ALLEGANY, N.Y. — Discussions on upgrades at the Allegany-Limestone Middle-High School campus were followed with a vote to select a construction and architecture firm during Tuesday’s school board meeting.
At a previous meeting this year, district officials discussed plans for upgrading the middle/high school campus on Five Mile Road. Administrators have noted upgrades to the middle/high school campus are needed now that the school is more than 20 years old.
Superintendent Dr. Karen Geelan had reported the facilities planning committee had identified and prioritized items that need to be addressed with the campus building and grounds in the upcoming capital project. Geelan said the upgrades will not exceed $10 million and a public referendum on the project will be held in the spring.
“We’re not doing a large building project or building a new wing, but it mostly has to do with a update of our facilities,” Geelan told the board. “This is routine maintenance and site work, which is the way it has been categorized in broad strokes.”
Geelan said several firms submitted proposals and all had similar price ranges.
She said the district had the option of selecting just an architecture firm to conduct the entire project. She recommended, however, that the district also hire a construction management firm to provide “another set of eyes” and expertise for the project.
She said the firm, Campus Construction Management Services of Pittsford, appeared to meet the criteria sought by the district.
Geelan also suggested that the architecture firm, Clark Patterson Lee of Jamestown, be hired for the project, as well.
“Each has over 30 years of experience in school management,” Geelan said.
Later, during a vote on the matter, the board selected both firms to conduct the project.
In other matters, the board adopted a new policy for the school food service program for breakfast and lunch.
The revised policy will provide a student who forgets lunch money a full meal up to three times, free of charge, after which the basic lunch would be provided to him or her.
Currently, the district provides a basic lunch consisting of a sandwich, fruit and milk to the student, free of charge.
District officials had stated their belief that full meals are often needed by youngsters, such as those in athletic programs.
And finally, under personnel business, the board accepted the resignation of Melanie Giamanco from the position of teacher in the English tenure area, effective Jan. 31, 2017, and the resignation of Neal Sturdy from the position of school bus driver, effective Dec. 9.
