New Junior-Senior High On-Pace for Fall 2015 Opening
Progress on the junior-high school wing of the new Armstrong Junior-Senior High School in Manor Township as seen during a walk-through tour.
The front of the new Armstrong Junior-Senior High School while under construction last week. The school will be home to up to 1,775 students from the Kittanning and Ford City attendance areas in Fall 2015.
by Jonathan Weaver
Mud, construction tire marks and large open spaces are common atop Buffington Drive in Manor Township these days as contractors work on the new Armstrong Junior-Senior High School.
Contractors have reached milestones on the new 7-12th grade school - located on a 68-acre parcel of land off of Buffington Drive originally donated from Sherry Family Trust – during the past year and classrooms and educational areas are taking form.
Reynolds Construction On-Site Manager Stephen Reckhart and Project Manager Roshelle Fennell were hired specifically for the school construction project in Spring 2013 as the construction group looks to set-up a Pittsburgh office. In addition to a media tour last week, they also have accommodated school staff, board directors and the River Hawks hockey and bowling teams.
Every Friday, Reckhart takes photos of his own near a newly-paved portion of Buffington Drive a mile back from the main intersection with Route 422 and has noted progress. He said the next giant step is to ensure no winter weather enters the building.
“Most of the building is under roof (but) we need to get it closed up before winter comes,” Reckhart said. “The last two sections we really need to get under-roof. They finish(ed) up the steel (Friday), so by early (this) week, there should be a roofing crew out here closing it in.”
Reckhart hopes masonry contractors from Cost Construction of Pittsburgh are completed within two months.
“We hope to have those guys out by the end of October when we’re hopefully just be doing finish work, painting, flooring and ceilings,” Reckhart said.
The main hallway – which faculty and students will be able to see as they drive into the site – will split classrooms from cafeteria and technical areas.
Even though kitchen space will be shared by junior-high and senior-high cafeteria staff, students from each grade division will eat in their own cafeteria.
Progress is about equal in both the two-story junior high and three-story senior high wings, with large cut-out areas for windows to admire the view.
“Essentially, we have the shell up, we’re getting some systems put in – there’s some still masonry work left to finalize the doors but some of that in other areas has already been done,” Reckhart said. “(The junior high wing) has a lot of windows in.
“When you get to the upper level, there are some really nice vistas out over the river. A lot of daylight.”
School Superintendent Stan Chapp is at the site regularly and also took a few shots of the clear Western Pennsylvania landscape.
“It is very exciting to see the building at this stage of construction and know that it will be ready in just about another year,” Chapp said. “The contractors have been meticulous in their work and are proud of being a part of this project as many wear the River Hawks logo on their protective helmets.”
The largest open space in the school will be the 1,200-seat main gymnasium (which will include two full-size basketball courts) – which is currently used as a storage area for contracting supplies. The 35 feet tall and 105 feet wide space was the first roof-section completed in March/April, Reckhart and Fennell said.
That size of a gymnasium is comparable to those at Plum Senior High in Pittsburgh and at Norwin Senior High in North Huntingdon – both schools that have Quad-A division athletics.
Reckhart said the nearly-dozen contracting groups on-site have worked as a team.
“Just like as a family, there will be conflicts, but they all get along,” Reckhart said.
He said they have also gotten along well with neighboring property owners.
“One homeowner was concerned with dust when we were in the very-beginning phases, but we just had to send out a truck and water it down,” Reckhart said. “The homeowner at the intersection, fantastic guy – he’s very understanding. We try to take care of them.”
Other school construction projects Reckhart worked on during the last 15 years of his career include in Hempfield, Freeport and Burgettstown school districts.
School board directors are planning to have a day later this fall when public residents will be able to view the building as the exterior is finished and some of the large equipment goes off-site. The concept has been advocated by School Director Chris Choncek.
“A lot of times we just sort-of get lulled to complacency because we assume everything’s going forward, but I think it’s time to really generate some excitement behind this,” Choncek said.
Choncek has walked through the area himself and will have three children that will walk the halls of Armstrong Junior-Senior High: son, Brandon will spend his senior year in the new school, while son, Tyler will be a sophomore when the school opens and daughter, Anna will be the first in the family to attend the junior-high portion in three years.
“I think it’s just such an ideal location – it’s a good physical location and also representative of bridging two communities in Ford City and Kittanning,” Choncek said. “(Contractors) seem to be on-schedule.
“Everything is scheduled to open up in Fall `15, and I couldn’t be happier with the facilities.”
Armstrong School District | jweaver August 18, 2014
By dawgfood, August 21, 2014 @ 12:13 PM
Wouldn’t it be better to open up in the summer of 2015? As homeowners, businesses and farmers continue to be taxed out of Armstrong county, there will be fewer and fewer children to feel such excitement.
By jorn jensen, August 21, 2014 @ 9:27 PM
You understand dawgfood. Explain it to the school board and see if they understand.
By sickofpayingforit, August 22, 2014 @ 3:18 PM
I am still eager to see the housing development that was alleged to be built on the property that us taxpayers were so kind to provide easily-accessed-infrastructure and roads for. I am really interested to see who buys those houses……..
The school is happening. That ship has sailed so our next viable option at curbing this spending is to publicly hold paid ASD management positions accountable for the performance of ASD. I still believe those 6 figure salaries have it waaaaaay too easy. Our test scores are not good, but the people paid to manage the district are paid EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. Shouldn’t those two things be somewhat congruent????
Focus the attention where it needs to be focused people. YOUR employees, the paid district administrators, are making more money that (educated guess here of about 95%) of ASD residents, who are paying them. Demand results and accept no excuses. Our employers do not give us any slack, why should we give OUR employees any?
By cartman, August 22, 2014 @ 9:33 PM
Sick is right. The ship has sailed. There is no point in further argument. Now, let’s get the most for our money. We have a chance to move ahead here. Let’s not blow it.
By jorn jensen, August 22, 2014 @ 10:21 PM
Excellent post, sickofpayingforit. There are not many $100k+ folks around these parts, and the eggheads that our school board pays that much to, don’t live around here. But, of course, our school board is among the best and the brightest.
By jorn jensen, August 25, 2014 @ 10:52 AM
Agree, sickofpayingforit and cartman, the ship has sailed. All that is left to do is the financial mop work left on the deck in the wake. Now, who is going to go to the meetings and hold them accountable? Remember, your topic must be on the agenda and can be no more than 5 minutes long.
By jerry6, August 26, 2014 @ 8:13 AM
I was told yesterday by someone that Rosebud Mining would pay for the whole school if they would name it the Miners. The school board wouldn’t do it.
By tiredoftheBS, August 26, 2014 @ 8:12 PM
Totally agree!!! They should get paid on a “sliding scale.” If our students don’t do well, they shouldn’t get paid well.