward with concerns that asbestos was in the ground. Testing, however, by Volz Environmental Services of Pittsburgh, showed that the ground did not contain asbestos or construction material, said Mike Omatick, director of building and grounds.
“From the moment that this came to our attention, it has been acted upon and followed through,” said Dr. Paul Means, board vice president. “We’re very satisfied with the report.”
Means said Volz Environmental took nine core samples of the ground — three core samples in the playground area at the former Junior High West and six other core samples on the property.
“Never would any board member put any child in jeopardy,” Lape said. “I can say that, knowing all of them … I would never turn a blind eye to something that could hurt a child in the school.”
Also Wednesday, two representatives from Eckles Construction Services of New Castle presented the board with an update on the renovations at the high school and at Junior High West.
David Vanucci, a representative with Eckles Construction Services, said the high school renovation project is now in phase 11 and 12. He said contractors made significant progress in the main gym and locker room areas in May and that work also continues in the natatorium. Vanucci said the new pool bottom has been poured and the contractor is installing the new gutter system.
Cono Passione, another representative with Eckles Construction Services, said the majority of the work on the second floor of Junior High West has been completed and that new playground structures are now on site.
The board approved $18,202 in change orders in conjunction with the Junior High West renovation project.
In a related matter, the board approved to rename the former Junior High West to West Crawford Elementary School, effective the 2013-14 school year.
In other business, the board:
n Hired Patrick Maloy as a network administrator at an annual salary of $70,000 effective July 1 or upon release from present employment, in accordance with the technology department employment policy.
n Hired Leanne Smith and Kelly Krisnosky as speech and language pathologist effective the 2013-14 school year.
n Approved Dr. Gina Canada as an athletic physician at a cost of $4,800 for the 2013-14 school year.
n Approved Dan Bosnic as the senior high co-offensive coordinator for the 2013-14 school year at a salary of $3,143.
n Approved to submit the site master plan for the high school, which described future expansion possibilities.
n Awarded the general school supplies and building and grounds supplies through the Intermediate Unit 1 Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for the 2013-14 school year in the amount of $179,568.
n Approved the district’s equity plan and KinderCamp.
n Approved the 2013-14 College in the High School cooperative agreement between the school district and Mt. Aloysius for Advanced Placement (AP) chemistry, AP calculus, trigonometry/pre-calculus and AP physics.