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CRESSON -- The Penn Cambria School District is one step closer to making its proposed stadium revitalization initiative a reality after an anonymous donor pledged $500,000 to the cause, bringing the district's pledged total to slightly more than $1.5 million.
Superintendent Jaime Hartline said the donation came from the same anonymous donor who previously pledged $500,000 and has now pledged a total of $1 million to the district.
"We thank that person, and we are extremely appreciative of their support of the Penn Cambria School District and what we're trying to do here for our students," Hartline said during Tuesday's school board meeting.
Hartline said the district budgeted slightly more than $2 million for the project this year. However, when someone like the anonymous donor steps up to provide additional support for the district, it opens up doors for Penn Cambria to do an even better project and build the best facility that it can, he said.
"It's absolutely helping us realize the project," Hartline said of the donation. "We are extremely grateful for the support that we have received from the anonymous donor. The initial pledge was for $500,000, and for that person to push that up to $1 million to make sure that we get this project done, it says a lot about that individual."
To date, Penn Cambria has received $1,550,000 in pledged donations for its proposed Panther Stadium revitalization initiative. The anonymous donor gave $1 million; Paul and Maureen Calandra, Rosebud Mining and Bob Biter Electric each gave $100,000; Bob Biter Electric donated and installed new stadium lights, which were valued at $200,000; and Leeward Energy, Randy and Kim Beers, S.P. McCarl & Co., Knopp and Klatt Excavation & Concrete and T-Mobile each gave $10,000.
There were resolutions on Tuesday's meeting agenda for the board to consider a $2 million agreement with Force Turf Solutions for renovations to Panther Stadium, including site work and new artificial turf systems, track surfacing and fencing and to award bidding and construction services to KU Resources. However, both resolutions were tabled during the meeting, at the request of the board's solicitor, Ronald Repak Jr., who advised the board to take a harder look at the bids before voting to approve them.
"Giving a little bit more time to the board, I think, is in our best interest," Repak said.
In other business, the board heard from SitelogIQ project manager Joe Penrod, who provided a brief update to the district's consolidation project, and food service director Justine Hrzic-Smith, who spoke about new products and programs the district is offering this year.
Hartline also presented honorary certificates from the Pennsylvania School Board Association to board members Jeffrey Stohon and Matthew Kearney, who each completed five years of service to the district.
According to Hartline, everything with the consolidation project is on track for the district to move into its new elementary addition by the 2027-28 school year. The addition is being built onto the existing high school structure and will house students in the second through sixth grades.
District officials are excited by the ongoing progress made at the high school and pre-primary campus, Hartline said, adding you can start to see some of the structure that will be used for some of the addition's classrooms.
"We'll be pouring concrete soon, and that's exciting for our kids," Hartline said. "It's certainly an exciting time for the district. We're looking forward to getting to the end of it here."
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.