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USC considering multiple stadium renovations

By Carla Valentine Myers 2 min read

The Upper St. Clair School Board is expected to award a bid Jan. 27 to replace the track at the high school stadium. It will also consider various bid options to replace fencing at the stadium on that day, but they may defer to a later meeting a decision on how to fund the improvements.

David McLean, architect, told the board Jan. 13 that he will recommend that the district award a $490,000 bid to Northern Athletic Construction Company to replace the track, as well as some athletic event components and the inner fencing that separates the track from the spectator’s area of the stadium.

McLean said he was recommending that the inner fencing be replaced at the same time the track was done because it will be the best bid to do it all at once. He said replacing the fence at a later time would require additional expense to protect the new track while the adjacent fencing and fresh asphalt is placed.

Board member Louis Oliverio on Jan. 13 questioned the wisdom of replacing fencing at the stadium at this time, when the budget is so tight that they are considering asking the state for exceptions to raise taxes beyond the inflation rate. He made similar observations about the expense for fencing at the November meetings where the board heard presentations from McLean on the proposed work and voted to solicit bids for the work.

Frosina Cordisco, director of business and finance for the district, said Jan. 13 that the board could wait as late as May to decide how to pay for the work. She said there were various options for funding the improvements. They include paying for it out of capital reserve funds, paying for it out of the district’s unassigned fund balance, taking out a loan for $500,000, folding into a bond issue to pay for that and other capital projects, or conducting an advancement office campaign to raise funds to pay for it.

She said a combination of more than one method could also be used.

McLean said construction is expected to start on May 12. He said the contractor is expected to clean up the site for the June 12 high school graduation, and then resume work. The work is expected to be completed by July 21 in time for football camp.

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