Trending
CRESSON -- The Penn Cambria School District is seeking a $588,104 multimodal transportation fund grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development for the district's campus improvements project.
Superintendent Jaime Hartline said the purpose of the grant, if awarded, would be to pave an existing gravel road from the student overflow parking lot up to McGarrity Lane.
The project would include installing a sidewalk beside the road, so there's a safe pedestrian pathway leading to the district's athletic fields, Hartline said, adding lighting would be included along the sidewalk as well.
According to Hartline, the district would need to put up a 30% match if the grant application is accepted. However, if it's not, the district has no plans to pursue the project, he said.
"If we don't get it, we just wouldn't pursue it," Hartline said.
During Tuesday's school board meeting, the board approved a number of change orders related to the consolidation project, separated by contractors.
The board approved Hilis-Carnes Engineering Associates to continue with the testing requirements set forth for the district at rates established per the original contract at a revised total cost not to exceed $100,000. Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates will continue to invoice accordingly per month for services rendered, according to the meeting agenda.
The board approved five change orders with J.C. Orr & Son for the general construction bid, including one to permit storm basin No. 1 to be increased due to additional stormwater runoff, which includes the excavation of soils transferred by truck to the spoil area, for $290,525.93. Hartline stated this work has already been done.
The board approved two change orders with Shipley Plumbing for the labor, material and equipment to install underground sanitary lines for the district's new maintenance building and to install a grinder pump system needed for the existing sanitary system from the stadium/concession stand area. That work will include the necessary core drilling for piping, removal and replacement of concrete floor for underground piping to the grinder pump, according to the meeting's agenda.
The board also approved a change order to the electrical construction bid with Hallstrom Clark Electric for "labor, material and equipment to core drill for wiring to panel above, all conduit and wiring from electrical panel to required disconnection location, final electrical connections to grinder pump at a not to exceed cost of $4,000," the agenda states.
District officials noted each of the change orders were discussed in detail at the board's committee of the whole meeting last week.
In other business, the board agreed to a two-year extension of the district's transportation agreement with McIlwain School Bus Lines, which will now run through June 30, 2028.
The board also awarded bids for its new storage building, with the total base bids and one alternate costing about $270,473.
The general construction bid was awarded to J.C. Orr for $39,784; plumbing construction was awarded to K&K Plumbing for $44,089; heating, ventilation and air conditioning construction was awarded to Hranec Sheet Metal for $82,600; and electrical construction was awarded to MH Electric for $104,000.
Although the district is in a transition phase currently, Hartline said everything is on schedule for students to be welcomed back to school next Thursday, Aug. 27.
"Things are going to look a bit different when our students come back," Hartline said. "But we're in a transition right now, so once we get through it, I think it's going to be a positive for everybody."
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.