Oct 18, 2013 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Area School Board approved several agenda items Thursday related to the district’s school renovation project, including a motion to submit the next required set of documents to the state to receive state reimbursement for the project.

The board authorized the district’s architect, The Hayes Design Group, to submit planning and construction workbook, part D (PlanCon D) to the state for the district’s plans to renovate both the elementary and junior-senior high school.

The documents detail project accounting and include information regarding funding for the project, Superintendent Craig Baily said. The district earlier issued $20 million in bonds to fund the renovations.

The architect estimated the district will receive about $7 million in state reimbursements for the project.

The board also approved a design cost estimate for renovating the elementary and junior-senior high at $25,275,000, which was prepared by Accelerated Construction Services, the project manager hired by the board to oversee the renovations.

The project manager’s estimate, presented at a special meeting Oct. 3, was within the estimate originally prepared by the architect for the project, Baily said. The project was original estimated by Hayes at between $23 and $25 million. The board approved a motion to hire Skelly and Loy Consulting Services to provide asbestos and hazardous materials abatement consulting services for the renovation project.

The company will be paid $4,500 and $400 each time its representatives attend a meeting on the project. The board limited the number of meetings to two and agreed requests for the company’s attendance at any additional meetings would be brought to the board for approval.

Following the meeting, Baily said the board next month will discuss when parts of the renovations in the junior-senior high school will be completed and how students will be accommodated when work is in progress next school year.

Maintenance supervisor Dave Franks reported he started investigating temporary modular classrooms that will be used for some classes next school year.

The district plans to begin renovations on the junior-senior high school in April. This part of the project will involve constructing a cafeteria, which will be new construction and not involve displacing classrooms.

In other business, board member Ron Ferek suggested the athletic committee meet to discuss” impact testing” for students participating in athletic activities. Programs for such testing can be implemented for under $1,000 and provide “base line” information for students who may later suffer concussions or head injuries, he said.

The district currently does the required screenings for concussions as part of its physical examinations of students involved in athletics. Impact testing is not required but more districts are beginning to do them, Ferek said.

Board member Ken Ganocy, chairman of the athletic committee, scheduled the athletic committee meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The board voted to approve the hiring of two paraprofessionals, or teacher’s aides, for the remainder of the year for both the kindergarten and first grade.

The board at a human resources committee earlier this month had discussed concerns about overcrowding in the district’s kindergarten and first-grade classrooms. Board members Thomas Ricco, Dean Swaney and Jason Voithofer voted against the motions. Pete Shlosky was absent.