BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD FACILITIES COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2002

Members of the Board Facilities Committee met on Monday, March 4, 2002, 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, Craig Haytmanek, and Joseph Craig. Also present were Thomas Doluisio, Superintendent of Schools, Michele Kostem, Assistant Superintendent, Jack Wittenberger, Acting Director of Maintenance/Security, Arif Fazil, District Engineer (D’Huy Engineering, Inc.) Tony Villani, Principal of Freedom High School, Monty Perfetti, Director of Secondary Education, Roberta Whitcomb, Principal of Northeast Middle School, Michael Metarko, Academic/Technical Support Teacher at Northeast Middle School, representatives of the Freedom High School “FAIR” group (Freedom Athletic Inequities Response), Charles Shoemaker of Spillman Farmer Architects, and representatives from the press.

 

The meeting of the Board Facilities Committee was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mrs. Loretta Leeson (Mr. William Heske, Chairman, was absent).

 

The following items were discussed:

 

 

1.            Open Forum – Nothing to report

 

2.            Construction Update –

 

A.             Arif Fazil reported the following:

 

1.              Preconstruction work, such as submittal reviews and coordination for all planned summer projects, is in progress.

2.              Design work for Lafayette and maintenance annex site improvements are in progress. The administration obtained City of Bethlehem zoning approvals and are proceeding with planning reviews.

3.              At Farmersville Elementary School, the William Penn Highway improvement designs are under review by PennDot.

4.              The Spring Garden Elementary School main sewer line lateral replacement has gone out for bid.

 

3.            Discussion Items -

 

A.             Freedom High School Field House –

Principal Tony Villani introduced members of the Freedom High School FAIR group. Mr. Villani explained that the current facilities are not adequate for the current enrollment at Freedom High School and it is time to discuss needs for the future since the township is still growing. Members of the group presented their views on why a new field house should be constructed on the Freedom High School complex. The administration explained that Mr. Fazil and Mr. Wittenberger met with Mr. Villani regarding this request. Mr. Fazil presented and reviewed a design of what a new facility would look like if built and explained that it would cost approximately $10-$11 million dollars to construct such a facility. The FAIR group also noted that there are some perceptions they would like the administration to remedy in the near future, such as a concession stand on the current athletic fields so they do not have to sell out of the truck of a car. They also requested the administration look into the fact that currently all district athletic events held in the Bethlehem Area School District are held at Liberty High School, with concession stand rights going only to the Liberty High School Booster Club. They are asking for equal consideration for fund raising at these events.

The administration said they agree with the committee on the needs at Freedom High School but did not know where funds would come from to finance such a project. The board thanked them for their presentation and said they would take their information under consideration and will evaluate how the field house could be incorporated into the district’s Capital Improvement Plan.

 

 

4.        Agenda Items – March 18, 2002, Board Meeting

 

           Mr. Wittenberger and Mr. Fazil discussed the following agenda items. The board voted to bring these items to the March 18, 2002, Board Meeting:

 

A.             Air Quality Testing – District Buildings –

Mr. Wittenberger informed the board that the last air quality testing was two years ago and cost approximately $48,000. The administration is requesting that buildings containing students and the Education Center be tested approximately every two years. The administration has solicited quotations which will be reviewed on Friday, March 8, 2002, and brought to the March 18, 2002, board meeting for the boards approval.

 

B.             Authorization to Expend 1998 Bond Funds – East Hills Cooling Tower Project –

Mr. Fazil explained that this agenda item is for Albarell Electric to perform a load study of the existing electrical system required for the cooling tower replacement at East Hills Middle School.

 

C.             Pennsylvania Department of Education Self-Certification Approval – Transportation Facility – Outlets for Diesel Block Heater Project -

The administration noted that the district has converted to diesel buses and these heaters would accommodate current and future bus needs and would include timers.

 

D.             Northeast Middle School Construction Project – PlanCon A and B Submittals -

Mr. Fazil introduced the members of the design/technical team. Mrs. Whitcomb reported that she has reviewed the plans with staff members. Mr. Charles Shoemaker from Spillman Farmer Architects displayed and reviewed the schematic designs for the new Northeast Middle School and identified the needs and timelines for the new construction, including the new building and the future athletic fields. In addition to classrooms, the new facility would also contain an auditorium with a seating capacity of 800 which could be converted into three separate areas, an auditorium seating 400 and two large-group instruction rooms with 200 seats in each room. It would also contain a regular gymnasium, and an auxiliary gymnasium. Mr. Craig questioned the necessity of an auxiliary gymnasium for a school of this size. Mr. Fazil noted that if the auxiliary gym area were removed from the plans, it could possibly affect the Act 34 requirements and state reimbursement. Mrs. Whitcomb, principal, noted that the outside athletic fields would not be available for approximately ten years and she would need two gymnasiums to compensate for instructional and athletic needs. Mr. Haytmanek noted that the classroom wing design is currently for three floors and asked if future expansion were deemed necessary, could the design accommodate additional floors. Mr. Shoemaker and Mr. Fazil both stated that it would be more feasible and cost effective to expand outward rather than upward. The administration noted that the cafeteria size would accommodate Northeast Middle School’s needs and the kitchen would provide a district-wide cooking area to replace the current one located at Liberty High School. Stan Majewski noted that the current kitchen located at Liberty High School is not easily accessible for deliveries, etc., and the Northeast Middle School kitchen could be used if renovations were scheduled for Liberty High School. Mr. Fazil pointed out that the new athletic fields would be buffered from Minsi Trail Street by a parking lot and bleachers.

 

Mr. Fazil noted that the Northeast Middle School project is on schedule and within budget.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

           

Minutes prepared by Charlotte L. Zimmerman, Confidential Secretary

 

____________________________________________________ Confidential Secretary