BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD FACILITIES COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2005

Members of the Board Facilities Committee met on Monday, February 7, 2005, at 8:00 p.m. in SuperintendentÕs Conference Room A at the Education Center. Present were School Board Members Joseph Craig, Loretta Leeson, Charlene Koch, Diane Rowe, Julie Venanzi, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, Margaret Williams, and Rosario Amato. Also present were Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools; Michele Kostem, associate superintendent; Stanley Majewski, director of business affairs; Frederick Harris and Samuel Senneca, high school athletic directors; Frances Bentkowski and William Burkhardt, high school principals; Arif Fazil, district engineer (DÕHuy Engineering, Inc.); and representatives from the press.

 

The meeting of the Board Facilities Committee was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by Mrs. Leeson.

 

The following items were discussed:

 

1.   Open Forum

           
No discussion

2.   Agenda Items

 

A. February 28, 2005, Regular Board Meeting Agenda Items

á  After discussion the board unanimously agreed to bring the following agenda items to the February 28, 2005, Regular Board Meeting:


1. SPARK Early Childhood Center Property Line Agreement

2.     Authorization to Expend 2005 and 2007 Bond Funds Ð Liberty High School Electrical Equipment Ð Bids Opened Thursday, February 3, 2005

3.     Authorization to Expend 2005 and 2007 Bond Funds Ð Freedom High School HVAC Equipment Ð Bids Opened Friday, February 11, 2005

4.     Authorization to Expend 2005 and 2007 Bond Funds - Liberty High School Additions and Renovations Geotechnical and Construction Testing Services

5.     Right of Way Agreement Ð Eighth Avenue Adjacent to Nitschmann Middle School Property

     

3.   Construction Projects

 

A.    Projects in Design Update

á  No report, all summer projects on hold for summer 2005.

B.    New Northeast Middle School Update

á  Project is ahead of schedule.

 

            C. Projects in Construction Update

á  Education Center Fire Alarm project is complete except for card access system startup and final tie in of card reader and doors.

 

4.   Discussion Items

 

A.     Target Select Turf Project Presentation

Dr. Lewis introduced Todd Donnelly and Gerry Yasso and noted that Frank Banko has committed $600,000 to the project. Mr. Donnelly reviewed a power point presentation. Dr. Lewis reported that the field at the BASD Stadium will be called Frank Banko Field with lettering at the diagonal corners of the field. The PowerPoint presentation included both fields at Freedom and Liberty High Schools. Dr. Lewis reviewed that the Lehigh Valley Business Education Partnership would be managing the nonprofit organization. Mrs. Leeson requested that the board have final say on the advertisements. The committee directed the superintendent to proceed with finalizing the agreements and committing the guarantors. Dr. Lewis acknowledged the efforts of Gerry Yasso in organizing the effort to make the turf project a reality.

B.     BASD Performance Contracting, Year 6 Report

Mr. Fazil handed out a summary of the BASD Performance Contracting, Year 6 Report which reflects that the cost avoidance guaranteed amount was exceeded by $48,380.

C.     Broughal Project Staff Testimony

The following people presented some comments:

1.  Stacy DiSipio              Teacher, Broughal Middle School

2.  Vivian Robledo            Guidance Counselor, Broughal Middle School

3.  Joseph Santoro            Principal, Broughal Middle School

4.  Joseph Rahs                Principal, Fountain Hill Elementary School

5.  Eileen Torres               Teacher, Broughal Middle School

6.  Dawn Bothwell            Spoke for Jeanne Negron-Garcia, ASPIRE coordinator,
Broughal Middle School

7.  Lilly Figueroa              Teacher, Broughal Middle School

8.  Em Finney                   Resident

After the comments, there was an extensive discussion by the board members on the issue. The board also requested a possible tour of the potential mountaintop site.

D.   Freedom High School Addition Update

 

á    Bids for the whole project are to be received in April 2005.

á    Mr. Fazil updated the committee on the final plan for the pool bleacher replacement. The bid is an alternate item and will consist of replacing the bleachers in the same location, but modifying the entrance to the seating by providing access directly from the corridor and also separating the seating from the pool with a small knee wall. This will keep spectators off the pool deck. In addition, vision lights will be added on the second floor to allow for view into the pool from the second floor corridor. The replacement with elevated bleachers with access from the second floor was determined not to be feasible because of the cost of structural reinforcement and also because the sight lines of the elevated stands are very poor.

E.    Liberty High School Addition and Renovation Update

 

á      Bids for the whole project are to be received in April 2005.

F. LVIP VI Superior Quartz

 

á      Mr. Fazil updated the committee that Superior Quartz, the company that was previously considering opening a facility adjacent to Farmersville in LVIP VI, has moved to a lot approximately 1,700 feet away. The new lot is separated by two lots and a detention basin from the school property. The new location is far enough away from the school site that previous concerns with its proximity to the school site are alleviated.

 

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:15 p.m.

 

Minutes prepared by Arif Fazil, district engineer, DÕHuy Engineering, Inc.

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________

Arif Fazil, District Engineer, DÕHuy Engineering, Inc.