Apr 24, 2014 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – The primary focus of the Carmichaels Area school board meeting Thursday evening was the junior high school addition and alteration project currently under way.

The board approved contracts with two subcontractors who will help the district maintain a system of checks and balances with various aspects of the project.

The first, eCap Network of Pittsburgh, will do a complete run-through of the HVAC system when it is completed.

The second, Construction Engineering Consultants of Pittsburgh, will inspect concrete work and soil compaction. The total cost of $118,445 was previously built into the overall budget for the addition and alteration project.

Fencing to secure the area beneath and around the underpass between the junior and senior high buildings is in place. The asbestos abatement of the underpass will begin Monday and is expected to last one week, according to district construction manager Tom Allen.

Allen said the next step is to begin excavation on the Route 88 side of the building. Trees were removed on the Greene Street side of the building to prepare for excavation. Allen said the shallow coal on the Route 88 side make it the better choice to excavate first so foundation and block can be laid there while the Greene Street excavation takes place.

“A lot more excavating on the Greene Street side will be necessary,” Allen said. “I think we’re where we need to be (with the project) right now.”

Acting Superintendent John Menhart said the transition away from buses and other traffic going through the underpass has gone well. Menhart said the districtis working with its bus contractor, First Student, to consider options when events are taking place at the school for shuttling guests to and from an off site location at the Carmichaels Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department. If this option is used in the future, families would be notified in advance either in writing or by using the automated One Call system in the district, Menhart said.

Menhart expressed gratitude for the teachers in the elementary center who helped to make the transition smoother by parking to the rear of the building, opening up several spaces for visitors.

In a related matter, the board approved a contract for four 40 foot storage containers from Fleet Equipment, Inc. of Darragh at a cost of $85 per container per month, plus a total of $1,520 to deliver the containers and retrieve them.

The board accepted a builders risk insurance quote from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. for 18 months at a cost of $18,414.

In other matters, the board approved a salary increase for district business manager Amy Todd of $1,664 and a salary of $83,000 for junior senior high school principal Lisa Zdravecky for the 2014-15 school year with an increase to $85,500 for the 2015-16 school year.

Multiple retirement notices were received by the board, including, Larry McCain, custodial maintenance; Mary Ann Vicinelly, learning support; Pamela Schifko, elementary teacher; Gayle Caffrey, school nurse; and Margaret Walters, English. The board further accepted the transfer of 18 ½ unused sick days from two teachers to Schifko for the 2013-14 school year.