Canfield schools approve additional funds to finish PA system in high school

February 12, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

By ROBERT CONNELLY

CANFIELD

More money was approved to finish the public-address system in Canfield High School, but board members voiced their unhappiness with additional funding.

The Canfield Board of Education voted 4-0, with board member Barry Tancer absent, to approve a change order of $6,513 for SoundCom Systems to finish PA system work in the high school. The original contract was approved in December at a cost of $38,726 for SoundCom, a Berea company, and is paid from capital-improvement money.

Thomas A. Madej, president of Team 8e Architecture of Canfield, is the architect on the project and addressed concerns from the board Wednesday night. The main purpose of updating the school’s system was to be able to communicate with all rooms, and room-by-room, in the school and have outside speakers.

However, once the work started, there were a handful of rooms that needed additional funding and wiring to make that individual room communication happen. Those rooms were part of the high-school expansion in 2002, board members noted Wednesday night.

“We did not know what the continuity and the integrity of all the cable was,” Madej said. The project came at a lower price because SoundCom used existing wiring when possible.

Board member Nancy Lacich wanted to table the vote to review the contract, but that vote was not supported. Board President Phil Bova also was critical of having to approve more funds, but said the project is needed.

“This comes down to student safety,” said board member Lee Frey.

“I’m not happy about it ... but I guess these things happen,” Bova said. “We have a sour taste in our mouth.”

Superintendent Alex Geordan touched on the budget proposal that Gov. John Kasich submitted recently that included cuts to the Canfield school district. “Our school system is going to lose over $300,000 over the next two years if this biennial budget goes through. Well over $300,000, pushing $400,000,” he said. “This is not showing support for success.”

Board members praised state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, and his efforts for Mahoning Valley schools in Columbus.

Board member Craig Olson said that the communications committee will look at getting parents involved and educated on funding cuts and how they are impacting Canfield schools.

“This is just our reality right now, and it’s just difficult to project anything when this type of activity continues to happen,” Geordan said.