Sep 26, 2014 3 min read

NEW FREEPORT – As it has done at most of its meetings during the past year, West Greene School Board Thursday discussed and approved a number of bills associated with construction of the new elementary center.

The building is now moving closer to completion. Following Thursday’s board meeting, Superintendent Thelma Szarell, said the school is expected to be completed Nov. 26.

Asked when students will move into the new building, Szarell said the board has discussed the matter and members agree that won’t happen until next school year.

The board felt it would be too difficult especially for the younger students to make the transition to a new school in the middle of the school year, she said. The district also hopes to hold some orientation programs and open houses to help students become acquainted with the new surroundings, she said.

For the remainder of this school year, elementary students will continue to attend classes at their existing schools, Springhill-Freeport elementary, where the board held its meeting Thursday, and Graysville Elementary.

The new three-story elementary center has been built next to the middle-senior high school. The board awarded contracts totaling $10.9 million in May 2013 for the project and work began in July 2013.

“It looks very nice,” Szarell said Thursday. “I think the community will be pleased with the results.”

The board approved payments to the project architect, The Hayes Design Group, for $16,215.65 for basic services. It approved payments for the projects construction manager, URS, for basic services from July 5 through Aug. 29 totaling $33,905.98; and for additional services during that period totaling $19,543.96.

The board also approved payments to STPenn for soil, steel and concrete testing and inspections totaling $3,787.50.

The board agreed to pay attorney Robert Creo $500, for a total of $2,000, to represent the district in mediation between the district and the general contractor to resolve various construction and payment issues.

It failed to pay a $29,868.81 bill for Wheeling Mechanical, the plumbing contractor, following discussion regarding the resolution of a water line break in the mechanical room.

The board also failed to pay two bills totaling $439.10 to Printscape Imaging and Graphics for printed materials prepared for a meeting. The materials were requested by the architect but not authorized by the board.

In other business, elementary Principal Don Painter thanked the Rotary Club of Waynesburg, which gave free dictionaries to all third-graders. The rotary does this each year, he said.

The board asked Bill Parnham of Petermann Busing if the company could provide it with maps of all district bus routes so it can review the routes in relation to student addresses to see if adjustments are needed.

A parent addressed the board, asking for help for her daughter, who is having problems in her physics class and found the district has no tutoring program.

She said she takes her daughter two nights a week to Bowlby Public Library in Waynesburg where she receives individual tutoring from other students.

Scott Sakai, middle-senior high school principal, said the district has no tutoring for physics but assistance is available through the district’s Study Island program available on the district’s web page. Szarell suggested the school provide information about Study Island for parents at the coming open house.

The board accepted the resignation of Melissa Ullom from the position of spring formal sponsor and voted to post and, if necessary, advertise the position.