In hopes of beating inflation, the Harrisburg School Board is trying to get ahead on a big roofing project at East Side and West Side schools.

Both roofs need replacing soon, but waiting too long could mean higher prices for material. The preliminary estimate given to the board by architect Ed Kerkhover was just under $1.9 million for both buildings. The money likely would come from Health, Life and Safety Bonds.

The expected rapid escalation of building materials due to fuel costs and general inflation means getting the paperwork in the pipeline now could save the district a lot of Health, Life and Safety money, Kerkhover said.

If bids are taken on the project relatively soon, contractors can buy materials at current prices and store whatever is needed.

East Side's roof in particular needs replacing. The Duralast roof cracked in the ice storm, Kerkhover said. The roof underneath the top layer also needs to come off, doubling demolition costs, Kerkhover said.

The two roofs are the only ones that have been put on the two buildings.

The asphalt roofs could have asbestos among the materials, Kerkhover said, but while samples will have to be taken, removal of the asbestos shouldn't be a problem for the roofing crews.
"Just the way a roof is taken off it doesn't create airborne things," Kerkhover said.

Board members agreed it is time to bite the bullet and proceed on getting HLS amendments started and approval from the State Board of Education so bids can be let in a few months. Work would start in May, board members hope.

"I don't think we have an option," board President Todd Fort said.

Bids were approved on repair of the masonry, sofet and other structural work at Building B of Harrisburg High School; the front entrance of the middle school; and snow guards at HMS.
Schimpf Construction, based in Carbondale, was the winning bid with a total bid of $182,243 for the three projects.

Robinson Transport
Joyce Robinson of Robinson Transport spoke with the board about early talks on the 2009-2010 bus contract.

Robinson is proposing a $74,243 increase for the 18 regular routes and a dollar per hour on extra-curricular bus trips. The proposed increase is mainly for labor, Robinson said.

Laura Fleming asked about cameras on the buses, which are required under the contract.
Fifteen buses have cameras and 10 more can be deployed as needed. When Robinson got the contract in 2003, former Superintendent Ed Bradley agreed it wasn't feasible to add cameras to all the buses, she said. Extra cameras would cost $10,000 to $15,000, she said.

Robinson said she knows which routes are a problem and cameras are on those buses.

Tax levy hearing
The board passed a total levy of $3..75 million, but not without a protest at the public hearing.
Eve Fererra, who moved here from California about three years ago, bought a home for $143,000 in Southwest Acres. She was surprised by the latest tax bill. She said the bill is over $4,000, even with senior exemptions figured.

"I must say I was shocked when I received a tax bill for property," Fererra said.

The property was unoccupied for several years before she purchased it, and she had to do quite a few repairs, she said. Fererra believes the property is over-assessed. Assessments here are highly unequal and don't appear to be based on market value or square footage, she said.

Superintendent Dennis Smith advised her to speak with the county supervisor of assessments about her property taxes.

Early childhood teacher
The board decided to hire a part-time early childhood teacher because class sizes are likely to go too high for the current teachers.

Early childhood classes may include 10 kids. There are now 16 enrolled in the classes and two sessions, but nine more are being evaluated. Not all of those kids will attend early childhood, Special Education Coordinator Kim Williams said. However, board members determined some probably will be added to the roster and referrals will probably take place during the year, so the roster is almost certain to rise above 10 for each class session.

"We've been in this position before, we'll have to do it," Fort said.

Personnel
- Board members decided to use a substitute teacher for the time being to handle several exploratory classes at HMS. Music teachers may be able to pick up some of the exploratory classes, but it is not entirely clear how the music teachers at HMS and HHS will be used this year.

Once the music teachers' schedules are more certain, the board will revisit whether to hire a part-time exploratory teacher, and for how many hours per day.

- Resignations were accepted from aides Nancy Abney and May Carr.

- Trudy West will serve as the music teacher at East Side on a 90-day basis.

- Teri Bacher was approved as color guard coordinator for HHS.

- Dug Hall was approved as an assistant forensics coach at HHS.

During the meeting:
- Board members learned ACT scores at HHS are declining. This year, the average was 18.9, compared to 19.3 last year. The average score is high compared to other area schools, Smith said.

"I'd call this not so good news, but not so bad news," Smith said.

- Board members approved a request from Toni Mangels for a dance club at HMS. The club will not involve going to competitions, as originally proposed.

Mangels originally brought the idea to the board's attention at the regular meeting last month.