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Moon Area fires renovation contractor
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Moon Area school directors voted Monday night to terminate a contract with Reginella Construction Co. for the $45.8 million conversion of the old high school building on Beaver Grade Road into the new middle school.
Due to possible litigation concerns, school officials are not commenting on the reason.
Megan Edwards, public relations officer, said in an email Tuesday, "Once we are able to, we will send out an update with the progress [of the building project] and other necessary information."
Termination of the general contractor is effective today.
"It is still our hope and expectation that the school will be ready for the upcoming school year," said solicitor Michael Brungo, who was unable to comment further.
In March, district officials said occupancy of the building would be taken over in phases with a completion date scheduled for some time during July.
In other business, directors voted 8-1 to adopt a $62.35 million budget that contains no property tax increase.
Director Sam Tranter voted no.
The millage will remain at 21.3 mills for property owners in Crescent and Moon.
The budget reflects numerous staffing revisions throughout the district that will result in a savings of nearly $425,000. Before the vote, Mr. Tranter asked for clarification of "rumors of staff reductions."
The reductions will be implemented through a two-step process.
The union's contract stipulates that employees first be furloughed and then those employees will be able to bid on new jobs, according to seniority, during a meeting July 18.
Superintendent Donna Milanovich said 53 support staff positions either will be eliminated or work hours of these positions will be changed.
Furloughed employees will receive notices of their status by Monday.
The furloughs will affect 18 positions in special education, six library assistants, five secretarial/clerical assistants, six health/nurse assistants and 14 cafeteria workers, according to a district news release.
Three positions will be eliminated from the extended day kindergarten program, which is being discontinued.
Another position was eliminated due to retirement.
Moon will offer full-day kindergarten for the first time.
But, 49 new positions will be created and those are the ones available for bid on July 18.
When Mr. Tranter asked how many of these positions were going to half-time positions, he was told administrators were unsure of the total.
A copy of the budget is available at www.moonarea.net/205/about.
First Published June 28, 2012 5:39 am
