Odessa plans for more school renovations

    ODESSA—The Odessa-Montour school board met Thursday, Oct. 27, to go over the next phase of the district’s capital project.
    Hunt Engineers project designer Keith Miller told
the board the new work will mostly be at the high school and range from reconstructing the tennis courts; replacing the bus garage roof, improving visitor seating at the football, baseball, and softball fields; and upgrading the elevator. He said little is planned at the H.A. Hanlon and B.C. Cate schools, but work will include replacing fencing and the ventilators.
    Miller explained bids from the first phase of the project came back low enough that Odessa has $1.9 million to spend in the second phase. However, he added that the district has to use state and Excel aid in certain ways in order to be able to use it. He said that at the same time the district needs to do as many projects it as can from its “wish list.”
    Superintendent Jim Frame said there are so many projects that need to be done because “so little was done over the years.” He explained the school board will finalize the list of projects in the next phase and plan to go to bid in January or February.
    Board member Matt Walters commented that the district should focus on projects that would create a long-term environment that prevents injuries. Board member Scott Westervelt asked if the main high school entrance locking mechanism could be rewired so someone in the main office can unlock the doors when the front desk is unmanned. Frame said that is being worked on now.