Smooth Sailing
Coudersport school renovations heading toward bid process

Philip Frey (left) and Stewart Cluck from Bink Architectural Partnership narrate a slide presentation depicting three renovation projects proposed at Coudersport Area School District.

Less than a half-dozen citizens turned out for Monday night's public meeting on three major improvement projects in the Coudersport Area School District.

Bids could be solicited as early as October for the work, which includes: 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, improving drainage, and adding a fieldhouse at Coudersport Area Recreation Park.

"This has been a long time in coming," said Philip Frey from the district's consulting firm, Bink Architectural Partnership of Camp Hill, at Monday's session. He added that planning for some of the work dates back three years.

Only the elementary school work, estimated to cost $4.6 million, will qualify for state reimbursement.

Funding for the three projects 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.

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.

Construction costs are estimated at $5.9 million. Another $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.