Meeting to address Saltsburg school expansion

BLAIRSVILLE -- The Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board will hold a special Nov. 17 meeting to review projected cost savings that are expected to result from closing the Saltsburg Elementary School and expanding the nearby Saltsburg Middle/High School to include a new wing for grades K-6. The session is set for 7 p.m. in the Saltsburg Middle/High School cafeteria.

Superintendent Arnold Nadonley said he was not prepared to discuss the projected savings at Wednesday's regular board meeting in the Blairsville Middle/High School cafeteria.

"We didn't want to rush the numbers by doing it tonight," he told those present. But he indicated that the savings "can be significant if the recommendations are followed."

Business Manager Eric Kocsis said he and Nadonley have been working on the savings estimate with the involved building principals: Eric Kostic at the middle/high school and Tracy Richards at the elementary school. Kocsis said they are looking at such factors as staffing, utilities, transportation and repairs and maintenance.

He noted the savings would include eliminating an extra leased modular classroom unit currently in use at the middle/high school. The current lease for the unit will expire next June.

Critics of the proposed Saltsburg building project have argued that any cost savings involved will not be able to match annual savings of $890,000 that had been cited under a failed plan to create a single consolidated district high school.

That controversial plan would have bused all Saltsburg area students in grades 7-12 to an expanded Blairsville school campus. It was aborted shortly after a new Saltsburg area majority gained control of the school board in last November's elections.

At the special meeting, the board also is expected to set a maximum cost for the proposed Saltsburg Middle/High School expansion, as required by the state Department of Education.

At past board meetings, project architects with L. Robert Kimball & Associates have cited an estimated price tag of $25.6 million for a preferred project option.

The board already has submitted to officials in Harrisburg initial state-mandated PlanCon documents outlining the Saltsburg project plans.

Receiving no objections from the board, Nadonley said he and Kocsis would seek separate proposals from firms to initiate energy savings efforts for schools on each end of the district, under the provisions of state Act 77. That would include retrofitting lighting fixtures on the Blairsville campus for more energy-efficient T8 fluorescent lamps that use electronic rather than magnetic ballasts

Another measure might include installing sensors for turning off lights.

Nadonley suggested the district investment in the retrofit could pay for itself in eight years, after which the district could realize a projected savings of $50,000 per year.

He recommended addressing energy savings at Saltsburg facilities separately, given the building project currently being planned there. He noted the work there could be handled either by a separate firm or by the contractor ultimately approved for the building project.

Nadonley indicated energy improvements could be completed over the district's summer break or in evening hours during the academic year.

"It's a no-brainer," board member Michael LaMantia said in support of the energy-efficient effort, noting he realized savings with similar improvements at a building he owns.

During public comments Wednesday, several residents urged the school board to move more slowly in pursuing the Saltsburg Middle/High School expansion and to consider other alternatives. Others took issue with some of the criticism that has been directed at the board and its building plan.

"Why don't we just fix the (Saltsburg elementary and secondary) schools you have?" asked Loyalhanna Township resident John Warnick.

Noting he recently took part in a tour of the Saltsburg Elementary School, Blairsville Mayor John Zedick remarked on deficiencies at the building, including a "stench in the rest room." But he asked if such problems can be addressed with repairs rather than replacing the school with a new elementary wing at the high school.

Dr. Thomas Meloy, a former superintendent of the district and a Loyalhanna Township resident, has objected that the high school expansion would result in space for students that exceeds future needs, based on state enrollment projections.

Rev. Dan Satler of Saltsburg responded to that point, indicating the state enrollment projections cited by Meloy are due to be updated and are actually as much as 45 percent lower than they should be, based on birth statistics for the district.

In other matters Wednesday, the school board approved purchasing stage curtains for the Saltsburg Middle/High School Auditorium from Pittsburgh Stage, at a cost of $14,179.

It also approved a contract with T.W. Phillips, to supply the district with natural gas from Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2010. While the price will increase from the current $9.75 to $9.85 per thousand cubic feet, Kocsis noted it is still about $5 below the going market rate: "It's an incredible price."

Blairsville-Saltsburg will renew for the 2009-10 school year its participation in a cooperative purchasing program through the ARIN Intermediate Unit, as long as it remains financially advantageous to the district.

Kocsis told the board he was approached by an Illinois firm, Nevco, which offered to look into installing a new scoreboard at Saltsburg's football stadium at no cost to the district. While the scoreboard currently is in working order, "It's getting old," Kocsis said.

He indicated Nevco could work with any of three other companies to market sponsorship of the scoreboard through a potential national sponsor as well as supporters from the local business community.

He indicated about $13,000 in contributions would be needed to pay for the scoreboard itself, not counting the share the marketers would retain.

Kocsis said Nevco's offer was prompted by recent replacement of the scoreboard at the Blairsville football stadium. That project also was completed without cost to the district, in an effort that was spearheaded by Blairsville Football Coach Ab Dettorre and was supported by local sponsors.

In personnel matters, the school board agreed to rehire H. Patrick Rosborough as the district's supervisor of maintenance and buildings and grounds. Rosborough recently resigned but apparently reconsidered. He is expected to return on Nov. 20, under the terms of his previous contract, which will expire next June 30.

Ed Smith cast the sole vote against the item. While describing Rosborough as "a good man," he said, "When an employee resigns, I always find it hard to turn around and say, 'It's OK to come back.'

"I'd rather see a clean sweep, hire a new employee."

District officials noted two rounds of interviews had been completed with applicants seeking to succeed Rosborough, but no decision had been made on hiring a replacement.

The board hired Ryan Stefan and Emily Virkler as learning support teachers at Saltsburg Middle/High School--replacing Clint Weimer, who resigned to accept an administrative position with another school district, and Debbie Shirley, who recently was promoted to the position of Blairsville Middle School principal.

Stefan will receive a salary of $43,953, while Virkler will be paid $45,573, at the first step of the master's degree salary scale.

Stefan had been serving as a long-term substitute at Blairsville High School, so Elizabeth Moody was hired to complete his assignment there, for the remainder of the first semester of the 2008-09 school year. Moody will receive a prorated salary of $20,000.

L. Lorraine Henry, an instructional aide at Saltsburg Elementary School, and Kimberly Knupp, an instructional aide at Blairsville Elementary School, each was promoted from part-time to full-time status, with salary and benefits to be determined under the appropriate bargaining unit contract.

The board approved the following supplemental one-year contracts for extra-curricular advisory and coaching positions for 2008-09:

At Saltsburg Middle/High School--Kathy Muir and Pam Carr, yearbook co-advisors, each at a prorated salary of $1,339; Mary Jo Zetts, drama co-advisor, $568; Michelle Liboski, drama volunteer advisor; John Rovison, assistant to the principal, $1,510 prorated; Steve Shannon, jv girls' basketball coach, $3,819;

At Blairsville Middle/High School--Joseph Intrieri, head boys' basketball coach, $5,131; Tammy DiLoreto, jv girls' basketball coach, $3,819; Laura Thompson, assistant junior high volleyball coach, $2,332; D.J. Doak, junior high wrestling coach, and his assistant, Tim Chelsted, $3,432 each; Ashley Stevenson, assistant band director, $1,941; Martin Kessler, 11th-grade class sponsor, $2,153.