SCHOOL SPENDING $7M
Coudersport Area School District plans three major improvement projects

Coudersport Area School District expects to seek bids as early as October on three major improvement projects estimated to cost about $7 million. They include:

• adding eight classrooms, air conditioning and security at the elementary school;

• renovating and expanding the high school cafeteria and kitchen;

• replacing the track and bleachers while making many other improvements at Coudersport Area Recreation Park (CARP).

Only the elementary school work, estimated to cost $4.6 million, will qualify for state reimbursement, school directors reported at Monday's monthly meeting.

All six members present -- David Long, Mike Heroux, Linda Klingaman, Tim Watson, Bob Benson and Al Barry -- approved motions to send the three project plans to the State Education Department for approval. Directors Joe Lagrua, Carol Bernard and Ken Cole, who moved out of the area.

School Superintendent George Nuffer, said the funding will come from a $9.2 million bond issue approved by the board last December. About $2 million of that total was used for debt reduction. The remainder has been invested, yielding more than $200,000 in interest to date.

Most of Monday's meeting consisted of a detailed construction forecast by Philip Frey from Bink Architectural Partnership of Camp Hill. If plans fall into place, Frey said, all of the work could be completed in time for the opening of classes and football season in late August 2008.

Elementary School Eight classrooms will be added to the back of the 20-year-old Coudersport Elementary Schoolforanew early childhood education wing. Square footage will increase from the current 82,000 to 93,000.

Air conditioning and automatic temperature controls will be added to the entire building. A separate student drop-off point will be established for bus traffic, while the current dropoff is used for parents on a one-way loop around the parking lot.

Also on the project list: a security vestibule at the front entrance; refurbishing the rubber roof; renovations of the administrative and health suite; fingerprint identification security at five entrances.

Frey also recommended that the school district replace the building's lights with an energy-efficient system that would pay for itself through lower electric bills over the course of just a few years.

CARP Field

About $2 million will be spent at CARP. A new allweather track, 400 meters long with six lanes, will be built surrounding the football/soccer field.

New bleachers will be built on both the home and visitors' sides, with seating for 2,000.

A new fieldhouse is also planned, built under the bleachers on the home side, containing locker rooms, public rest rooms and a storage area for band equipment and maintenance materials.

Plans also call for a new press box, lighting and sound system.

To minimize flooding, Frey said, the new construction will take place at an elevation about one foot higher than the current facilities. He added that a major component of the CARP plan is a new drainage system with underground piping, from the foot of the hill on the park's east edge out toward the Allegheny River on the western border.

High school project

Work at the high school is more modest, with a price tag of about $510,000.

The dining area will be expanded through a cafeteria addition extending out into the courtyard.

Kitchen equipment will be replaced and a food court area established to allow for expanded meal options. A small outdoor dining area will also be built.

Bob Benson asked if steps could be taken to assure multiple bids on the projects.

"It's interesting how prices become less ridiculous when there's more competition," he pointed.

Both Frey and Nuffer said there will likely be many bids, due to trends in the construction business and the scope of the work.

"Our timing is good," Nuffer observed. "At this point, contractors are looking for business."

Directors voted unanimously to transfer $350,000 from the general fund to the district's capital reserve to allow for continued payments to Bink Architectural Partnership and other consultants.

Construction costs alone are estimated at $5.9 million. The remaining $1.2 million is budgeted for architectural and engineering services, regulatory reviews and other administrative costs.

A copy of the Bink's construction summary is available for public review at coudersport.schoolwires.com.