New Kensington-Arnold approves repairs, improvements at all schools

The New Kensington-Arnold School Board has approved several projects that will see improvements, upgrades and fixes touching on all of the district’s schools.

At the high school, the board approved negotiating a contract with Pittsburgh Stage to renovate the auditorium stage’s rigging and tracks, electrical and lighting systems.

Business Manager Jeff McVey said the work is not expected to be done in time for the spring musical. The drama club is scheduled to perform “The Spongebob Musical” from April 20-23.

It also approved having The Efficiency Network finalize engineering and come up with the construction cost to replace the HVAC system and boiler for the high school swimming pool.

Also for the pool, the board approved paying HD Liners $88,000 to replace the lining and intake jets. The company’s proposal was the lower of two prices received, McVey said. It will be paid from the district’s capital projects funds.

Martin and H.D. Berkey elementary schools will get new public address systems, bought from and installed by Dobil Laboratories, which was the lowest proposal received through COSTARS, the state’s cooperative purchasing program. The cost is $25,570 at Berkey and $24,980 at Martin.

The public address and clock systems at Roy A. Hunt Elementary also will be replaced by Dobil, at a cost of $45,364.

Because each school uses its clocks and PA systems daily, installation will depend on availability of equipment and student schedules, McVey said.

The cost for all three elementary projects will be paid from the district’s capital projects funds.

The district’s 2022 capital projects fund totals about $4.6 million, while its 2020 capital projects balance is close to $930,000.

McVey said the district will use the 2020 fund until exhausted, then use the 2022 fund.

The board also approved replacing the district’s telephone system through a 60-month lease agreement with Full Service Network.

The annual cost is almost $30,000, including taxes and fees, plus a one-time activation fee of $2,000.

The phone system is not a capital item, McVey said. It is expected to be installed and operating by March.

The board postponed a vote on new furniture districtwide, at a cost of up to $1.5 million.

Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said eight companies responded to the district’s request for proposals, which were narrowed down to three. Sefcheck said the vote was delayed for another round of questions.

The district will pay for the furniture using money from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Sefcheck said.

The district also is still preparing for work to replace the two pedestrian bridges spanning Little Pucketa Creek at Valley High School. That work would follow repairs to the nearby main entrance bridge, which largely were completed this year.

The board’s building and grounds committee will discuss it, Sefcheck said.