New Kensington-Arnold approves contracts to replace Valley High pedestrian bridges

Work to replace the twin pedestrian bridges in front of Valley High School is expected to start near the end of the school year in June, New Kensington-Arnold Business Manager Jeff McVey said.

The school board Tuesday approved two contracts totaling more than $400,000 for the project. They do not include stairs, a ramp and a walkway connecting the spans, for which McVey said the district has yet to seek proposals.

The district will pay Ligonier Construction $99,000 to demolish the two existing bridges over Little Pucketa Creek.

It then will pay Bridge Brothers about $313,000 for the fabrication and installation of the bridges.

According to McVey, the money will come from the district’s capital projects accounts — first from the 2020 fund, now totaling about $233,000, with the remaining balance paid from the 2022 fund, which has about $1.87 million.

The contracts were approved by a 7-0 vote with board members Tim Beckes and Eric Doutt absent.

Located at about the midpoint of the school, one of the two pedestrian bridges remains closed because of its condition.

An exact date for when work will start is not yet known. The last day of school for students is June 6.

“We’re moving along,” board member Steve Sorch said. “It takes time, but it’s how it is.”

Work to refurbish and repair the main entrance bridge at the school was finished last year.

Education Foundation created

The school board approved the creation of the Valley Vikings Education Foundation, and volunteers are being sought to serve on it. The board also approved the foundation’s by-laws and appointed school board member Sarah Yurga as its director.

Yurga said they are looking for five to seven people to serve. While there would be few meetings to attend, she said, there will be a lot of fundraising to do.

Yurga said the foundation will use the money it raises to support teachers and students, such as by giving new teachers money to buy things they need for their classrooms and scholarships to students.

Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Yurga at syurga@nkasd.com.

In other business

The district will spend just over $140,000 for safety- and security-related projects, which are being paid with state grant money.

The board approved spending about $72,000 to buy and install a mobile digital radio system from Mobile Communication Services.

The district will pay Carolina Covertech, doing business as School Safety Solution, about $69,000 to buy door locks districtwide.

Valley High School Principal Jon Banko said the new locks will give teachers the ability to secure classrooms from the inside in case of an emergency. He said that had been a recommendation from a state police safety inspection.

• The district will spend nearly $130,000 for two new maintenance vehicles and a dump truck bed.

The maintenance vehicles are Ram 2500 regular cab gasoline pickups with 8-foot beds. One, with a snowplow, hitch mount and salt spreader, will cost about $59,000 while the other with a tailgate lift will cost about $52,000.

The district is not expecting to take delivery of the pickups for about a year. They will replace two of the district’s five maintenance vehicles, which are about 15 years old and frequently need repairs.

The district will spend about $17,000 to buy and install a new bed and hydraulics for a Ford F-550 from Wagner Truck Equipment.