Armsrong School District Finances and Operations Director Sam Kirk updates school board members on upcoming building projects during last night’s open caucus session.
by Jonathan Weaver
A special meeting will be held in two weeks to discuss the upcoming Shannock Valley Elementary renovation project.
Last month, Reynolds Building Solutions Project Development Director Michael Conchilla updated Armstrong School District board members on the approximately-$10.5 million project and bids from potential contractors are due back next week.
Finances and Operations Director Sam Kirk said the meeting to approve the bids will be held at 6PM Thursday, Feb. 23 at West Hills Intermediate.
“At that point, we’ll know what that project is going to cost us,” Kirk said. “Construction will then start as soon as school is out.”
The project is to provide several energy-saving renovations – including to the electrical and plumbing systems and to the kitchen.
Limited construction at Shannock Valley Elementary is to begin the second weekend of April during Spring Break.
In other construction news, the steering committee for the new Armstrong Junior-Senior High athletic complex – made up of about two dozen students, coaches, faculty and community members - met for six hours Monday.
“We are asking for their input into the design and the layout of the football field, bleachers – the entire athletic complex,” Kirk said. “There are three meetings planned. At the end of those three meetings, we have a meeting planned for March –which we don’t have a date yet – where we will present the findings of that committee with the recommendations of the committee to the entire community.
“Lot of great ideas.”
IKM, Inc. architects – a Pittsburgh firm hired in January – will then develop a scope of work and begin construction within the next few months if bids are within budget.
The approximately $17 million for both projects will be paid for by using money remaining in construction funds used to build Armstrong Junior-Senior High, millions of dollars received in PlanCon funds received by the state and a bond issue.
The district’s 2016 single audit was also “clean,” Kirk said. The district paid $1.2 million less in expenses than expected and received more than $2.4 million that expected.
The savings have been allocated to future retirement costs and the current fund balance.
Board Vice-President Chris Choncek praised Kirk and his staff.