By By SPIROS GALLOS
Niles Daily Star
NILES - Construction at Brandywine Public Schools could be wrapped up by Sept. 1, 2005, almost four months earlier than officials had planned, if crews can keep their current pace.
Steve Orlando, project manager for Skanska, gave a construction update to the Brandywine Board of Education at the board's meeting Monday night.
Before Orlando's report on the progress of the construction at the three Brandywine school buildings, Brandywine technology director Doug Fox presented a slide show chronicling the construction progress since its beginning in May.
The construction crews at Brandywine Middle-High School are about six to seven weeks ahead of schedule, Orlando said.
Skanska has turned over 16 renovated rooms to the high school as of Monday. Crews are currently working on seven additional rooms which were not scheduled to be renovated until 2005.
Orlando said crews should be completing case work in several of the classrooms early and windows for the classrooms are scheduled to be shipped Jan. 26.
Orlando informed the board that renovations at Brandywine Elementary School were coming along on schedule.
Two newly remodeled bathrooms should be turned over within the week and the new boilers at the school are installed and working.
The temporary heating measures employed at the school while the boilers were being installed are being left in place as a safeguard should the boilers experience any trouble.
Windows for the classrooms are scheduled to be shipped Jan. 21 and installed shortly thereafter.
Orlando reported about 90 percent of the renovated classrooms have been turned over to the school for teachers to move into already.
Over at Merritt Elementary School, construction crews are currently handling punch list items in the south classroom addition.
The east addition classrooms have been turned over as well as two renovated classrooms.
All the sidewalks have been installed at Merritt and the fascia for the gym roof has been ordered and is being delivered, Orlando said.
The board also received good news when they were told the construction project contingency fund was at about 50 percent with $349,000 in the fund.
The project drawing the most from the contingency fund right now is the replacement of the parking lot lights at Brandywine Middle-High School.
But with good news there always seems to be a bit of bad news.
Rider informed the board of the state legislation's decision to hold a special Revenue Consensus Committee meeting in December.
In past years, when state legislators have held special Revenue Consensus Committee meetings, executive order cuts have been made to school aid.
Rider said the state aid cut is expected to be about $65 per student enrolled in the district. If the state does make the cut of $65 per student, it would mean Brandywine Public Schools would lose $96,500 in state aid.
Brandywine director of finances Gus Damaske said the board would look into what budget cuts can be made to absorb the state aid cuts should an executive order cut come from the December revenue meeting.