Security systems at two New Kensington-Arnold schools will be upgraded, but renovations to a softball field and replacement of an air conditioning unit will have to wait.
The school board approved paying 2 Krew Security & Surveillance $106,000 for security upgrades at Martin and H.D. Berkey elementary schools.
What the upgrades include was not released publicly. The district does not disclose security measures at its buildings, business Manager Jeff McVey said.
The security systems are exempt from otherwise required price quotes or bidding because 2 Krew is a vendor in the state’s cooperative buying program, known as Costars, McVey said.
Also, the company’s system “is proprietary and is used throughout the district in every building,” he said.
The cost with 2 Krew breaks down to $57,000 at Martin and $49,000 at Berkey. Most of the cost, $71,000, is being paid from the district’s capital projects fund, while $35,000 is coming from a grant.
Separately, the board approved paying Ken Ubrey, of Mac Support of Pittsburgh, $12,500 to install wiring for the new security systems at Martin ($7,000) and Berkey ($5,500). The money is coming from the district’s capital projects fund.
Softball field sparks education, athletics debate
The board considered, but ultimately tabled, awarding a contract to renovate the softball field at Valley Junior-Senior High School. The district received three price quotes ranging from $9,950 to $12,000 for the work. It includes leveling the field, installing bases, adjusting the pitcher’s mound, and spreading and leveling brick dust.
The district was not required to get bids for the work because the prices were less than the $21,000 threshold set by the state at which bids are required, McVey said. For 2020, three price quotes are required for any purchase between $11,300 and $20,999, he said.
Board member Steven Sorch asked for the vote to be delayed until the board’s September meeting after suggesting the district do the work on the field itself.
Board member Bob Pallone said the district would not be able to do the work itself, and would spend more buying the equipment needed than paying someone else to do it. He said girls deserve facilities that are as good as those used by boys, and that the sports facilities are a reflection on the district and community.
“We want to put our best foot forward,” he said. “We need to get it done right.”
Board President John Cope said the district doesn’t have the money to spend “on something that’s on the wish list.”
“I’m tired of putting athletics at Valley first,” he said. “I think it’s New Kensington-Arnold School District, not New Kensington-Arnold Athletic District.”
Cope said he’d support the work on the field a year from now if the district’s financial situation improves.
“Girls’ sports are important,” he said. “What comes first, academics or athletics? You tell me what’s important — renovating a softball field, or getting more laptops and iPads in the hands of our students, or just textbooks in the hands of our students?”
Bids needed for AC unit
The school board was also going to award a contract to replace a 15-ton air conditioning unit at Berkey, but did not do that because the price quotes came in over the $21,000 threshold at which bids are required.
The lowest bid, $25,000, was $4,000 over the limit. The bids ranged from $25,000 to $33,700.
The board approved seeking bids for the replacement of the air conditioning unit.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Categories: Local | Valley News Dispatch
August 31, 2020 at 12:47AM
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New Kensington-Arnold approves security upgrades, delays softball field, air conditioning work - TribLIVE
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