Bucktail HS to receive $1.3 million facelift
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RENOVO -- Bucktail High School will have a new look very soon.
At a special meeting on Thursday night, the Keystone Central school board approved a project for facade improvements at the high school. The project will cost around $1.3 million. The board unanimously approved the contract for the low bidder, J.C. Orr and Son, Inc., of Altoona. Orr's winning bid was $1,325,520, along with another $37,000 in board-approved alternates.
"This is a big project," said Rob Pacella, supervisor of property services in the Keystone Central School District. "We're upgrading the facade, windows, entrances and exterior doors."
The special meeting was held following a discussion during a school board meeting in which Martin discussed upgrades to the school. According to Pacella, the district gathered "a lot" of input on the project.
"We talked to a lot of different people. It wasn't just the board. Focus groups really looked at this project. We had input from a lot of different people … school administrators, teachers and students."
The school is due for more than $6.3 million in upgrades, which will happen over time.
Pacella said the special meeting was held to get the ball rolling on the project.
"Because of COVID and materials being hard to get, we wanted to get moving before summer. This project will be completed as to not disrupt the student's education," Pacella said.
In addition to windows, blinds, exterior doors, entrances and the facade, other upgrades will include air conditioning, LED lighting, building envelope upgrades and mechanical insulation.
Also on Friday, KCSD superintendent Jacquelyn Martin sent out her weekly update. According to Martin, there are just four active cases of COVID-19 in the district.
"Currently in KCSD there is only one active case of COVID-19 among our staff and just three among our students across four different schools. I want to commend our staff and students for their vigilance in following the safety guidelines and keeping pandemic contacts to a minimum. These efforts help us keep our schools open and in-person learning available," Martin said in the email.
As the conclusion of the school year approaches, Martin reminded parents and families that "numbers could change very quickly," which could result in short-term closures at "any time."
She also asked that parents keep their children home if they have been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 or if they exhibit any symptoms of virus.
Martin also asked that parents fill out the 2021 comprehensive plan survey by Friday, April 30. Surveys are anonymous.
There will be free meal distribution on Monday, April 26. The distribution will take place at the following locations: The main entrance of Robb Elementary and bus loop entrance in parking lot B at Central Mountain High School. Those distributions will take place from 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. A distribution at the main entrance of Bucktail High School will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Keystone Central's next regularly-scheduled work session will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 6. That meeting is closed to the public and will be held via Zoom. It is accessible through the district's website.