BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD FACILITIES COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2007
Mr. Rosario Amato, chairman, called the meeting of the Board Facilities Committee to order at 6:40 p.m. on Monday, February 5, 2007, in the Dining Room at the Education Center. Present were School Board Members Charlene Koch, Diane Rowe, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, Loretta Leeson, Judith Dexter, and Rosario Amato. Also present were Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools, Stanley J. Majewski Jr., assistant to the superintendent for finance and administration; Robert R. Gross III, assistant superintendent for human resources; Thomas K. Washington, director of student services; Robin L. Lutcher, director of information technologies; Scott T. Gilliland, director of facilities and operations; David C. Himmelberger, supervisor of transportation; Richard T. Agretto, director of special education; Arif Fazil, district engineer (DÕHuy Engineering, Inc.); Robert Furst, principal architect, Architecture Furst; Michael Spadafora, project manager (DÕHuy Engineering, Inc.), and representatives from the press.
The following items were discussed:
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS Ð
The board extended the
courtesy of the floor to hear all of the public input.
Interest in Broughal Middle School Ð
*Mr. Richard Guarino, Washington Avenue, Apt. 2, Bethlehem Township
*Mr. Jose Rosado, 917 Delaware Avenue, Bethlehem
Mr. Dana Grubb, 2024 Henderson Place, Bethlehem
Mrs. Meghan Coursen, Legislative Aide to State Senator Lisa Boscola, Bethlehem
Ms. Mary Pongracz, 3321 West 4th Street, Bethlehem
Mrs. Jean Belinski, 406 East Washington Avenue, Bethlehem
Mr. Joseph Szabo, 1804 West North Street, Bethlehem
Mr. Albert Worth, 6th Avenue, Bethlehem
*Commented positively on the Broughal Middle School project. All other speakersÕcomments favored preservation of the building.
Mr. Dana Grubb, from the ÒFriends of Broughal SchoolÓ preservationists presented the board with a 32-page proposal for Request for Proposal (RFP) for adaptive reuse of the Broughal Middle School structure.
Mrs. Meghan Coursen, the legislative aide from Senator BoscolaÕs office read a letter and distributed it to the board. Senator Boscola, and State Representatives Freeman, Samuelson signed the letter, and Brennan urging the board to slow down the Broughal Middle School construction project process and explore all options presented and issue a RFP for adaptive reuse of the structure.
Facilities Meeting Minutes
February 5, 2007
Page 2
AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE FEBRUARY 26, 2007, REGULAR BOARD MEETING Ð
After discussion, the board committee agreed to bring the following agenda items to the February 26, 2007, Regular Board Meeting:
A. Freedom High School Construction Project Ð PlanCon H Submittal
B. Liberty High School Construction Project Ð PlanCon H Submittal
C. New Broughal Middle School Ð
Ornamental Masonry Removal Ð Change Order Deduct
Mrs. Leeson requested Mr. Majewski to explain the financing of the projects for Freedom and Liberty PlanCon H submittals in detail. The $110 million dollars was approved in November of 2003. He stated that a $55 million bond was issued on January 5, 2005, and that another $55 million bond was issued on January 4, 2007. Mr. Majewski noted that two separate bonds were issued at different times in order to save the district interest payments on the full amount since construction draws up to January 4, 2007, were not in excess of the initial $55 million borrowed. Mrs. Leeson asked if there would be money left over for the new Broughal Middle School construction project. Mr. Majewski stated that an additional bond of $40 million will be issued for the funding of the Broughal project. Mrs. Leeson further asked if there would be money remaining after the Broughal Construction project. Mr. Majewski indicated that he does anticipate that not all funds received from financing would be needed and that the disposition of remaining funds would be for capital improvements approved by the Board of School Directors.
Mrs. Dexter asked Mr. Majewski to explain the ÒSummary of Sources and Uses Funds.Ó She indicated the percentage going to bond counsel fees were high. Mrs. Leeson asked if we could go out to bid for these particular fees. Mr. Majewski cautioned he would not support going out to bid but would support obtaining competitive proposals as well as continuing to negotiate lower fees for counsel. He stated that bond counsel is a limited field in the state of Pennsylvania for this type of financing. Mrs. Dexter presented the thought that we propose an hourly rate for the solicitor, and that the board establish a cap on legal fees for future financings. Mr. Majewski will support and follow the direction of the board.
Dr. Lewis noted that he will discuss with Ellis Katz, district solicitor, the volume of work associated with these documents and report his findings to the board at a later date. Mr. Amato supported Mrs. DexterÕs comments on the expense of the attorney fees, and thanked her for bringing it to the boardÕs attention.
Mr. Gilliland presented an Emergency Management presentation to the school board members. He chairs this committee on behalf of Bethlehem Area School District. This committee is comprised of thirteen members ranging from a parent volunteer to cabinet members and has been very instrumental in educating principals and administrators of all buildings in many areas of pandemic planning, CPR training, first aid, National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) training, etc. They currently meet monthly under Mr. GillilandÕs direction.
Facilities Meeting Minutes
February 5, 2007
Page 3
Mrs. Dexter asked if there was a written policy on pandemic planning. Mr. Gilliland replied that the district has developed a pandemic policy and that it was first issued to administrators last week. Mr. Gilliland will make copies available to all board members for their weekly board packet, and he will include new pandemic guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control on February 1, 2007.
Mrs. Koch mentioned she hoped there was training in CPR not just for employees but for students as well. Dr. Lewis indicated that ten students from the Career Academy were recently certified in CPR. She stated that emergency medical training would be a wonderful elective to include in our curriculum.
Mrs. Leeson asked Mr. Gilliland how we currently communicate with parents regarding emergencies. He responded that we currently use local media and our web page. Mrs. Lutcher supported that comment. It was also noted that communication has been discussed with the Parent Advisory Council.
Mrs. Rowe asked if we currently have enough food to feed our students should there be an emergency situation. Mr. Gilliland expressed that Mrs. Kim Hayes, supervisor of Dining Services, and her staff check on the emergency food supply regularly and rotates stock when needed. Mr. Gilliland indicated that we have enough food stored to sustain our buildings for a recommended 72-hour period.
Mr. Gilliland stated to the board that policies and procedures in emergency management are continually changing and being updated. He specifically noted the very positive efforts of the Northampton County and Emergency Collaborative Partnership to provide a county wide emergency procedure for all schools.
Mr. Fazil reported that the project design and approval
phase was on schedule for bid documents to be issued at the end of March and
early April. The PlanCon E review meeting was held on Thursday, February 1,
2007, with the Pennsylvania Department of EducationÕs staff architect who
complimented the submittal and said there were no comments that would prevent
approval of the submission. PlanCon D is also currently under review. The only
approval pending is the conservation district approval. The Bethlehem Area
School District will work to expedite this approval to meet the project
timelines. If all approvals are received, it is expected that bids will be
presented for board approval at the May board meeting.
Mr. Furst reviewed a PowerPoint of final plans and presented color-coded plans showing the natural day lighting in all areas. He noted that day lighting has been maximized for the spaces within the site and program restraints which had to be considered. The limited spaces that do not have natural light include the auditorium, locker rooms, and a few select teaching spaces, such as Tech Ed. and Family Consumer Science. All other spaces have been reviewed by the day lighting consultant and those recommendations that could be achieved have been included.
Facilities Meeting Minutes
February 5, 2007
Page 4
In response to board comments from last monthÕs meeting, Mr. Furst also reviewed two auditorium aesthetic options. The options included:
a. Option 1 - Replicated feature wall representing the existing building.
b. Option 2 - Feature wall with a limestone veneer and wood panel surround around the stage opening.
c. Plaster type balcony face finish with replicated rosettes and wood panel finish at the rear
of the auditorium.
Mrs. Rowe asked if either option or use of materials was
better acoustically. Mr. Furst said that an acoustical analysis would be
performed and adjustments made to either option selected to ensure that
acoustics are not compromised.
Mr. Furst reminded the board that this auditorium needed to
serve as a large group room as well as an auditorium. Mr. Amato asked if the
balcony could be extended for additional seating. Mr. Furst said this was not
feasible because of the site, building code, and large group restraints.
Mrs. Rowe asked if the
marble-type material was too expensive and why its nominal 2Ó thickness was
necessary. Mr. Furst said that as a feature wall a quality product should be
considered and 2Ó thick material is a typical veneer for masonry backup.
Mrs. Leeson and Mrs. Dexter asked if the feature wall needed
to be included, and if so, could it be softer or have more of a design impact.
Mrs. Dexter suggested possible engraving on the wall that would have a community
or student sentiment. Mr. Furst said the wall served as a return air chase and
was an integral part of the design. It also conceals the rear ramp area and
directs focus towards the stage.
In order to keep with the project schedule, Dr. Lewis asked the board for final direction regarding the auditorium aesthetic preferences. The boardÕs consensus direction to finalize the design was to use the feature wall with the stone material recommended or alternate product which was option 2, and to keep the rosettes on the balcony face with wood surround and also have wood surround at the rear of the auditorium.
Engraving on the feature wall was also approved by the board and is to be selected at a later date and
will be included in the feature wall.
Mr. Fazil reported Freedom and Liberty High School Projects are on schedule.
Facilities Meeting Minutes
February 5, 2007
Page 5
Dr. Lewis offered a handout regarding a concept for a future facility meeting regarding options for a new Nitschmann Middle School at the Hanover Elementary School site. Due to the time restraint the need for the board to digest the concept, discussion, and consideration would be part of a future Board Facilities Committee Meeting.
Dr. Lewis reminded the board he wanted to be very cautious in staying on our timeline with regards to Broughal Middle School. A developer would have to pick up costs associated with the Request for Proposal (RFP) presented tonight from the ÒFriends of Broughal SchoolÓ.
Minutes prepared by:
__________________________________________________________
Joanne Carraghan, Secretary to the Director of Facilities and Operations
_____________________________________________
Scott T. Gilliland, Director of Facilities and Operations