BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD FACILITIES COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, JULY 10, 2006

 

Members of the Board Facilities Committee met on Monday, July 10, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. in the Dining Room at the Education Center. Present were School Board Members Charlene Koch, Diane Rowe, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, Loretta Leeson, Judith Dexter, William Heske and Rosario Amato. Also present were Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools, Robert R. Gross III, assistant superintendent for human resources, Scott Gilliland, director of facilities and operations, and representatives from the press.

 

The meeting of the Board Facilities Committee was called to order at 6:15 p.m. by Mr. Amato, chairman. The following items were discussed:

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS –

 

Mr. Stephen Antalics (737 Ridge Street Bethlehem) requested a copy of a letter and/or correspondence from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau for Historic Preservation, stating their review of Broughal Middle School. Mr. Gilliland indicated that he will send him the information later this week.

 

AGENDA ITEMS FOR JULY 24, 2006, BOARD MEETING –

 

After discussion, the board committee unanimously agreed to bring the following agenda items to the July 24, 2006, Regular Board Meeting:

 

A.    Authorization to expend 2001 Bond Funds – Nitschmann Middle School – Carpet Main Office

B.    Quotations for the $4,000 - $10,000 cost category – Freedom High School and East Hills Middle School Athletic Fields Repairs

C.    Pennsylvania Department of Education Self-Certification Approval – Freedom High School Pool UV Filtration System

D.   Authorization to Expend 2005 and 2007 Bond Funds – Liberty High School Additions and Renovations Project – Change Order

E.    Liberty High School Additions and Renovations Construction Project – PlanCon Part I Submittal

F.    New Broughal Middle School – PlanCon Part A and Part B Approval

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS –

 

Dr. Lewis discussed with the board the need for two modular classrooms to be relocated from Rosemont to Miller Heights Elementary School for the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. A learning support class and an ESOL class would be offered and would free up another classroom for third grade.

 

 

 

Dr. Lewis asked the board to think about what they would like to do with the remaining seven portables. The City of Bethlehem has asked the district to remove them from the current site. The district has requested an exception through the city zoning officer. We are still awaiting his response. Dr. Lewis noted that our request may need to be heard in front of the Bethlehem Zoning Hearing board. Clearview Elementary School has requested a portable classroom. Dr. Lewis noted the expense of moving these units. He asked the board to think about the possibility of selling the remaining units.

 

Mrs. Leeson indicated that this would have been a perfect solution for Hanover Elementary School just last year. Dr. Lewis reminded the board that they were all in use at that point in time.

 

Mr. Gilliland shared with board members that various summer projects are going very well and all are on schedule. The administrative section and classrooms of Freedom High School will be turned over to the district on August 1, 2006.

 

Mr. Gilliland also informed the board that demolition of the Liberty High School pool and auxiliary gym is underway, and he noted that historical artifacts continue to be discovered on that site from time to time. It appears that an automotive garage grease pit was uncovered while digging in the parking lot to install new lighting wire. It appears that this site was once a car dealership.

 

Broughal Middle School schematic planning is now completed. Mr. Gilliland shared with the board that he and Dr. Lewis attended a LEED planning session last week along with project engineers. This session was very informative and productive. There is a possibility that the new Broughal Middle School could reach gold status. Mr. Amato questioned if there would be additional costs associated with this status. Mr. Gilliland noted that during the planning session costs were associated with the design elements and were noted as having a low, medium, or high economic impact. Future planning sessions will prioritize proposed design features which will be feasible for implementation while keeping with the proposed construction budget.

 

Mrs. Leeson suggested we consider going for the Gold Certification instead of Silver Certification which was previously targeted for Broughal Middle School.

 

Mr. Gilliland shared with board members that he will attend a City of Bethlehem Planning Commission meeting on July 13, 2006, and the City of Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board Meeting on July 26, 2006, to discuss zoning exceptions.

 

OPEN FORUM –

 

Mrs. Koch reported that she has received numerous phone calls and e-mails from concerned parents regarding the air conditioning of Nitschmann Middle School classes on the 8^th Avenue side of the building. Dr. Lewis noted the history behind the $150,000 given to the district by

the developer. Mrs. Koch asked how long it would take to install the units if directed by the board to do so. Dr. Lewis stated that it would take five to six weeks to install window units and approximately ten weeks to install split systems.

 

 

Mr. Amato reminded the board that they had formally voted at the June 26, 2006, Regular Board Meeting, 7–2, to hold off spending the money on air conditioning until the start of school to see

if the street noise and summer heat were going to be too much for teachers and staff. Dr. Lewis noted that if this project is completed air-conditioned spaces will amount to approximately 40 percent of the total instructional space within the building. Mrs. Dexter and Mrs. Leeson voiced their concern that it should be brought up again at the July 24, 2006, Regular School Board Meeting as an agenda item.

 

Mr. Heske posed the thought that, if the air-conditioning issue at Nitschmann Middle School is an engineering problem, he did not want to vote on it simply to resolve an emotional concern.

 

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:15 p.m.

 

Minutes prepared by:

 

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Joanne Carraghan, Secretary to the Director of Facilities and Operations

 

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Scott T. Gilliland, Director of Facilities and Operations