School Board Directors to Re-Advertise for Asbestos Removal

Even with construction projects on-hold in a local school district, board directors approved for potentially-harmful fibers to be removed from two schools.

Armstrong School District board directors approved advertising for asbestos abatement within Ford City Jr. –Sr. High School and Kittanning Sr. High School – two schools which will possibly be renovated in the current construction plan – potentially this summer.

According to previous advertisements, asbestos removal at Ford City Jr. – Sr. High School is estimated to cost $350,000. The same work is to cost approximately $450,000 at Kittanning Sr. High School.

Directors previously advertised for bidders last month, but bids were not opened because it is unknown whether the construction projects will proceed. The projects are currently on-hold pending a Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Act 34 public hearing at Elderton High School Thursday, April 28 at 7PM.

Asbestos abatement must be done before the construction projects can begin, but is not reimbursable through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Action to seek bids for both schools was passed 5-4 with Board Members Chris Choncek, James Rearic, Joseph Close and Steven Kozuch voting against the action.
Choncek explained why he voted to seek results from Thursday’s hearing on construction projects before deciding on the abatement.

“The state’s not sure, and everyone’s not sure if this is going to go through -that we’re going to get the reimbursement – so until that is determined from this Act 34 state-sponsored hearing, stop all the projects involved in this renovation because they would not be doing the asbestos abatement if it was not for the renovation project,” Choncek said.

Board directors have not discussed a contingency plan if construction plans are not approved by the state, which Choncek said might alter some board members’ plans.

“If we don’t get reimbursed and they don’t approve the project, obviously some of that stuff is going to have to change,” Choncek said.

According to PDE, Departmental approval of PlanCon Part F (construction documents) for a project does not guarantee reimbursement for that project. A project is deemed eligible for reimbursement only upon written Departmental approval of PlanCon Part G, Project Accounting Based on Bids.
Because the asbestos removal could potentially be done at a different time than the construction projects, Board Member Steven Kozuch said he is not in the board majority that approved the asbestos bidding.

“I have not backed the separation of the asbestos abatement from the project from Day One when it was first proposed,” Kozuch said. “I’m in favor of it being done, but I wasn’t in favor of it being separate from the rest of the project.”

L.R. Kimball architects will advertise for the asbestos removal three times before bids are opened.

Source : http://www.kittanningpaper.com/2011/04/26/school-board-directors-to-re-advertise-for-asbestos-removal/16362