Apr 25, 2013 4 min read

Carmichaels Area School Board received a presentation from Hayes Design Group at its meeting Thursday. The board is learning toward the second of two options presented that would eliminate the existing breezeway between the junior and senior high schools.

In place of the breezeway would be a singular main entrance to the junior/senior high building. The entrance will be designed to replicate the current styling of the auditorium entrance.

“It will be creating a rear of the building that faces town,” said board member Ron Ferek.

Ferek said first-time visitors often ask where the front entrance is located. He also noted that closing the breezeway will be a healthier option, as students occasionally gather under it when a car is idling there. Buses are not permitted to idle there.

The new entrance will require visitors to pass through two locked areas before receiving permission to enter the school via the high school office. During sporting events in the high school gymnasium, a set of access doors would be opened and the high school office closed to allow a direct pathway to the gymnasium. The cafeteria would face the new front of the building with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor, fenced courtyard. In place of the current cafeteria will be an auxiliary gymnasium that could be used for volleyball, the co-operative wrestling program with Jefferson-Morgan and sports team practices. The gym would not be large enough for sanctioned events, such as boys and girls basketball.

A walkway through the cafeteria would be used to access the existing elevator. A back door to the building would serve students who walk to school or are dropped off by parents.

The board requested that Hayes work with them on a more aesthetically pleasing look. Superintendent Craig Baily said there will be opportunities as the design phase progresses for public comment on the renovations.

The board gave approval for Hayes Design Group to subcontract the analysis of existing domestic hot and cold water piping and heating piping in the building. The pipes would be X-rayed to determine whether they can be incorporated into the design or need to be replaced. According to a representative from Hayes, continuing to use the existing pipes would save thousands of dollars in project costs.

Under human resources, the board approved hiring Jeanine Yazzani as a lead support teacher and David Franks at a salary of $55,000 per year as the district maintenance supervisor. He replaces Lou May, who is retiring. The board will contract with the Intermediate Unit for the Emergency Substitute Teacher Program for the 2013-14 school year. The cost of the training process for college graduates to the district is $400 for the year, an increase of $150.

The board rejected all bids received for a new driver’s education car. It agreed to instead purchase a vehicle through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Cooperative Purchase Program. Baily said none of the bids received met the bid requirement of a mid-size car. A new vehicle would replace, as a primary vehicle, the current driver’s education car that is 8 years old and has more than 100,000 miles on it. Baily said the vehicle was purchased with $15,000 secured during former state Rep. Bill DeWeese’s term of office. District business manager Amy Todd researched the savings the district incurred by using the car for administrative trips. Baily said the savings realized from such trips was $80,000 over the life of the vehicle, including gas, tires, insurance and maintenance. The car is being maintained by students at Greene County Career and Technology Center. It will continue to be used by the district for local trips and as a second driver’s education vehicle.

In other matters, the board approved a contract for the 2013-14 school year with Sodexho for cafeteria services at a cost of $590,188. The contract includes a lunch increase of 5 cents per lunch across the board for the district. It will bring the cost of the lunches in the elementary school to $1.75 and at the junior/senior high to $1.95. Faculty will also be required to pay the added cost. The increase is mandated by the National School Lunch Program.