The Council Rock School Board has taken an early step toward a major renovation-addition at Richboro Elementary School in Northampton Township.
At its Nov. 17 meeting, the board approved an Act 34 resolution that sets up a special public hearing that will go over the scope of work and costs. The estimated project cost is listed as $36.35 million in background documents for the renovation-addition.
The Act 34 public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Chancellor Center, 30 N. Chancellor St. in Newtown Borough. The Northampton board of supervisors approved a revised land development plan for the Richboro ES project at its Nov. 16 meeting, according to township Manager Robert Pellegrino.
“The Richboro ES renovation project is in the initial stages,” Council Rock Superintendent Andrew Sanko wrote in an email to the Herald. “A cost estimate and timeline are under development at this time.”
Richboro ES would be the latest in a long cycle of construction projects in the district that has seen almost every school receive major work. Council Rock recently completed a $21.14 million renovation-addition at Hillcrest Elementary in Northampton, and a $31.72 million project at Sol Feinstone Elementary in Upper Makefield Township is about a year away from completion.
In other news from the Nov. 17 school board meeting, the board approved an interim agreement with the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials to provide temporary help for the Council Rock business office in the absence of a permanent administrator to head up the office. The district has been without such a person since Jason Harris left in the summer.
Under the agreement that became effective Nov. 9, PASBO will be paid $106.25 an hour and the association will designate Gail Klohe as assistant business director in Council Rock to work no more than 25 hours a week, unless approved in advance by the district.
The agreement will terminate upon written notice of either party to the other. Its estimated duration is “at least one to three months,” according to the document.
“Working through PASBO permits a previously retired assistant director of business administration to return to work within the district until the permanent replacement begins in the position,” Sanko stated in the email. “Council Rock continues to review potential director of business administration candidates.”
In related developments, the school board accepted the resignation of Assistant Business Manager Colleen Gartland and approved the appointment of Cheryl Rubanich to the same position at a prorated annual salary of $129,150.
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