AASD applies for $1.7M grant

Funds could provide upgrades for better library accessibility

The Altoona Area Public Library might become more accessible if the library and the Altoona Area School District can secure a $1.7 million competitive grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

During the April 15 Altoona Area School Board meeting, the district received permission to apply for the grant, which would be used to add exterior lighting and provide facility upgrades for better accessibility at the library, Superintendent Brad Hatch said, adding the school district owns the property on which the public library stands.

Haley Fleegle, an assistant superintendent who handles the school's federal programs, said some of the library's doors are small, and part of the money would be used to create "a more successful entryway."

The district also requested additional furniture and check-out desks that would allow for better accessibility, according to Fleegle.

"The other big one is a restroom remodel to allow for a more accessible restroom area in addition to that," she said. "So there are several different kinds of items that we requested."

Fleegle said the money received, if awarded, would include the costs for permits and site preparations in addition to the costs for the facility items.

She said their application has a contingency clause, so in the event they receive the grant, the construction would start right away.

"We've submitted our application and we're waiting to hear back," she said. "Of course none of this will happen if we don't get the grant and the funding."

Hatch said the district partially funds the library on an annual basis, and they partner together for facility needs "quite frequently."

"When they had some flooding issues over there a couple years back, we handled coordinating all of their improvements and upgrades and all the repairs that they needed," he said.

Public comment policy updated

At the meeting, the school board also updated its policy for public comment during board meetings, which Hatch described as more of a clarification than a change to the board's current procedures.

According to Camilla Houy, the board's secretary, anyone wishing to comment at meetings has to sign in on a sheet provided at the meeting. They are to provide their name, municipality and the topic to be addressed. Although the board would appreciate knowing who is going to speak in advance by sending a letter to the secretary, Houy said that isn't necessary for people wanting to address the board during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Hatch said the clarification added to the board's policy is to allow public comment on items that were not listed as part of the agenda. The state Sunshine Law requires school boards to post their agendas at least 24 hours in advance of a meeting.

Solicitor Jennifer Dambeck told board members it's recommended, even after the public comment portion of the meeting has taken place, they allow for public comment whenever an item or modification is added to the agenda.

Hatch said the board "very rarely" adds anything to or amends its public agenda. "We try to avoid at all cost anything having to be added as a verbal," he said.

Board President Val Mignogna said he thinks it's important for communities to have a voice at public meetings.

"We were elected by the community and certainly want to hear from them and it gives them the opportunity to come and face us publicly," he said. "We never want to get in the way of the public having an opportunity to engage us as long as it's respectful and civil."