The Van Buren School Board is considering an accelerated plan to get construction of the new high school done in two years rather than three.
Present plans call for construction to begin next summer and students to be in the new building in fall, 2013.
At Monday’s School Board meeting, an update on plans for construction of the $79 million school, included a side report on how, by spending a little more than expected, a year of construction could be saved – as well as a year of having students attending a school in temporary condition.
“That’s so exciting, that we could pull that off a year early,” said Trustee Martha Toth.
Paul Wills, of Plante Moran CRESA, said in the next three months, they will be talking with school officials on what can be done to accelerate the schedule.
As a step in that direction, the board approved a recommendation from CRESA to allow architect Fanning Howey Associates to allow additional professional services for the project for a fee not to exceed $95,310. This would accelerate the design process and allow them to begin preparing multiple bid packages.
The board also approved the 100% Schematic Design Update.
The update reduces the original estimate of 338,519 square feet of new construction to 315,050 square feet. The renovated space remains at 51,450 sf.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the board:
* Approved Plante Moran CRESA’s recommendation to hire Fanning Howey Associates at a cost not to exceed $108,625 for the technology consulting portion of the Belleville High School project. There were four bidders;
* Received preliminary head counts of students who attended the first week of school. The district projected, for budget work, that there would be 5,460 students this fall and after the first week there were 5,450, which is 482 less than last year’s head count. Official student count day is Sept. 30. Dr. Linda Olson attributed some of the student loss to the openings of charter schools in Canton;
* Approved cuts in six coaching and other positions to reach a goal of $33,956 in total athletic department budget reductions for 2009-10. The board also approved an increase in varsity games ticket prices, from $4 to $5, which is expected to bring in an extra $10,000. The coaches cut were varsity, North, and South cross country positions and freshman baseball, softball, and wrestling positions;
* Approved the recall of 16 teachers who had been laid off: Angela Zuellig, Angela Mays, Veronica Coker, Andrew Hartman, Sara Higgins, Yvonne Mallon, Marcus Hosman, Joseph Brodie, Jamie Wiese, Stephanie Nota, Jennifer Runyan, Anita Norman, Cameron Walton, Brian Rupnow, Alicia Dubisky, and Lisa Myers;
* Approved the termination of Samantha Flatt, a two-year teacher at BHS, for “declined recall”;
* Approved employment of Monika Domke, special education social worker; Debra Bondy, alternative education comp. tech.; and recalled from layoff Constance Testorelli, Sarah Kovach, Felicia Lasenby, and Theresa Libs;
* Approved requested terminations of Joyce Willard, retiring after 30 years as a bus driver; and Katrenia Kirchner after half a year as a secretary at North Middle School, for other employment;
* Approved recalling Katrenia Kirchner as North Middle School secretary and hiring Maxine McLaughlin, lunchroom supervisor at Tyler; and Shane Holliday, Theresa Crowder, Daryl Dubisky, and Betty LaDouceur as custodians; and
* Learned there were 21 applicants for BHS principal. The schedule calls for focus groups, administrators, and central office officials to interview the finalists and a recommendation to come in October.