School board reviews feasibility study for construction projects

Officials name Outdoor School after Fred Sloan
Matthew Bieniek
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Thu Nov 11, 2010, 07:48 AM EST

— CUMBERLAND — It will be two or three years before any of the three school building projects being considered by the Allegany County Board of Education actually are ready for shovels and perhaps bulldozers, according to Vince Montana, the school system’s director of facilities.

At a board meeting Tuesday night, members heard an update from Montana on the first stage of any school building project in the state, a feasibility study. Schools being considered for repair or replacement are Allegany High School (estimated cost $45.6 million) and Braddock and Washington middle schools (estimated at $28 million each). The study is required by state law for plans to build a school or demolish part of the existing school.

The board is requesting proposals from companies interested in preparing the feasibility study. After that study is completed, the board can begin working with the state on funding for the projects. Once a contract is awarded, current timetables call for the study to be completed in May 2011, school officials said. The board has already committed to retaining two high schools and two middle schools in Cumberland, Montana said.

The study will contain information and recommendations to help school officials develop a capital improvement plan for the schools, said Mia Perlozzo Cross, public relations specialist for the school system.

“The evaluation of this study will measure the condition of the buildings based on current standards, regulations and how well the facility supports the educational program,” said Montana.

Proposals for the study are due at the Board of Education by Dec. 15. The proposals will then be evaluated by a committee appointed by Superintendent David Cox. The school board will consider the committee’s report and make a final contract award for the study, Cross said.

In other action, the board voted to honor C. Frederick Sloan by renaming the Allegany County Outdoor School Program after him. Sloan died in December after a long illness. Sloan began a career with the school system in 1971 and served as a teacher, vice principal, principal and elected school board member.

“Dr. Sloan wanted every child to be able to experience the beauty and wonder of the outdoors, and all that our students could learn from nature. I am very happy that we are able to honor and remember Fred this way,” said board president Karen Treber.

Allegany County’s outdoor school program was reinstated three years ago after a more than 20-year hiatus due to a lack of funding, and Sloan was instrumental in bringing this residential outdoor school back, school officials said. The program allows all fifth-graders to attend camp at the Western Maryland 4-H Center, located in central Garrett County.

Two elementary schools at a time attend the camp in one-week sessions. The 4-H camp staff members are responsible for teaching classes, and regular classroom teachers in attendance assist with lessons, all of which are created to align with the state curriculum standards. The program is free to students and parent volunteers, school officials said.

Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com

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