Arlene Johns
ajohns@tribdem.com
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Despite major projects going at their buildings, students in the Central Cambria School District should not be inconvenienced when they head back to school today, Superintendent Vincent DiLeo said last week.
Work is ahead of schedule at Jackson Elementary in Mundys Corner, where a $1.8-million multipurpose room addition is being constructed.
“They anticipated (it would take) a year and it appears, unless something happens, that it may be done before Thanksgiving,” DiLeo said.
Blocks are up and steel work is set to begin and the superintendent hopes it will be under roof in a month or so. He said the children could soon be able to take advantage of the new addition.
“Once the architect and construction crews sign off and we take full ownership, we would want to start using it immediately.”
Students will have a new fire alarm system, an elevator, and a new location for assemblies and gym classes.
The current multipurpose room will be used exclusively for a cafeteria.
In the meantime, DiLeo said, buses will be staggered to avoid traffic congestion while construction continues.
At the high school in Cambria Township, work on the $6.8-million middle school addition is progressing more slowly but is on schedule, DiLeo said.
A new two-story addition, going up at the back of the high school, will house students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
Although all grades will share some of the “common areas and services,” such as the cafeteria, computer labs and nursing services, a divider will separate the middle school students from the high school students.
DiLeo said that excavation is finished and much of the interior work has been completed.
“The push right now is to get the outside up and under roof before the weather turns bad,” DiLeo said.
“We’ve had a great summer as far as construction goes.
“I’m hoping that by this time next year (the students) will be in there.
“That’s the goal.”
DiLeo said no decision has been made on the more than 80-year-old building in Ebensburg, currently being used as the middle school.
“The board has not given me any direction to seek an assessment or anything,” he said. “Once we get an update on construction, we’ll see if there is any interest out there.”
DiLeo said he is proud of the direction the district is taking.
“I’m so happy to see these projects up and running,” he said, adding that he has had overwhelming support from the community.
“They know that (these projects) will just add to the district’s persona. That this is a great place to send your kids to school.”
DiLeo said he also is pleased with the overall direction the district is taking.
“We were able to replace everyone that retired,” he said. “And with major construction going on, did not raise taxes.”
Although difficult, DiLeo said he hopes to keep spending in check.
“We’re going to keep monitoring our spending, so we can stay within our budget.”
