School Board Accepts PlanCon Approvals for Elementary School Projects

The State College Area School Board on Monday unanimously accepted the state Department of Education approvals for potential construction projects for Corl Street, Houserville and Radio Park elementary schools.

The state approved Parts A and B of the district’s PlanCon submissions. PlanCon is the process in which the state reimburses school districts for construction projects. PlanCon Part A is the project justification and Part B is the schematic design. The three schools are the focus of the ongoing District-Wide Facilities Master Plan (DWFMP) review to determine renovations or new constructions. Each of the schools date to the 1950s and have not undergone major renovations since the 1960s. 

Lemont Elementary is also being considered for consolidation with Houserville, with the Lemont building potentially being repurposed. That idea has been considered as far back as 1999.

The district will receive $2.2 million to $2.4 million in state reimbursement for the projects, and reimbursement is contingent on construction beginning by 2019. The state is enacting a moratorium on PlanCon reimbursements, and to be eligible, district’s had to submit proposals by May 15.

Ed Poprik, the district’s director of physical plant, said the district still will be able to change or halt the projects if necessary.

DWFMP Update

Poprik and Business Administrator Randy Brown updated the board on the DWFMP review and community feedback forums. The design team will use feedback from the forum and municipal officials to refine proposed designs for Corl Street, Houserville and Radio Park.

Updates are expected at the next community forum at 7 p.m. on July 18 at Ferguson Township Elementary. Forums also are scheduled for Aug. 15 at Mount Nittany Elementary and Sept. 19 at Mount Nittany Middle School, both also starting at 7 p.m. Each meeting will have child care available.

The agenda for the July 18 meeting will address a process calendar; review of previous master plan recommendations; review of enrollment information, focusing on capacity and the impact of Penn State’s growth on enrollment; a report on elementary school size and and enrollment and how size relates to student learning; and an evaluation of the elementary school model, including flexible learning and space considerations.

State High Project

Tim Jones of Massaro Construction Management Services updated the board on summer work for the State College Area High School project, which he said remains on schedule. Scheduled work for the upcoming month includes work on a storm water retention pond, continued work on the retaining wall at the running track, the start of structural steel, walls and footings, interior abatement for both the North and South buildings, water, gas and electric installation at the south site and storm water piping installation at the north site. Summer work also will include demolition of the lower South Building classroom wing.

Crews recently began installing a water line on O’Bryan Lane as well as conducting foundation, slab and masonry work. Jones said the footprint of the main educational wing has been established.

Jones also addressed traffic pattern changes and Welch Community Pool parking and drop-off changes this summer stemming from the construction work.

The board also approved a project change order for $14,000. The fire protection revision stems from changes required by review of the local code.

New Director

The job description for a proposed director of Gifted & Learning Enrichment Services was approved. The services are currently overseen by Director of Learning Enrichment, Gifted Support and Student Services Jeanne Knouse, whose other responsibilities include English as a Second Language instruction, health and nursing services, home-school services and outreach and counseling.

District Superintendent Bob O’Donnell proposed a separate position for gifted and learning enrichment services, noting that he was unaware of any district the size of State College Area that has only one administrator of all of those functions.

The position would also assist Corl Street and Ferguson Township elementary schools with supervisory and administrative responsibilities.

In other personnel matters, Heather Pringle was approved as assistant director of special education. A learning support teacher, Pringle currently oversees the district’s Read 180 program. Pringle, who has been with the district for three years and previously taught in Huntingdon and Bellefonte school districts, replaces Sharon Salter, who is the new director of special education.