This is no way to build a school

From the Curwinsville, Clearfield County Progress.

Can you imagine any responsible school district waiting for 30 or 40 years before doing repairs? Not only that, they're taking their time to think about a plan, seek state reimbursement, and, even exploring a geo-thermal energy system.

Where's the safe, sober, and responsible stop the school people here to whip up some civic frenzy and needlessly split the town? They're doing it wrong in Curwinsville.

Let's take donations for a road trip so the Emperor, Angry Al, and the rest of the stop the school professionals can take their act on the road and show Curwinsville how to destroy a town and its school system.

Price tag for Curwensville school fixes more than $20 million
Thursday, August 07, 2008
By Dianne Byers Staff Writer

CURWENSVILLE - The age and condition of the components of school buildings was the focus of Curwensville Area School Board as members met for a buildings and grounds committee meeting last night.

Curwensville Area High School and Penn Grampian Elementary School were constructed in 1955, the lower level of Curwensville Area Elementary School was built in 1962 and the upper level in 1972. All the buildings are showing their maturity, especially the high school and Penn-Grampian. In January, the board authorized contracting with Robert T. Scheeren A.I.A., Indiana, to assess the school complex and Penn-Grampian related to an overhaul of the structures and the possibility of additions to the Curwensville buildings to allow them to be brought up to state codes.

Last night, the board had an opportunity to review details of the report, which contains three options for renovations. Norman Hatten, superintendent of schools, said the report analyzed the needs of the school district and provided information to "allow the board to determine what direction to go, if any."

He stressed that the information presented last night is "extremely preliminary." "We are very early in this process and we are trying to make sense of all this," he noted.

He told the board, "There are a considerable amount of things that need to be done. The roofs, windows, doors, steam pipes, plumbing, electricity need to be replaced to allow the building to function properly for the next 20 years. ... This is a conservative project - mainly infrastructure. These things need to be done to keep the building from failing and keep the school operating," he explained.

Mentioned several times last night was the age and state of the roof on the high school building. In January a representative from the architectural firm, during his proposal, presented a section of the steam pipe heating system that was marked with numerous rusted holes.

If the board were to do everything listed in the initial proposal of work to modernize the three buildings and bring them into compliance with state codes it would be spending approximately $21 million to $23 million. The board tentatively examined the possibility of making some cuts to the project and whittling down the price but noted most of what the project contains is necessary to the safe and functional operation of the building.

One of the options noted in the report is to close the Penn-Grampian Elementary School and build additions to the Curwensville Area Elementary School.

Paul Carr, business manager, presented a number of financial details to the board including the repayment of its current bond issues, millage options under Act 1 and possible reimbursement from the state for the building project.

The board made no decisions last night. Members said they would be looking at the report to determine whether they have additional questions for the architect and would revisit the matter at a future meeting, possibly the Aug. 14 work session.

Several members asked about a timeline for the project. Mr. Hatten said the first step is to determine the extent of the project to be done then the details, including a schedule and financing, could be determined.

Other board members said they would like information on a geo-thermal system to be presented as a possible addition to the project, saying they believe it would be a cost effective method for heating and cooling the buildings.

Ken Veihdeffer, board president, said members would need to make a decision soon on what they want to do. "The longer we wait (the more expensive the project will be). Prices are not going to go down," he said.