Published: May 14, 2009 11:17 pm      

Portage board OKs new seating for auditorium and gymnasium

PORTAGE — New bleachers and auditorium seats for Portage Area High School have been approved by the board, while additional information is needed before bids are sought for a controversial fitness center.

The contract was awarded for

756 auditorium seats to Maffei Strayer Furniture of Pittsburgh at a cost of $111,000. The seats replace those installed when the school was built in 1959.

While the price is $9,000 higher than the lowest bid, the more pricey seats were chosen because they are larger, have better quality fabric and a longer warranty, District Superintendent Richard Bernazzoli said Thursday.

Gymnasium bleachers will be furnished by Knight Abbots of Pittsburgh at a cost of $64,500.

The existing 1959-circa bleachers are worn out and no longer meet state safety codes, the superintendent said.

Replacing the seating in the high school facilities is part of a number of improvements the board is making.

Upgrade of the athletic stadium started last year when $108,000 was spent to repoint the stone and make other improvements at the 70-year old sports facility.

Listed on May’s board agenda, but tabled until June, were bids for purchase of a prefabricated press box planned for the stadium.

“We have some figures that haven’t come in yet,” said board Vice President Mary Gouse.

Plans also are in the works to construct new restrooms at the stadium.

The board agreed to hire L. Robert Kimball & Associates to perform two test borings at a cost of $4,530 at the sites of the proposed restrooms and press box.

Approval also was given to hire a clerk of the works, a part-time position for inspection and administrative services for the high school and stadium work.

Money for this year’s work will come from the capital reserve and the 2008-2009 budget, district business manager Mike Kunko said.

A proposal to spend between $550,000 and $700,000 on an addition for the high school fitness center will be considered when the site survey work is completed, Bernazzoli said.

The idea was rebuffed by several residents at a public meeting last month who cited the economic downturn as a bad timing for a nonessential expense.

“There is a possibility it won’t happen if the bids are beyond the threshold,” Bernazzoli said.

A third phase planned for next year is the $8 million to

$9 million renovation of the elementary school, built in the mid-1970’s.