BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING
MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2001
Members of the Board Facilities Committee met on Monday, October 1, 2001, at 6:00 p.m., in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at the Education Center. Present were school board members Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, Julie Venanzi, Margaret Williams, Joseph Craig, and Rosie Amato. Also present were Thomas Doluisio, Superintendent of Schools, Michele Kostem, Assistant Superintendent, Stan Majewski, Director of Business Affairs, Jack Wittenberger, Acting Director of Maintenance/Security, Arif Fazil of D’Huy Engineering, Inc., William Nelson, Director of Elementary Education, Monty Perfetti, Director of Secondary Education, Roberta Whitcomb, Principal of Northeast Middle School, John Acera, Principal of Nitschmann Middle School, parent representatives from Northeast Middle School, and representatives from the press.
The meeting of the Board Facilities Committee was called to order at 6:00 p.m., by Charlene Koch (Mr. William Heske, Chairman was not present).
The following items were discussed:
1. Open Forum –
Nothing to report.
2. Construction Update –
Jack Wittenberger presented an update as to the progress of the following projects:
· Liberty High School Auditorium Doors – Project is complete
· Donegan Elementary School – Project is on schedule, with cleaning of new building to begin October 22, 2001, and moving from Rosemont into the new facility to begin November 16, 2001
The board requested a tour of the new Donegan Elementary School. This will be scheduled by the superintendent’s office for some time in November.
3. Agenda Items – October 15, 2001, Board Meeting
Mr. Wittenberger reviewed the following agenda item and the board voted 4-0 (only four board members were present at this portion of the meeting) to bring it to the October 15, 2001, Board Meeting:
A. Johnson Controls, Performance Contracting, Change Order
4. Discussion Items –
A. Performance Contracting – Year 3 Update –
Mr. Craig Mueller from Johnson Controls presented an update on the first three years of the Johnson Controls’ Performance Contract.
B. Capital Improvement Plan Update –
Arif Fazil distributed and discussed the updated Capital Improvement Plan.
C. Portable Air-Conditioning Report – Liberty High School –
As per Mr. Craig’s request at the last meeting, Arif Fazil gave a review of the possibility of using portable air-conditioners in Liberty High School’s cafeteria and auditorium. Mr. Fazil reported that this would be feasible for a short-term solution, but not a long-term solution. The board agreed that a permanent solution should be sought and requested that the administration continue with their original plan to advertise for bids in October, with work to be completed during next summer if the bids received are within budget. Tom Doluisio requested that air-conditioning of the band room at Memorial Gymnasium be investigated.
D. Miller Heights Parking Situation –
As per Mr. Craig’s request at the last meeting, Mr. Wittenberger reported that “No Parking” signs were installed along the walking path at Miller Heights Elementary School.
E. Durkee – Redevelopment of Old Plant –
Mr. Doluisio reported that the administration attended a meeting with the developers of a new shopping area to be located at the old Durkee plant along Eighth Avenue in Bethlehem. Mr. Fazil described briefly the project scope and how this would affect traffic along Eighth Avenue and Nitschmann Middle School. The developers are requesting that, if this project goes through, they be granted a fourteen foot wide right-of-way from the Bethlehem Area School District for property along Eighth Avenue at Nitschmann Middle School to install a right-turn lane onto Union Boulevard. The board questioned noise and safety issues and asked that the administration review this request if and when this project receives approval from the city. Mr. Fazil was directed to inform the developers’ attorney, Mr. Broughal, of the Bethlehem Area School District’s concerns.
F. Broughal and Northeast Middle Schools Update –
As part of the Capital Improvement Plan Update, Arif Fazil discussed the various options for Broughal Middle School, Nitschmann Middle School, Northeast Middle School, Liberty High School, the Rosemont building, and the Monocacy building. Stan Majewski explained to the board various options for borrowing money and explained that rates are low right now and that if the administration waits too long, they will lose the current window of opportunity which may not occur again for a long period of time. The board agreed that Mr. Majewski should begin procedures for borrowing $43,000,000 ($10,000,000 refinanced + $33,000,000 new funds) which would be used for the construction of a new Northeast Middle School and capital improvements at various facilities as reviewed by Mr. Fazil in the Capital Improvement Plan update. The board agreed to review the Broughal Middle School options at a later date. Mr. Majewski stated that he would have a resolution to present to the board at the October 15, 2001, Board Meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Charlotte L. Zimmerman, Confidential Secretary
____________________________________________________ Confidential Secretary