Dec 8, 2014 3 min read

JEFFERSON – Jefferson-Morgan School Board authorized the district’s architect, Tom Durkin of Valentour, English, Bodnar and Howell, to seek bids for repair and improvement work at the middle-senior high school when the board reconvened its Dec. 3 meeting Monday.

The architectural option approved by the board will include replacement of areas of the roof not taken care of by a 2013 project. At that time, Angelo’s Roofing and Construction Inc. of Erie installed new roofs over the auditorium and gymnasium requiring immediate attention. Other aspects of the approved option will include electrical, plumbing, windows, heating and air conditioning work.

Incorporated into the heating and air conditioning system will be two rooftop units that provide air conditioning to the auditorium and gymnasium, according to board member Bob Mitchell. Mitchell said the board is “very comfortable” with the figures it received for the project.

No figures were given by the board citing the need to wait for bids to be received. However, the board earmarked $150,000 toward the project when it adopted its current budget for improvements and upgrades.

The school was constructed in 1955 and was last renovated in 1985. Valentour, English, Bodnar and Howell was hired by the board in April 2013 to conduct a feasibility study for renovations in the district. As a result, a complete renovation was ruled out by the board because of projected costs beyond the scope of what the district could afford.

When the board first considered a school renovation, a moratorium was placed on new projects under the state Planning and Construction Workbook for reimbursement. However, that moratorium was lifted and the district will seek potential reimbursement for the approved work.

In other matters, the board approved the purchase of a SchoolMessenger system, at a cost not to exceed $1,500, to replace its current One Call emergency notification system. The district began to look at other options for mass emergency notifications when parents expressed concern at how long it took for them to receive calls alerting them of recent bomb threats in the district.

Board member John Shaffer said the call time will be reduced from parents receiving calls in up to 15 minutes to them being received in 7 seconds when the need arises.

In a move to help with what was called “transition” in the district, the board hired J. Craig Bailey, former Carmichaels Area School District superintendent, to serve as a substitute superintendent at Jefferson-Morgan. Bailey will be paid $30 per hour with no benefits, starting immediately.