Mountain View approves district projects

Mountain View School Board approved a list of 20 proposed building and grounds improvement projects during a public meeting Monday night following a presentation by the Energy Savings Group hired last year for a major construction and renovation project of the district campus.

The proposed renovations, construction projects, and other improvements included some from a list proposed a year ago which were set aside to wait for better bid prices, as well as new items that have been suggested at recent board meetings.

A presentation on the ESG Phase 2 project was made by project engineers, and included a list of proposed projects, their costs one year ago, and their estimated cost at this time. For example, a kitchen unit, proposed last year at about $92,000, was listed now at $33,126 for a refurbished unit. Cooling to the cafeteria, cited at a cost of about $134,000 last year, was now estimated at $125,563 after a lower bid was made. Exterior doors for the elementary school, estimated last year at $340,000, were bid at approximately $117,000 this year.

ESG representatives suggested waiting on the library cooling project until the project could be done at lower than the $128,000 estimate.

One project that generated a great amount of discussion was the proposed overhaul of the high school baseball field. This includes the removal and relocation of the backstop, an improved backstop installed, and upgrading of the field to address drainage problems.

Rather than excavating the field, adding a drainage system, filling in the area, leveling and replacing grass, the ESG representatives suggested keeping the existing grass and doing a deep-tine aeration, topdressing and seeding for the outfield.

The infield, which has had serious drainage issues, will be addressed during the summer with a herringbone designed drainage system, and sodding in late fall. Fencing will also be added around the field. Solar scoreboards will be added at a cost of $20,000 for two.

Board members expressed concern that the project might cost more than estimated. “The track was proposed at $100,000 to fix, and ended up costing half a million,” said board member Monica Miller. She was told that the actual cost for the track project was $800,000.

A canopy over the entrance area to the elementary school, which will extend from the doors to curbside, was a new item added to the project list, at an estimated cost of $60,000. The canopy will shelter students from inclement weather and will be sturdy, affordable and in keeping with the school’s design, said Superintendent Karen Voigt.

Other add-ons included cooling for the high school nurses’ office and replacement of several high school exterior doors.

A presentation was made by the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science members, who excelled at a recent competition. Advisor Erin Rupp introduced the students: Matthew Schwartztrauber, Robert Gray III, Emory Bewley, Chase Poplawski, and Hannah Geron.

Sydney Barhite of the Student Government Association gave a report of recent activities, and announced an upcoming Spring Fling to be held the night before Easter Break to raise funds for Relay for Life.

Stephanie Anuszewski presented the special education budget, which will include a major initiative for autism support, and a proposal to bring back two multi-disability students who are being educated at another school, which will save the district $70,000-$90,000 per student.

The board approved naming Peoples Security Bank, Hop Bottom branch, as the bank of record for the remainder of the 2018-19 school year. FNB is closing its Nicholson branch, and there are no longer any branches within the boundaries of the school district, Business Manager Tom Witiak explained.

The board accepted a letter of resignation for retirement purposes from Erin Rupp from her science position, effective the last school day of the 2018-19 school year.

The board approved a motion to post and advertise for a high school biology teaching position for the 2019-20 school year.

The board accepted a letter of resignation for retirement purposes from Charlene Anastasio from her paraprofessional position, effective the last school day of the 2018-19 school year.

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