Renovations Keep Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

From the BCCT.

Board takes steps for more renovations
By RACHEL CANELLI

When one renovation project ends, another makeover could begin.

The Neshaminy school board during a strategic action committee meeting Wednesday night gave administrators the nod to continue plans for possibly renovating a portion of Neshaminy High School for the facilities and purchasing departments.

The Middletown high school is already more than halfway through a major construction project. The facilities department is currently housed at the district’s Eisenhower building and the purchasing department is still operating out of closed Neshaminy Middle School, said Superintendent Paul Kadri.

However, there is space at the high school, including a vacant gym and business and science classrooms, for both departments to join the existing transportation department, said business administrator Joseph Paradise.

Instead of demolishing that part of the high school structure, which would cost $150,000, officials proposed renovating the area for roughly $200,000.

Doing so could save fuel and vehicle maintenance for many employees who need to travel all over the district for repairs. The project could also free up both Eisenhower and Neshaminy Middle for rental, administrators said.

The updates, which could be completed by district employees who are tradesmen, could not begin until the high school plans are almost finished by July or August 2009. And the renovations would take time, Paradise said.

Board member Ritchie Webb said the concept theoretically sounded good, but he was concerned about the cost and how soon the district would see any savings.

Board member Frank Koziol, though, said “it makes a lot of sense to me. I think we should consider to go ahead and do it.”

While board President Rick Eccles expressed concerned at the cost of having to convert the warehouse at Eisenhower for a tenant, facilities representatives responded that the district could rent the edifice at a cheaper rate and require renters to make any necessary upgrades.