TOWER CITY — The Williams Valley school board on Thursday approved payment for the first installment of Phase II of the district’s summer building renovation project, as well as several educational summer programs.
Business Manager Anthony Aukstakalnis said the payment to McClure Company Inc., Harrisburg, was $711,000. That was part of the Phase II renovations, slated to address heating, ventilation and air conditioning this summer. Last summer, Phase I made improvements to the roof system at the elementary and junior-senior high complexes, as well as other renovations.
The high school and elementary building had limited areas where air conditioning was available. After Phase I, the elementary cafeteria was slated to receive air conditioning. After Phase II is complete, all of the high school rooms, including classrooms, will have air conditioning capability.
According to The Republican-Herald archives, the high school uses a combination of propane and electric. The high school’s HVAC system is more than 40 years old and the ventilation system needs to be brought up to code.
The elementary building uses oil and electric. Its HVAC system is 22 years old. Improvements would include converting the elementary boilers to propane.
All of the renovations are part of a $7.36 million, two-year plan that began in 2015.
The following summer programs received the board’s nod:
• 2016 Summer Science Enrichment Program for the elementary school with a wildlife theme. It will run from 9 a.m. to noon July 11 to 28 for students and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for teachers. Sharon Scheib, Suzanne Deiter and Tiffany Underkoffler will staff the program, with Christal Troutman and Carmen Moore serving as substitutes. Costs will include teachers’ salaries and a $500 requisition budget for supplies.
• 21st Century Community Learning Center at the elementary school, complying with the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29/state Department of Education grant, with the theme of “Explore the World with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math).” The program will be for fifth- and sixth-graders and will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 for students and from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for teachers. Susan C. Diegert will serve as site coordinator. It will be staffed by Wendy Hueston, Kristina Miller, Mandi Jobe, Morgan Williard, Edith Tanner, LeAnn Unger and Chelsea Artz.
• Summer Time Travel Camp from June 20-23 and June 27-30. The focus of the history camp will be World War II. Sixth-grade students who have a grade average of 93 percent or higher in social studies will be invited to participate. The students will attend from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the teachers from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Teachers guiding the program will be Jennifer Matz and Kristina Miller. A tentative trip is scheduled to Fort Indiantown Gap. Costs include teachers salaries.
In other business, the board heard an end-of-season report from head wrestling coach Jason Chamberlain. He reported the Vikings had “a banner year,” winning their division for the second year in a row. Athletes also finished scholastically better than last season. The team placed sixth in districts, 14th at regionals and 29th at states. There were two All-State wrestlers and a wrestler placed third at states. Chamberlain said Williams Valley was one of the smallest schools wrestling in double AA competition and was able to fill every weight class.
Board director Tedd Johns thanked Rebecca Carroll for assisting with students competing at the state Future Business Leaders of America competition. The board also recognized Johns’s daughter, Lexi Johns, who qualified for national FBLA competition in June.
Director David Ferraro also announced that Les Brown Big Band Weekend will be held this weekend.
In other action, the board approved:
• Purchasing a 25-second play clock for the football field
• Guest teachers Kelly Pleva, Schuylkill Haven, and Joel Whitehouse, Pine Grove
• Family and medical leave request for elementary teacher Gloria Noecker.
• Coaches for the 2016-17 school year: volunteer assistant boys’ basketball coaches Dennis Kasper Jr. and Charles Culton, Williamstown; volunteer seventh- and eighth-grade boys’ basketball coach Stephen Sedesse, Tower City; head football and basketball cheer coach Jann Stroup, Tower City.