Dec 14, 2015 By Cara Host 3 min read

The renovation of Benjamin Franklin Elementary School will cost about $3.9 million, the project architect told Bethel Park School Board Dec. 8.

The district plans to upgrade the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and complete a few other improvements this summer. Similar renovations were completed at two other schools in the district in the past few years.

“This is a very similar project to the one at George Washington last summer and at Neil Armstrong Middle School (about two years ago),” said Kevin Hayes of Hayes Design Group.

The estimated cost for the Ben Franklin project is about $600,000 higher than George Washington, in part because the project is a bit more extensive. Franklin Elementary is about 5,000 square feet larger than Washington Elementary and some of the heating equipment at Franklin will need to be replaced; that equipment was still serviceable at Washington so it was reused.

The project also calls for adding a generator, replacing the lighting system with energy efficient lights, installing sump pumps, replacing the gymnasium floor and creating a secure vestibule in the main entrance near the school office.

Construction costs are estimated at $3,330,000 with an additional $575,000 for engineering and design fees, new furniture and equipment purchases, temporary storage fees and other costs. The district will solicit bids for the various construction aspects of the project in early February, so the numbers could change.

Most of the work will be completed this summer, though workers will likely start doing some tasks during after school hours in the last few weeks of the school year. The scope of the work may require turning off air conditioning in some parts of the building.

The district also plans to complete a smaller project this summer at Neil Armstrong Middle School. The water line leading to the building will be replaced as well as the in-ground, electrical wiring leading to the light poles outside the school.

In another matter, the board heard from three parents who asked the district to restore transportation from the elementary schools to area child care centers. Paula Kauffman Oberly said she carefully selected a day care for her child only to have to change it when the district stopped providing bussing, as part of a cost saving move.

The district only provides transportation to centers that are along bussing routes.

Board members said they are sympathetic to the plight of working parents and said they would look into the matter in the coming months, as they prepare the 2016-17 budget.

The board also made several personnel moves including: promoted Zachary Cable from half-time to full-time music teacher at Independence Middle School; closed the high school head custodian position and a maintenance position and replaced it with a custodian and district maintenance positions; hired Keith Born as half-time elementary music teacher; accepted the retirement of M. Diane Burnes, maintenance secretary.

The board hired JG Contracting Co. to install drainage to temporarily repair a hillside slip near the high school for $10,865. The repair is supposed to fix the landslide for the winter months, but the district will likely have to make a permanent repair this summer.

The board will discuss various curriculum issues, such as the high school course selection guide and an idea to establish a district-wide kindergarten center at a curriculum meeting scheduled for Jan. 13 at the administration building.