Demolition plans for Roosevelt Junior High School are moving forward after the Altoona Area school board awarded a contract Monday for asbestos and hazardous materials removal at the school.
Bristol Environmental Inc. of Bristol, Pa., won the job with a low bid of $167,000. LVI Environmental Services Inc. bid $267,400, and R.L. Asbestos Inc. bid $274,800.
Board member Richard Lockard questioned why the winning bid was $100,000 lower than the others, and he wondered if the company could increase the cost with change orders once the contract was awarded.
George Cardone, assistant superintendent, said any company could do so, but he reassured the board that everything needing removal from the building was presented to the companies, and Bristol met that requirement with its bid.
Cardone said the new junior high project is 85 percent complete with completion expected in May.
As for RJHS, asbestos removal and hazardous materials removal will begin June 15 and continue until the end of July, Cardone said. Demolition is scheduled to begin in August.
“There were not any alternatives,” Cardone said when asked if the district had explored using the building for another purpose instead of tearing it down. He said the building does not meet any codes and is in disrepair.
In a February e-mail, Spokesman Tom Bradley said the district has received little response to the demolition of the school throughout the entire process.
Sporadic letters to the editor have appeared in the Mirror opposing the demolition of the school.
