SCHOOLS Renovations to finally begin on school building

SHARON, Pa. -- Long-delayed renovations on a new school building will soon begin.
The school board voted to accept two bids for renovation on the new Alternative Education Program building in a special meeting Wednesday after the regular work session.
The schools will pay D & amp;G Mechanical Inc. of West Middlesex, Pa., $27,015 to install heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units in the new building at East State Street and Forker Boulevard, adjacent to the high school. The Alternative Education Program is for pupils with behavioral and other problems.
The board also accepted the $5,240 bid by McCurley Electric Inc. of Bessemer, to install electrical service entrance panels and power feeders to the new air conditioning units.
Completion date
The contracted work should be completed by Aug. 23, said J. Greer Hayden of HHSDR Architects and Engineers.
In other business, the board approved hiring of Tresa Templeton of Sharon as business manager, effective July 31, replacing James Wolf, who is retiring. Wolf served as the business manager for 22 years. Details of Templeton's experience were not immediately available.
In the work session, school board member Dominick Russo presented the recreation board's calendar of events for Sharon playgrounds.
Playgrounds staffed
Only three playgrounds will be staffed this summer, Russo said.
"This is the first time in a long time we've had to cut back on playgrounds due to declining participation by students," Russo said.
Ten summer employees have been hired as instructors for the Jefferson, West Hill and Musser playgrounds. The B Street, Wengler, Case Avenue and Thornton playgrounds will also be open, but will have no instructors.
The board also discussed plans to change kindergarten from a half-day program to a full day. Superintendent Dr. Donna M. DeBonis said she hoped hiring of kindergarten teachers would be completed by July. The board is expected to vote on the issue Monday.
lcrist@vindy.com