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Austintown school renovations and repairs
AUSTINTOWN
Austintown Board of Education members approved by a 4-1 vote paying BHSM Architects $15,000 for a building assessment on Fitch High School, 4560 Falcon Drive.
The assessment will evaluate the condition of the building to help determine which avenue would be better for the district, a renovation or a new building.
Board member Harold Porter voted no on the issue. He said the money would be wasted on an evaluation of a 48-year-old building and that the proper avenue would be to build a new building.
Kathy Mock, school board president, said the whole purpose of the assessment is to not make any “knee-jerk decisions,” but to see what information the architects bring back to the board.
“We’ve got to do our due diligence,” she said.
Mock and Porter agreed BHSM’s $15,000 bid for the assessment was a more-than-fair price for the work that will be done.
Lewis VanHoose, school district athletic director, said another expensive expenditure is in process – the floor has been removed in the Fitch High School gymnasium awaiting asbestos abatement to be finished.
In June, a pipe burst in a restroom near the gymnasium, waterlogging and warping the floor.
He estimated the entire process including a new floor installment will cost more than $300,000.
“Thank God for insurance,” he said.
In other news, board members approved the resignation of Austintown Intermediate School assistant principal Michael Zoccali as he moves on to Stadium Drive Elemetary School’s head principal in Boardman.
Zoccali said he had mixed emotions – he’s excited for the opportunity, but sad to move on from Austintown, a district he’s worked in for 15 years.
“I want to compliment and thank the people I’ve worked with and the parents I’ve worked with and fellow administrators, because I think they’ve gotten me ready and prepared for this next step in my career,” he said.
Robin Vickers, Austintown Middle School science teacher, was hired as assistant principal at the elementary school.
Superintendent Vince Colaluca said he was happy Vickers got the position because of her dedication to Austintown students.
“A year ago, Robin broke up a scuffle at AMS,” he said. “When I saw her the next day I couldn’t believe she was back. She was pretty bruised up. It just shows Robin’s love for our kids in our district.”