Renovations to Connellsville Area High School nearly complete
CONNELLSVILLE — By the time the Connellsville Area School Board meets for its regular meeting in October, John Pappas, vice president of Eckles Construction Services in New Castle, is hoping all parts of the high school renovation project will be substantially complete.
“By October, we hope to be in the wrap-up stage with the high school,” Pappas said. “We’re pushing real hard to get all of the areas substantially complete within the next few weeks. Next month is really cleanup for all trades. We’re pushing to get site work done.”
Pappas reported Wednesday that contractors are in the process of installing bleachers in the gymnasium and hopes that renovations to the gym will wrap up by the end of the month.
As for the natatorium, Pappas said the pool tile installation has begun, and the pool contractor plans to be on site next week to begin preparations for the new pool liner.
Once the pool is filled with water, the water must be conditioned and inspected by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pappas said.
In addition, Pappas said the student, teacher and front parking lots were paved and numbered for the start of school.
In conjunction with the renovation project, the board on Wednesday approved several change orders. One of the change orders, at a cost of $113,080, covered the replacement of a coil bundle to the high school’s cooling tower. Pappas said, however, that the cost will be fully reimbursed by the insurance company.
Business Manager Eugene Cunningham said the district has covered nearly all costs associated with the project. The district has paid about $45.7 million of the revised $51.2 million contract, leaving a balance of about $5.5 million.
The district has about $5.546 million left to cover the remaining balance.
Cunningham said three bond issues are being used to pay for the project.
Also Wednesday, Pappas reported that work to the roof at the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center is ongoing. For safety purposes, the contractor has been working on the roof only on weekends, when students are not at school.
In another matter, the Rev. Ewing Marietta addressed the board about school safety and expressed concern that school security guards do not carry firearms.
“I’m asking you to consider this, because we do have some wonderful security personnel working here, and they deserve to have proper equipment,” Marietta said.
School Director Dan Martucci said the board has discussed the issue of school safety in “great length.”
“There’s a lot of certification, red tape and liability issues that go along with that,” Martucci said.
Solicitor Christopher Stern agreed and said that it all comes down to certification, and that other school districts have been grappling with the same issues that Connellsville has encountered.
“Under Pennsylvania law, the certification to carry a weapon in every other area of life is not the same certification as in a school district,” he said.
Turning to other matters, the board:
n Approved a memorandum of understanding between the district and California University of Pennsylvania for the High School Early Admit Program.
n Approved supplemental contracts for the senior high assistant girls soccer coach at a salary of $1,704 and the senior high assistant girls tennis coach at a salary of $1,288.
n Approved the agreement between Highlands Hospital Regional Center for Autism and the school district effective Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2014.
n Approved the agreement between NHS Pennsylvania and the district for educational services to children with autism and/or emotional disturbance effective Aug. 1 through July 31, 2014.
n Approved to hire Candice Catana, an elementary/reading specialist, effective Sept. 23.
n Approved to recall furloughed employee, Patrick Mullaney, effective Aug. 21.
n Approved to participate in the United Way of Westmoreland County’s Counseling for Career Success program.