Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights 2-21-2017

FEBRUARY 21, 2017

  • Update on middle schools facilities project
  • Board members’ questions on the project

All board members were present: Ron Register, president; Kal Zucker, vice president; Jim Posch; Eric Silverman; and Beverly Wright. Also present were Talisa Dixon, superintendent; and Scott Gainer, treasurer.

The meeting opened at 7:05 p.m., preceded by an executive session, and ended at 7:55 p.m., followed by an executive session for union negotiations.

Update on middle schools facilities project

Doug Myers of Project Management Consultants, and Ann Hartman and Jack Sanders, Moody Nolan Design representatives, were present to discuss the project and answer questions from the board. Board members had been given nine documents relative to the design and engineering of the middle schools renovation project. Myers reported that Moody Nolan and Osborn Engineering professionals have been studying all systems in the Roxboro and Monticello middle schools, coordinating with Turner Construction, and meeting with teachers and other school leaders. They foresee completing the project under the budgeted $30 million, which should allow for some items from the alternate list to be added. Air conditioning in the gyms has been determined to be a necessary alternate item.

Board members’ questions about the project

In answer to Eric Silverman’s questions, at both schools there will be fresh paint; new floor bases; and air conditioning in all classrooms, reception areas, corridors, music rooms, gymnasia and cafeteria; as well as new fixtures in bathrooms. Roxboro Middle School will receive new exterior doors and airflow improvement in the auditorium. The stairwells will not be painted. At Monticello Middle School, the competition gym will not be renovated, and very little will be done in the second gym.

Silverman also asked if all state requirements will be met, thus qualifying the district for a possible 14 percent match from the state. Hartman explained that this would depend on approval of several necessary zoning variances by the city of Cleveland Heights.

In response to Jim Posch’s questions, the HVAC system to be installed at the middle schools will be of the same quality and warranty, and from the same manufacturer, as that used in the high school renovation. New windows are on the list of alternates but may not be affordable.

Kal Zucker questioned the safety of not installing sprinkler systems and was told that fire suppression and alarms have been improved. He asked for assurance that the buildings will be safe. Posch echoed the concern and stated that he would research the issue. Zucker asked what factors could pose risks to meeting the budget. Sanders responded that the current $500,000 leeway would probably allow for the addition of alternatives, but that it was too soon to act on this.

The board will receive another update in six weeks.

LWV Observer: Nancy Dietrich.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse, and Maryann Barnes. To receive email postings of full reports, send an email to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through Google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase.

These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.

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