School Board Approves $240,000 Entryway

The Chartiers Valley School Board approved construction of a new $240,000 entryway for the district administration building despite the cost of the project increasing by more than 25 percent.

The project increased by $50,000 because of an added security system and rising construction costs.

Superintendent Brian White Jr. said the added security features increased the price by more than $25,000. Those features include specialized door locks and security cameras at the entrance.

He said the board could redesign the project and put it out for bid again, but that would cost an additional $5,000 and the project still might cost the same because of increasing prices.

“It’s a toss-up,” White said.

The funds are coming from leftover money in a $30 million capital improvements bond for various school renovations in 2007. Business Manager Nicholas Morelli said the district still has about $600,000 in the account and it must be used on building projects.

School Director Jeff Choura said the district should proceed with the plans because the money cannot be handed back to the taxpayers.

“If we could give back this money to you folks, we would,” Choura said.

The board approved the project 7-2 with Patti Figorski and Pam Poletti voting against it during the Tuesday night meeting.

Figorski said she thinks the administration building needs a new entrance, but even the original scope of the project seemed “outlandish.” She said she could not justify spending $240,000 on a canopy and vestibule.

“I’m just shocked at what this figure is,” Figorski said. “I just wish there was some way to scale back on this.”

A 10-foot-tall blue canopy will extend to the glass vestibule into the building where there will be interior doors with a keycard locking mechanism and security camera. JC Pierce LLC unveiled the original design in January.

Also during the meeting…

-The board welcomed back School Director Bridget Kelly after she had missed several meetings due to health issues.

-A valve to a 4-inch water line at Chartiers Valley High School broke Tuesday afternoon, although the leaking water did not cause serious damage to the school. The line broke in a tunnel area and much of the water pooled near the boiler room where there are drains. Workers stopped the leak around 6:30 p.m. and fixed the valve overnight.

-Four varsity cheerleaders begged the board not to accept the resignation of head cheerleading coach Lauren Williams. The cheerleaders said they believed Williams was being forced to quit and they spoke passionately about her work. After a 15-minute executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss the issue, the board voted unanimously to accept Williams’ resignation.