BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD FACILITIES COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY APRIL 5, 2004

Members of the Board Facilities Committee met on Monday, April 5, 2004, at 6:00 p.m., in Superintendent’s Conference Room A at the Education Center. Present were school board members William Heske, Joseph Craig, Loretta Leeson, Julie Venanzi, Charlene Koch, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, Rosario Amato, Diane Rowe and Margaret Williams. Also present were Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, Superintendent of Schools, Michele Kostem, Associate Superintendent, Stanley Majewski, Director of Business Affairs, Monty Perfetti, Director of Operations, Planning, and Special Programs, William Burkhardt, Principal, Liberty High School, Sam Senneca, Athletic Director, Liberty High School; Mark Ortwein of Spillman Farmer Architects, Arif Fazil, District Engineer (D’Huy Engineering, Inc.), and representatives from the press.

 

The meeting of the Board Facilities Committee was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mr. Heske, acting Chairman.

 

The following items were discussed:

 

I.               Open Forum –          

II.             Agenda Items – April 26, 2004, Regular Board Meeting –

 

A. After discussion by the administration, the board unanimously agreed to bring the following agenda items to the February 23, 2004, Regular Board Meeting for approval:

                             

1.     Freedom High School Additions – PlanCon Part A Approval

2.     Quotations for the $4,000 - $10,000 Cost Category

III.           Construction Projects –

 

A.    Projects in Design Update - Mr. Fazil reported that only the following projects are in design:
- Education Center Fire Alarm System and Card Access
- Transportation Facility Oil Tank Pad Area Repair

B.    New Northeast Middle School Update - Mr. Fazil reported that there are a few changes being recommended for consideration. Based on a review of the furniture and equipment needs of the building, the changes are to:
- Add two sinks in two special education rooms to provide flexibility for their use.
- Add double door from TV studio into adjacent storage room.

The Facilities Committee authorized the Administration to pursue a cost for addressing both of these issues.

C.    Projects in Construction Update - No report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV.           Discussion Items –

 

Freedom High School Additions

• Mr. Fazil reviewed the handout of overall construction timelines.

- Construction to occur in two phases requiring use of old gym as cafeteria for 6 months

when new gym is completed. This allows for renovation of existing Kitchen/Cafeteria.

- April 2005 – Start Construction

- March 2007 – Complete Construction

• Mr. Fazil reviewed the request from Bethlehem Township to extend Chester Avenue along the Freedom High School parking lot to the road adjacent to the BAVTS parking lot. There was discussion and Mr. Amato and Mr. Craig were questioning why the School District should construct the road. Dr. Lewis and Mr. Fazil noted that the township is willing to cooperate with the road extension costs and have initially offered to perform the paving with the district doing the grading. The board agreed to cooperate with the township in this request as long as the township was doing a majority of the work.

Liberty High School Additions and Renovations

 

• Mr. Fazil reviewed the handout of overall construction timelines.

- Multi-phased project requiring relocation of 9th grade to the old Northeast
Middle School

- April 2005 – Start Construction

- August 2008 – Complete Construction

 

• Mr. Fazil asked the Facilities Committee if we could obtain their general consent to pursue a possible completion incentive for the contractors since there are some critical timelines that must be met for the phasing sequence to work. The board permitted the administration to pursue this.

 

• Mr. Fazil also asked if we could pursue an option to bid a small portion of the electrical work in advance of the overall bid. The board permitted the administration to pursue this.

 

• Dr. Lewis recommended that none of the three options for the new driveway/parking lot be pursued due to financial reasons and so as not to relocate or compromise on the athletic fields. Mr. Amato and Mr. Craig also agreed with not doing anything. Mrs. Williams asked if the lack of a new roadway onto Grenadier Boulevard would impede construction. Mr. Fazil stated that the new road would improve construction activities as outlined in the summary comparison of the three options but the activities would still be manageable by using the driveway around the tennis courts.

Mrs. Leeson felt that the parking and driveway onto Grenadier Boulevard should be constructed due to traffic, drop off and parking issues at Liberty High School. She asked Mr. Burkhardt if Liberty has any visitor parking. Mr. Burkhardt said only the bus loop is available for visitor parking.

Mr. Amato stated he did not believe parking was a major issue and said that because of the costs he could not support any of the options. The board consensus was to not pursue any of the options. The existing driveway along the tennis courts will be maintained.

 

 

 

 

 

Steel Prices/Construction Cost Increase

Mr. Fazil reviewed a memorandum (handout) dated April 5, 2004, outlining substantial steel and other construction cost increases that will impact projects that are pending.

 

Donegan Elementary School Windows

 

Mr. Lengyel reported that over the past two years approximately $10,000 has been spent on fixing windows that are being broken at Donegan. Some of the recent windows that have been broken are high and are half inch tempered glass. It is suspected that bullets or other projectiles have caused the damage. The half inch tempered glass was put in to make the glass system more durable; however, the half inch tempered glass does not prevent bullets from breaking the glass. The board expressed disappointment with the vandalism of this new facility designed and constructed for the community and authorized the administration to replace the glass with alternative material if the problem continues. The board also authorized the administration to post a reward of $500 to help with identifying the vandals.

 

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:30 PM.

 

Minutes prepared by Arif Fazil, District Engineer, D’Huy Engineering, Inc.,

and Monty Perfetti, Director of Operations, Planning and Special Programs.

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________

Monty Perfetti, Director of Operations, Planning and Special Programs

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________

Arif Fazil, District Engineer, D’Huy Engineering, Inc.