Southern Columbia Area discusses building project with resident
by justin strawser
CATAWISSA RR - When Elysburg resident Frank Berger added the figures for the Southern Columbia Area School District's proposed multimillion-dollar building project, he didn't like what he saw.
"Approximately 40 percent of the project cost is gymnasium space," said Berger to the board Monday night during the regular meeting.
According to his calculations provided with figures from the district, over $7 million is dedicated to educational space and over $5 million is dedicated to gymnasium space.
"From a taxpayer standpoint, I would support labs, education space, special need space before I would spend money on a gymnasium, especially one that costs so much," he said.
However, the school board didn't agree with his opinion.
"Why are you separating it from educational space when it is educational space?" Director Jennifer Oiler-Shoup asked Berger. "It is a requirement that our kids have physical education."
School Board President Michael Yeager took exception to his comments.
"We're not meeting state standards now because we don't offer enough programs, because there isn't enough space," he said. "To say the teaching space in this gymnasium is not instructional and not required, it's not right."
It would be impossible, he added, to have eight grades - sixth through 12th - accomplish everything that needs to be accomplished to meet state standards.
"You can't do it, just can't do it," he said.
The 14,000-square feet of the gymnasium, explained Director Dave Stellfox, is more involved for just the gymnasium. There are education rooms, handicap locker rooms, storage for the music, band and others, a concession stand and a share lobby for the gymnasium and auditorium.
The school board also approved Pathline Project Management to provide value enginneering of electrical and mechanical systems and clerk of the works at a cost of $161,500.
Superintendent Charlie Reh recommended the Altoona-based company after talking to five different district superintendents and having them give favorable opinions.
Last month, the board was set to vote on approving Quandel Group Inc. for a price of $260,500, but Vice President Charlie Porter asked the board to look for a cheaper option.
Yeager said last month that the district wanted an entity that will check over the architect's work, and then report to the board. The position would involve something between a clerk of the works and a construction manager.
Directors Tim Vought and Oiler-Shoup made and seconded the motion to approve Pathline. The vote passed 6-2 with Directors Eric Stahley and Porter voting against the motion. Stellfox abstained from the vote due to not being able to hear the presentation from Pathline.
In other business, the school board:
- Authorized the purchase of BusTracks student tracking and bus routing software system at a base cost of $13,125 and two optional GPS monitors at $125 each.
- Approved the 2010-11 Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit general operating budget in the amount of $1,859,593.
- Appointed Brewer and Company LLC to audit the financial records for the local tax collectors for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009, as required by the Pennyslvania Local Tax Collection Law, at a cost not to exceed $2,265.
- Tabled the decision to approve the 2010-11 Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School general operating budget in the amount of $7,199,265 with a district contribution of $531,100 until a special meeting on March 25. The directors wanted to be sure that Vo-Tech would keep their promise of capping its fund balance at 8 percent and return anything over the limit to the seven districts it services before voting to accept the budget.
- Entered executive session before the meeting for contract negotiations and personnel matters and after the meeting for personal matters.
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