Work Moves Inside as Winter Sets In

Although some members of the construction crew had been re-pointing brick on the façade of the building, the majority of the work has been moving inside as the weather changes. The building uses large portable heaters to provide temporary heat in the building during construction.

During the week of December 12, the crew focused on preparing for future systems. They started work on the fan coil unit that will deliver the HVAC to each classroom and the HVAC ductwork was assembled on the middle floor. Pipes were installed on the third floor for new restrooms.

Core holes were drilled through the concrete floors to supply water, gas, drainage for the science room labs.

View latest renovation photos

Working From the Ground Up to Lay New Foundations

Passers by are witnessing many changes at the middle school renovation site. As digging takes place to lay new pipes for water detention and storm water management, earth is moved revealing the remains of older foundations and brick roads that had been covered over for years.

There is lots of activity in the back of the building facing Ohio River Boulevard. Many photos reveal what our neighbors along Route 65 can see from their homes.

New forms have been laid for the foundation as well as piles for the new gymnasium. The old gymnasium has been opened up in order to expand the facility out over the new piles and foundation.

View latest renovation photos

Demolishing the Old & Preparing for the New

Demolition continues as the renovation of Quaker Valley Middle School advances. As old pipes and wiring are removed, new pipes and new utility systems are being installed. Walls and stairwells continue to be torn down to make way for the new room configurations and additions to the building.

The district keeps a workflow chart to ensure that each stage and task of the construction is met in a timely manner and to assess whether or not construction is on schedule based on the projected timeline.

“Even though we have had some setbacks such as the asbestos removal, we keep moving the project forward,” Dr. Joseph Marrone, Director of Administrative Services, explained. “Other than some rainy days, the weather has not impeded the progress. The winter weather will be critical as to how we maintain the schedule. We have been pleased to receive many positive comments from the public as they watch the progression of the building.”

View latest renovation photos

Board Approves Bids for Middle School Field Project

At the November 15th legislative meeting the school board approved the lowest responsible bids for the middle school field renovation project.

The field project was originally a part of the entire middle school renovation project. After the initial bid came in higher than anticipated the administration and school board reviewed, redesigned, and modified the scope of the entire project. The board and administration took additional time to review the scope of the field project and separated from the renovation and construction of the Quaker Valley Middle School facility.

The general construction contract was awarded to R.A. Glancy, and Sons, for $1,021,600. The scope of the project includes: general site work, demolition and full replacement of the retaining wall along Route 65 and Graham Street; replacement of a 1901 sanitary sewer line that runs under the wall and part of the field; replacement of the oval track with heavy duty asphalt; installation of field event equipment; replacement of the fence around the field; installation of a flag plaza; construction of a portable restroom enclosure; creation of proper entry and egress that meets the Americans with Disabilities Act; installation of aluminum stands for spectators with guard rail and other safety features on the site. Project completion will allow the public to continue to use the middle school track during non-school hours.

The field portion of the project was awarded to Palumbo Landscaping for $628,100. The scope of work includes: construction of the under field including stone and sand structures; a drainage system including a perimeter drain, and installation of artificial turf. Artificial turf will afford the school and community continual use of the field while reducing annual maintenance costs.

Dr. Joseph H. Clapper, superintendent said, “We are pleased to move ahead with the field project as originally planned. It is important to note, though, that we will continue to prioritize the completion of the building and classrooms in order to move students back to the renovated school as soon as we can.”

View Latest Renovation Photos (October 28-November 11)

Video: Senator Pippy Tours QVMS Renovation Site

View on YouTube

Renovation Progresses

Last week before the rain started, the large crane and rig were brought in to drill and install the auger cast test piles. The test pile consisting of steel and concrete would set for seven days before being tested to withstand the weight of the structure it would eventually bear. Engineers were on hand to monitor the process.

On October 14th, Senator John Pippy visited the renovation site at the invitation of Dr. Clapper. Dr. Clapper and Dr. Ondek showed the senator the progress of the construction and explained the plans for the building, noting the specifics for the integrated arts wing that would be added. Senator Pippy and his staff were instrumental in securing a $250,00 grant for that addition that would house the arts and educational technology.

The gymnasium floor was removed in preparation for extending the building to accommodate the full regulation basketball court that will be a highlight of the gym’s renovation.

View renovation photos from October 12-21

Ground Broken for Integrated Arts Wing

On Friday, October 14, Senator John Pippy was the guest of honor for a ceremonial ground-breaking for the Integrated Arts wing of the Quaker Valley Middle School. Senator Pippy came at the request of Quaker Valley School District Superintendent Joseph H. Clapper, D.Ed.

Due to pouring rain, the group set aside the shovels and reviewed some of architects’ drawings prior to taking a short tour of the building for a construction update. Scott Smith, construction manager led the group along with Dr. Joseph Marrone, Director of Administrative Services. Touring the facility with Senator Pippy was Dr. Joseph Clapper, superintendent, David Pusateri, QV school board facilities committee chair, and Dr. Heidi Ondek, assistant superintendent.

“Although our official ribbon cutting is tentatively scheduled for next fall, we did not want to let any more time pass without acknowledging Senator Pippy and his staff for their efforts which helped us secure a School Demonstration grant of $250,000 from The Pennsylvania Department of Education, “ Clapper said. “During this time of tight budgets this is one example of how responsive and responsible government collaboration can have a positive impact on public schools and most importantly the education of our young people.”

The new addition will incorporate the former district office and auditorium portions of the building and be converted to instructional spaces that will be dedicated to instruction in fine arts and technology as well as the addition of a new auditorium for performances.

The newly planned classroom and performance space is being designed specifically so students and teachers will have access to arts and technology activities during, before and after school. The Quaker Valley School District advocates for educational opportunities that further develop students’ creativity and innovation skills, essential to career training and 21st century success in the work place.

Renovations are Underway

The renovation portion of construction at the middle school is underway. Although demolition continues, the construction of infrastructure specific to the new additions is becoming visible.

New water lines are being installed and the ground has been prepared for drilling the auger cast piles for the new foundation.

In addition, concrete has been pumped to the third floor where the new concrete floor is being finished. Eventually VCT tile will be installed as the final finish to the floor.

Click here to view the most recent renovation photos.

Fall 2011: Frequently Asked Questions

Months have passed, and the middle school renovation project is underway. Here are the latest, most frequently asked questions, along with their answers:

What caused the delay to the middle school renovation project?
In April 2011, the Quaker Valley Board of School Directors unanimously rejected all bids for the project because they were significantly higher than expected.

What took place between April 2011 and June 2011?
Throughout these months, the architects, engineers, administration, and board members worked diligently to “value engineer” the project in order to lower the overall costs to the district.

Was the district successful with lowering the cost of the original project?
Yes, The second bid showed a significant overall savings of $4.3 million from the original April 2011 bids.

From April to June, what changes were made from the original plan?
The board decided to delay the athletic field and retaining wall along Ohio River Boulevard. Additionally, design changes were made in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and technology areas. There were also many changes to building materials, such as flooring and other finishes. .

How much did the re-bid process delay the project?
The project started seven weeks later than expected.

Will 7th and 8th grade students need to return to Anthony Wayne for 2012-13 because of the seven-week delay?
The district has developed an aggressive renovation timeline that calls for the substantial completion of the project in mid to late August with school opening following Labor Day. Although it is extremely early, we have no reason to believe at this point that this timeline will not be met.

However, there are always unknown factors when renovating a building of this age. Additionally, there could be product delivery issues (e.g. steel, etc.) or regulatory agencies could be slow in providing the approvals necessary to advance the project. Rest assured, though, the district administration and the school board will do everything within their power and authority to adhere to the established timeline. A full-time construction manager is on-site every day, along with Dr. Joseph Marrone, director of administrative services, to direct and monitor the entire project.

As always, the safety of our children is absolutely paramount. Students will not return to Quaker Valley Middle School until we are confident that the environment is safely prepared.

When will the 2012-13 school year begin?
An official school calendar will be adopted in January, 2012. We already plan that the 2012-2013 school year will not begin until after Labor Day.

Why did the board borrow an additional $6 million?
In July the board borrowed an additional $6 million for three reasons. First, the additional funding was needed to complete the renovations that were approved in July. Second, the additional funding will allow the district to complete the retaining wall and work on the athletic field and track. Delaying this work would only prolong the disruption of the entire site. Finally, the board borrowed the additional funds in order to have the money available to address necessary capital building projects ~ primarily at Quaker Valley High School.

It should be noted that district borrowed this additional amount at a historically low rate.

What kinds of communication strategies will you use to keep the public updated?
The school district has made extensive efforts to be transparent and informative when it comes to providing details about the middle school renovation project. We have established a blog with information and photos, eLinks are emailed with updates, and there have been a variety of informational community meetings. In the coming weeks and months, we will provide video depicting the progress of the renovations. None of these tools were used during the elementary renovations.

September 2011: Asbestos Abatement & Demolition Continue

At the September 13, 2011 facilities committee meeting, Landscape Architect Nancy Lonnett Roman, representing Pashek Associates provided a renovation update, reviewing the changes that would be made to reflect the board decision to complete the athletic field, retaining wall, parking and surrounding areas as originally planned.

During the month of September, asbestos abatement continued following the discovery of asbestos sealed in the floors between building levels.

Areas of the building have been demolished to make way for additions and renovations:

• A portion of kitchen and the complete loading dock have been removed.
• The former dance studio has been demolished.
• The athletics storage area has been demolished.
• The walls between classrooms on the top floor have been removed.

On September 26, 2011, the gymnasium was opened up to start work on the addition.

For more renovation photos, select the media gallery under the quicklinks menu on the district homepage and navigate using arrow in upper right corner to Middle School > Renovation Photos.

Relocation and Renovation Commence With the New School Year

On August 29, the seventh and eighth grade students were greeted by Mr. Aiken and Mr. Pellis as they arrived for their first day of school at Anthony Wayne. The students seemed pleased with the school; many had visited with their parents last week.

The maintenance staff, technology team, teachers and support staff had worked diligently all summer to be ready for the school to open. The terrazzo floors shine throughout the building and the classrooms are inviting and decorated to engage the students. The classrooms where Mr. Long, Mr. Truchan and Ms. Bruno teach are just a few of the examples of the effort teachers have made to make their classrooms attractive places to learn for the next year.

At Osborne, the sixth grade team prepared their rooms for the upcoming year. Many discovered they had more storage than they were used to while some of the specials teachers are sharing space and keeping some of their supplies in each of the “middle school” locations.

While the work has gone on at Anthony Wayne – the work started on the renovation at 203 Graham Street back in Sewickley. Though much couldn’t be seen from the street – there was much activity going on inside.

Following a successful auction to sell the remaining items that were not needed for Anthony Wayne or future years, the old middle school was turned over to the contractors. The first order of business was safety and the removal of asbestos from the building, which was built over a half century ago. Once the asbestos removal was completed, interior demolition began.

The year is off to a productive start — the staff and students are adjusting to their new schedules and locations but everyone remains enthusiastic about what this transition year will mean for the future.

Watch this blog for renovation updates. For what is happening at the middle school, check Middle School LIVE accessible from the middle school homepage.

School Board Awards Tech Bid for Middle QVMS Renovation

During a special legislative meeting conducted on Tuesday, July 19th, the Quaker Valley School District Board of School Directors awarded the technology bid totaling $1,929,600 to Horizon Technologies for the renovation of the Quaker Valley Middle School.

The technology award reflects a savings of $74,500 from the bids received earlier this month. The technology component of the project was rebid in order to redefine and clarify specifications for the project.

Construction is scheduled to start at the end of the July, as previously announced.

QV Board Awards Bids for Middle School Renovation

The Quaker Valley School District Board of Directors awarded bids totaling $21.3 million for the renovation of Quaker Valley Middle School during a special legislative meeting on Wednesday, July 6. Construction will begin later this month.

The district had originally hoped to award bids in April. However, initial bids were significantly higher than expected. As a result, members of the school board and administration modified plans in order to balance the district’s educational and fiscal needs. The current project represents a $4.3 million reduction from the original bids that were received in April.

“This is an important step toward completion of a very important facility renovation – one that is absolutely necessary to support the outstanding educational programming for our middle school students,” Dr. Joseph H. Clapper, superintendent, said.

The following bids were awarded:

• R.A. Glancy & Sons - General Contracting - $12,469,710
• East West Manufacturing & Supply – HVAC - $3,857,000
• Guy’s Mechanical – Plumbing - $1,639,875
• A-1 Electric – Electrical - $2,126,100
• Commercial Appliance – Cafeteria/Kitchen Equipment – $535,652
• Northeast Interior Systems – Casework - $583,000
• Jupina Landscaping – Landscaping - $78,985

The board elected to reject all technology bids for the project and will rebid immediately. Re-bids for technology are expected to be received in approximately one week.

The total cost of the project, including “soft costs” such as architectural fees, insurance, and construction management fees will likely exceed $26 million.

“We spent much effort weighing the need to provide an effective 21st century school facility vs. the impact of the costs on the local taxpayers,” David Pusateri, Quaker Valley facilities chairman, said. “We believe we were able to find the proper balance that will now allow us to move this important renovation project forward.”

Plans for the middle school project began during the 2008-09 school in order to address an increase in student enrollment, changes and expansions to the educational program and concerns regarding the facility’s infrastructure.

The renovation project includes a major overhaul of classroom and other learning spaces, upgrades to the HVAC and electrical systems, technology enhancements as well as improvements to the building's security system.

“There has been a tremendous amount of time and energy dedicated toward reframing this project since the original bids were rejected two months ago,” Jack Norris, Quaker Valley school board president, said. “I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the administration, board members, and design professionals for their due diligence and dedication to making this project possible.”

The project will begin later this month – approximately seven to eight weeks later than originally expected.

“As we move the project forward, special attention will be paid to the overall construction timeline,” indicated Dr. Clapper. “We will keep parents and community members apprised as to the progress of the project through the district’s renovation blog and general email communications.”

Read more: Timeline on Quaker Valley middle school renovations unchanged

Additional Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If the project is delayed, will students spend two years at Anthony Wayne?

A: There is no finalized construction schedule to date that would confirm any amount of time that students would occupy Anthony Wayne in the 2012-2013 school year.

During the process of selecting a contractor – the schedule and timeline for project completion will be part of the discussion. Could the project extend into the fall of 2012? Yes, but the board has options of changing the start time of the school year etc. to consider to avoid that scenario. In any case, there is no basis in fact to think that the project could last another full year. Of course, the safety and well-being of students will be a strong consideration when making any determination relating the location of students for schooling during the project.

Q: Why doesn’t the district stop the project and start in another year? Wouldn’t it cost less?

A: There is currently no consideration to postponing construction for one year. It is clear to everyone involved in the project (architects, engineers, board members, administration, etc.) that delaying the project until 2012-13 would clearly be a very expensive proposition for the District and its taxpayers. Predicted inflationary increases alone would lead to significant cost increases. Nonetheless, should the re-bidding process prove to be wholly unacceptable, the project could be delayed by a full year.

Q: Since this is a multi-million dollar project, can’t the district shop around until they find a contractor that will do it at our price and on our time schedule. 

A: Public school construction must follow very specific public bidding guidelines. We cannot "shop around for the best price." That would be illegal. Schools are required to publish specifications and information about the project. Any registered contractor must be permitted to submit a bid for the public project. Following this, bids must be awarded to the lowest responsible and “vetted” bidder.

Q: Has the District considered that there is more of an impact on current grade six students than any other grade level in the District?

A: There is great concern for all Quaker Valley students who need to be relocated due to the construction project. Certainly the relocation efforts will impact a variety of grade levels across the district. When Edgeworth and Osborne fifth grade students were relocated to Anthony Wayne during the elementary renovations, they did not reap the benefits of returning to a newly refurbished building. Similarly, next year's Grade 8 students will not have an opportunity to return to a fully renovated middle school.

It is our desire to relocate next year's grade 7 students for a single school year. As indicated earlier, the board and administration will make every effort to work toward that end.

The middle school renovation project is necessary. The fully renovated facility will serve as a community asset and will benefit thousands of Quaker Valley students for generations to come.

On another note, we have confidence in our students. Based on conversations with the principals and middle school teachers, we believe that all the middle school students will rise to the occasion and with the support of the staff and their parents, the students will overcome the temporary challenges and inconveniences of this change and become more resilient for the greater challenges they may face later in life.

School Board Revises Plans to Meet Project Budget; Discusses Project Timeline

Ever since the Quaker Valley Board of Directors rejected all bids on April 12, 2011 for the middle school renovation project due to costs, architects, board members, and school administrators have reviewed every line item in the scope and detail of the project to determine what could be eliminated or modified.

Jack Norris, school board president and David Pusateri, board facilities committee chair, Dr. Joseph Clapper, Superintendent, and Dr. Joseph Marrone, Director of Administrative Services have met numerous times with the project manager, architects, and HVAC and structural engineers. The objectives have been clear — to find viable changes to the scope of the project, design, infrastructure, materials and plan that will reduce costs without impacting the educational program of Quaker Valley Middle School. “We have been working to make changes to fit the economics of the project,” Mr. Norris said.

Earlier this month, the school board met to review the recommendations of Mr. Norris and Mr. Pusateri with the architects, engineers and project manager present to answer any questions the board might have. Mr. Norris presided over the meeting and along with Mr. Pusateri led the group through each item, line-by-line, explaining each proposed change and the rationale behind each consideration.

At the end of the meeting the board reviewed the projected timeline of the redesign and subsequent rebidding of the project.  The architects agreed to try to complete the redesign within a month; new bid documents would be prepared and the bidding would be reopened. The district expects to receive new bids in early to mid-July and if the bids come in within budget, the project could commence shortly thereafter.

All board members expressed concerned as to how the delay could impact the schedule relating to moving students back to the middle school for the 2012-13 school year. Based on the many meetings and conversations with the architects, project manager and others, it was discussed that although extending the project to the following year was a possibility, it is clearly not the desired choice of the board and administration.

Based on his experience in commercial real estate and construction, Mr. Norris assured the board that they really could not know how the timeline would be affected until the bids were in and contractors selected. He explained that the schedule will be part of the discussion with the contractors who are finally selected; the contractor will be made aware that the district desires that the project be substantially completed prior to the beginning of the 2012-13 school year.

The school board agreed that they didn’t want to delay the move of the students back to the middle school but they also did not want to jeopardize the quality or efficiency of construction by trying to rush the deadline or propose unrealistic construction constraints. The safety of students and staff must also be a top priority.

In the end, there is a genuine commitment to choose a plan that will ensure the timely and successful completion of a renovation project while protecting the safety and well being of Quaker Valley students and staff.

A blog entry will be posted when the board has more details about the project, the timeline and its impact on the 2012-13 school year.

Read more: Timeline on Quaker Valley middle school renovations unchanged

School Board Requests New Bids For Renovation

At their Tuesday, April 12 work session, the Quaker Valley School Board voted to reject all bids for the Middle School Renovation due to overall costs.

A variety of revisions are being made to the specifications and the bid document structure in order to reduce the project costs. The board agreed to delay the current plans for the new athletic field and focus on the building at this time.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to provide an excellent 21st century facility for our middle school students and our community. We will continue to carefully manage the project budget as we proceed with this important initiative, ” said Jack Norris. QVSD Board President.

The project is expected to go to bid in early May and construction will begin over the summer.

Read more: Quaker Valley Rejects Middle School Renovation Bids

District to Adjust Start and Dismissal Times for 2011-2012

There is likely to be a slight alteration to the “bell schedule” for middle school students next year when the sixth grade students are housed at Osborne Elementary School and seventh and eighth grade students attend school at Anthony Wayne in Ambridge.

Tentative Start Time/Dismissal Times for 2011-12:

Grade 6 at Osborne
Start Time: 7:35 a.m.
Dismissal Time: 2:35 p.m.

Grades 7 & 8 at Anthony Wayne
Start Time: 7:40 a.m.
Dismissal Time: 2:40 p.m.

The nominal adjustments are necessary to accommodate bus travel among all buildings. The earlier start for sixth grade provides enough time for sixth graders to attend classes prior to the arrival of the rest of the Osborne students. For example, sixth grade will be able to have art classes, gym, chorus and band prior to school beginning for elementary students; the sixth grade students will not have to compete for the instructional space devoted to “specials” for the first period of the day.

Starting and dismissal times for the elementary schools, kindergarten and high school will remain unchanged for 2011-12.

School Board Authorizes Preparation of PlanCon F & Bids For QVMS Renovation

The Quaker Valley School Board authorized the district administration to work with Eckles Architecture & Engineering to prepare and submit PlanCon F (Construction Documents) to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). As part of this process the Board passed a “Resolution of Certification” in lieu of agency approval permits and service availability letters as part of the requirement of PlanCon F.

PlanCon Part F as stated by the PDE “…is a conference to review the bid specifications and drawings for the project and documentation that other state and local agency requirements have been met or will be met before entering into construction contracts…”

In addition, the School Board authorized the district administration and Eckles Architecture and Engineering to prepare and publish bids for the additions and renovations to the middle school project. PDE approval of PlanCon F authorizes the district to receive bids and enter into construction contracts.

PlanCon is an acronym for Planning and Construction Workbook, a set of forms and procedures required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Districts must adhere to the PlanCon process when applying for reimbursement in the State of Pennsylvania. As stated on the PDE website, “The PlanCon forms are designed to document a local school district's planning process, provide justification for a project to the public, ascertain compliance with state laws and regulations and establish the level of state participation in the cost of the project.”

The district has fulfilled previous sections of the PlanCon process and requests board approval each step of the way. The School Board approves each submission for PlanCon; the School Board oversees that each PlanCon requirement is being met.

District Announces Proposed Relocation of Middle School Co-curricular Programs & Activities

Community-wide collaboration has resulted in a comprehensive plan of proposed relocations for middle school co-curricular programs and activities for the 2011-2012 school year, while Quaker Valley Middle School undergoes a major renovation. In addition, the plan includes those community-based programs that traditionally have been housed at the middle school.

The district shared the plans with the school board on February 8, and QVMS Principal Sean Aiken shared the plan with parents who attended his scheduled parent coffee on February 16.

Mr. Aiken along with Michael Mastroianni, Director of Athletics and Activities held many meetings with coaches and sponsors of middle school sports and activities to determine the needs of each group prior to Mr. Mastroianni’s meeting with various community groups to locate alternative venues.

“We are fortunate to have strong community partners that we can call on at a time like this. Everyone was very generous with their facilities to accommodate our program schedules. Mr. Aiken and I did not want to abandon any programs and we wanted to try to keep them centralized to the schools and Sewickley Village,” Mr. Mastroianni said. With the help of the community, we came up with a plan that accomplishes those goals.”

The next step in the process has already begun. The district transportation department is working on the bus schedules and routes that will transport the middle school students to all afterschool programs.

To view and download a copy of the Proposed Locations for Quaker Valley Middle School Co-Curricular Programs & Activities during the 2011-2012 (Construction Year).

Middle School Afterschool Activities Discussed

In anticipation of the middle school students attending both Osborne Elementary School (grade 6) and the Anthony Wayne school (grades 7 & 8) in 2011-2012, the district administrators and middle school staff have been busy locating alternative venues for the middle school’s afterschool activities, sports and programs.

At his first of two gatherings specifically planned to provide middle school parents with renovation updates and to hear parent concerns, principal Sean Aiken shared some of the location options and projected transportation solutions. “We will make every effort not to abandon our activities and programs next year,” Mr. Aiken said.

Again, on February 16th from 8:00-9:30 AM, Mr. Aiken will answer parent questions and discuss any concerns. Please contact Mrs. Cheryl Savage at 412.749.5079 to RSVP. The meetings will take place in the community room at the middle school.

Video Perspective: QVMS Project

Throughout the last several months, we had the opportunity to meet and talk with dozens of families about our exciting plans to renovate Quaker Valley Middle School. Although we enjoy sharing our vision, the most valuable aspect of our meetings was being able to listen to the questions and concerns of our parents.

We worked hard to address issues as they were presented and we continue to update the QVMS Renovation Blog to keep you informed on our progress.  We decided to take it one step further and create a short video that features many of our middle school teachers and administrators. It is our hope that they provide you with additional information regarding some of the common concerns that we have heard throughout this process. 

When faced with a new situation, children often follow the lead of adults.  Our Quaker Valley staff views the renovation project as a positive initiative – one that will greatly improve the educational environment for middle school children for years to come. 

We hope that you share that enthusiasm.  What is most important is that we all consider what we can do individually and collectively to support our students and teachers in the coming school year as they meet the challenges of change.

Together we will ensure another successful, fun-filled year at QVMS in 2011-12.

Click here to view the video

QVMS Renovation Moves Ahead: District Submits PlanCon Parts D & E

The Quaker Valley School Board approved the submission of PlanCon parts D & E for the middle school renovation as presented by Eckles Architecture & Engineering and the district administration.

PlanCon is an acronym for Planning and Construction Workbook, a set of forms and procedures required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).   Districts must adhere to the PlanCon process when applying for reimbursement in the State of Pennsylvania. As stated on the PDE website, “The PlanCon forms are designed to document a local school district's planning process, provide justification for a project to the public, ascertain compliance with state laws and regulations and establish the level of state participation in the cost of the project.”

PlanCon Part D relates to the estimated costs of the project and the district’s ability to pay as well as addresses the district’s adherence to the requirements for public hearings for building projects. The district completed the forms and worksheets for PlanCon Part D including information and comments submitted the Act 34 public hearing, which took place on December 21, 2010.

PlanCon Part E addresses design development through a conference review with PDE; all architectural aspects of the fully developed plan are discussed. As required by PDE, the architect and a district administrator must be present at this review conference. Therefore, following the district’s submission of PlanCon Part E, Eckles and district administrators will convene the review conference.

The district has already fulfilled other parts of the PlanCon process and requests board approval each step of the way.  The School Board approves each submission for PlanCon; the School Board oversees that each PlanCon requirement is being met.

For a complete explanation of the PlanCon Process, below is the information provided on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website:

When a school district undertakes a major construction project and seeks reimbursement from the state, a process known as PlanCon is initiated. PlanCon, an acronym for Planning and Construction Workbook, is a set of forms and procedures used to apply for reimbursement from Pennsylvania. The PlanCon forms are designed to document a local school district's planning process, provide justification for a project to the public, ascertain compliance with state laws and regulations and establish the level of state participation in the cost of the project. For more information, visit the State Department of Education website.

Part A - Project Justification, provides the description of a proposed project and the justification of its need.

Part B - Schematic Design, is a technical review conference of the conceptual drawings, site plan and educational specifications. The architect and a district administrator who is knowledgeable about the project and the educational program must be present at the schematic design conference.

Part C - Site Acquisition, deals with the acquisition of land for school building projects or the purchase of a building for school or district administration office use. This part is completed only if land is acquired or a building is purchased as part of the scope of the project.

Part D - Project Accounting Based on Estimates, is concerned with estimated project costs. In this part, various "tests" of a district's financial ability to make payments are performed, as required by Section 21.51 of the State Board of Education Regulations. This part also addresses the requirements for public hearings on school building projects, as required by Sections 7-701.1 and 7-731 of the Public School Code of 1949, as amended. PlanCon Part D also provides an estimate of state reimbursement.

Part E - Design Development, is a conference to review the architectural aspects of a project when the design is fully developed. The architect and a district administrator must be present at this review conference.

Part F - Construction Documents, is a conference to review the bid specifications and drawings for the project and documentation that other state and local agency requirements have been met or will be met before entering into construction contracts. Departmental approval of PlanCon Part F authorizes a district to receive bids and enter into construction contracts. The architect and a district administrator must be present at this review conference.

Part G - Project Accounting Based on Bids, is concerned with actual construction bids. A project’s eligibility for reimbursement is ultimately determined at PlanCon Part G.

Part H - Project Financing, addresses the financing used for a project. Calculation of the temporary reimbursable percent for a project's financing occurs at PlanCon Part H. Once PlanCon Part H is approved, reimbursement on a project commences.

Part I - Interim Reporting, provides for the reporting of change orders and/or supplemental contracts during construction.

Part J- Project Accounting Based on Final Costs, is the final accounting for the project. The permanent reimbursable percent is calculated at PlanCon Part J.

Part K - Project Refinancing, is used if a reimbursable bond issue is refunded, refinanced or restructured.