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CASD hears about options for schools
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
By Wendy Lynn Brion Staff Writer
Last night's special Clearfield Area School District board meeting began with a one-hour, 40-minute executive session with no decision afterward. Then, Greer Hayden of HHSDR Architects of Sharon made a presentation on the options for the fifth and sixth grade students once the renovations at the high school are complete.
Hayden said they came up with several different plans depending on what the school board does with the various schools. The Act 780 hearings are planned for Oct. 8-10, although those dates could change. Those hearings are in regard to closing the middle school, Bradford and Centre elementary schools and are required by the state before a final decision can be made. The decision date for the closings is Jan. 31, 2013.
However, Hayden said they need to get some planning under way to meet timelines with the state. He presented several options to the school board for renovations to Clearfield Elementary School and possibly Bradford and Centre elementary schools as well.
Option No. 1 for CES could have the addition of a kitchen behind where the current kitchen and cafeteria are currently located, and a reconfiguration of that area as a larger cafeteria. The plans also call for an addition to the east side of the building, which would allow for more classroom space. He said that would create seven rooms per grade level except for kindergarten. There would also be a security entrance to the school, an expanded guidance area and other additions.
On the second floor, there will be additional computer labs and Life Skills will have their own restrooms.
Option No. 2 keeps the kitchen configuration as it is now, but keeps the addition to the east part of the building.
Construction costs for Option No. 1 result in a subtotal of $8,771,000 and the additional related costs including utility company costs, surveys, borings, code inspection and so on total $1,638,010 bringing the total of Option No. 1 to $10,409,010. Construction costs for Option No. 2 are $7,363,000 and related costs are $1,488,010 bringing that total to $8,851,101.
Option No. 3 would keep Bradford and Centre open. There would be some additional expansion construction at CES on the east side, but not as extensively as in the first two options. At Bradford, one area would be torn down and an addition built for office space and storage. There would be some altered areas as well. Centre would not see any additions but there would be some alterations including a secure entryway and an update to the kitchen and bathrooms, which would also take place at Bradford. Also, there would be some drainage improvements, a new boiler, etc.
The breakdown of costs includes construction costs of $4,989,000 for CES, $1,580,000 for Bradford and $930,000 for Centre totaling $7,499,000. Related costs for each are $1,226,010 for CES, $410,000 for Bradford, $238,000 for Centre at a total of $1,874,010. The grand total of this option would be $9,373,010.
Dr. Thomas Otto, superintendent, reminded the board if they choose to close the middle school, a place will need to be found for the fifth and sixth grade students. If they close the middle school, Bradford and Centre and the administrative office, they could see a savings of $951,153 in personnel costs and $454,462 in utilities, etc. at a total of $1,405,615 in yearly savings. They would also have equal class sizes, which is a problem now in some of the classrooms.
If they only have the three elementary schools, there would be a personnel savings of $506,886 and a utilities etc. savings of $253,766 at a total of $760,652 yearly. Options No. 1 and 2 increase the debt service by $700,000. Option No. 3 increases it by $60,000 per year.
"I think this is a conservative option," Otto said. "I think we can recoup more money." He said they might not need all of the 7-12 grade teachers the district currently has. "I'm not saying we want to reduce staff, I'm saying it's an option."
Greer added that he would like the board to make a decision on the options by the Aug. 27 meeting.
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