CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield Area School District Board of Directors reviewed the processes for moving forward with its elementary school and high school building projects and its athletic facilities upgrades at Monday night’s committee meetings.
Last month, Superintendent Dr. Thomas B. Otto recommended the district consolidate the Centre, Bradford and Girard-Goshen elementary schools and the Clearfield Middle School, moving kindergarten through grades six into an expanded and renovated Clearfield Elementary School. If approved, this would cost the district $8.9 million.
District Architect J. Greer Hayden of HHSDR Architects/Engineers suggested the district initiate this project next week by approving the submission of PlanCon Part A and Part B to the state’s Department of Education. He told the board that Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget proposes changes to the state’s reimbursement program.
According to Hayden, the governor’s budget proposal has a one-year moratorium for accepting new applications to the state’s PlanCon program. PlanCon is an acronym for “Planning and Construction Workbook,” and it’s a series of forms and processes that must be completed and complied with when a district is getting reimbursement from the state. When beginning a major construction project and wanting reimbursement for it, the district must initiate the PlanCon process.
“It hasn’t been adopted yet. But I would submit PlanCon now and get in the pipeline for reimbursement, so you don’t get frozen out,” Hayden said.
On March 30, he wants the district to begin advertising for its 780 hearings. Before the closure of any school building, the district must advertise its consideration of the same for 15 days prior to the Act 780 public hearing. By law, Act 780 is a public hearing, required by school districts before consolidation can be considered. In addition, it must be held no less than three months before a decision can be made.
Hayden suggested 780 hearings be held April 16 through April 19 with the school closing determination set for July 23. He wants the district to begin advertising an Act 34 public hearing Aug. 31 with it being conducted Sept. 20. By law, Act 34 requires a public hearing for all new construction as well as for any substantial additions.
If the consolidation is approved, the district would receive bids and award the contracts in March of 2013. The CES renovation and expansion project would then begin in May of that year and be completed in August of 2014.
In addition, Hayden said they currently have about 35 percent of the design phase completed for the renovation and expansion project at the Clearfield Area High School. He said they’re wrapping up the second round of interviews with the staff and reviewing their needs.
The district is embarking on a $34 million project after approving the expansion and renovation in June of 2011. The district has plans of converting the high school campus into grades seven through twelve.
Hayden said they’ll be developing a game plan for sequencing the construction. He said it’ll be important to determine the “best approach” since the high school would be occupied during the construction.
He is aiming for the board to receive bids this May and award contracts in June. He estimated the high school project would get under way in July and be completed in December of 2013.
Hayden said he plans for the district to submit the athletic upgrades to Lawrence Township for approval next month. He would like bids to be received in April with construction beginning in May and wrapping up in August.
He presented bid packages for improvements to the tennis courts, the football field and stadium complex and the soccer field.
According to the bid packages, the district would be considering two options for the tennis facilities. Bids are going to be accepted for repairs to the six existing tennis courts with an alternative bid for adding a storm system on the north and west sides.
The district would also be considering the construction of four brand new tennis courts. These courts would be located at the existing location. However, an alternative bid for drainage wouldn’t be necessary, as it’s already incorporated in this option, Hayden said.
So far as the football stadium improvements, the district would be considering either renovating with natural turf and irrigation, or installing new artificial turf and converting it into a multi-sport facility. Both options include new track and field events and renovations to the stadium’s walkways and fencing.
The natural turf option also lists two alternative bids for installing drainage and irrigation for the soccer field. The artificial turf option only seeks an alternative bid for the installation of drainage at the soccer fields, according to the bid packages.
Hayden listed bid packages for seven manufacturers of artificial turf, including Field Turf, Sportexe, A-Turf, Prograss, Sprint Turf, Tiger Turf and Astro Turf. He left an eighth package open as “other” for any alternative manufacturers that submit bids for the athletic upgrades.
According to him, the district would be awarding bleacher and electrical contracts as well. The first is for the renovation of the home and visitor bleachers with alternative bids for new seat boards, a new closed deck and riser system and the addition of sidewall and rear wall skirting under the home bleachers.
The electrical contract would be for a new football field sound system with alternative bids for adding concession stand speakers, a new football scoreboard and a new soccer field sound system. This contract also includes a new soccer field lighting system.