Small Town News

Cheney board hires manager for upcoming construction projects

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Firms selected based on experience with new school projects, board also discusses Race to the Top funding

The Cheney School Board approved contracts with OAC Services and Roen Associates for work on the district's upcoming construction projects.

OAC will serve as project manager and Roen will supply value engineering support for the construction of two new middle schools, scheduled to start next spring.

The firms were selected based largely on their experience in new school projects, as well as keeping projects under budget by limiting the use of change orders.

Finance director Brian Aiken said the selection committee of himself, assistant superintendent Deb Clemens, maintenance director Jeff McClure and assistant maintenance director Rich Brown decided during the process to hire two firms so one could complete the value engineering.

Aiken explained the value engineering process, which is required for the district to be eligible for state matching funds.

"We have an outside firm come and look at the plans as we're drawing them up and it's their job to look for ways of gaining additional values or efficiencies or gains within the current plans," he said. "So they might look for things that the architectural team may have overlooked in their original designs."

Clemens and Aiken expressed their confidence in the selected firms.

"We're very fortunate and feel very pleased to make that recommendation to you and think we've got the very best guidance out there for our projects," Aiken said.

The board approved the selections unanimously.

Also at the meeting, Superintendent Larry Keller updated the board on Race to the Top, a federal funding initiative that rewards schools for reforming certain areas of education, including boosting college and workforce preparedness, tracking student progress, hiring the most effective teachers and principals, and improving low-achieving schools.

Keller explained that Washington state did not apply for funds in the first phase of Race to the Top because the Legislature did not feel the state was prepared, but that they were working on a package to compete in the next phase.

"For Washington the funding could be near $250 million max, $150 (million) minimum. But there're some requirements tied to that," he said.

Two bills in the Legislature propose installing new policies for evaluation of teachers and principals.

"Without them being passed, it's highly unlikely that we'd have a competitive package in the second round of Race to the Top," Keller said. "Even with that bill being passed, it's somewhat iffy."

If Washington was selected, Keller said Cheney could expect to receive around $160,000.

The board expressed frustration with the fund.

"It's very typical of a federal government-sponsored program that has a lot of hoops, a lot of pain in the implementation and the results, not so sure they would be positive for us," board president Larry Haskell said.

Board members Kerry O'Connor and Rick Mount both questioned whether the amount of funding would be worth the cost of reporting the results, and expressed concern about the bills in the Legislature that could change the way the district evaluates staff, whether or not Washington receives Race to the Top funds.

"Since if they pass those bills we would have to do it anyway, I would probably come to you and say at that point that we need to sign on," Keller said.

Also at the meeting, retired preschool teacher Kay Scott was honored as part of Washington State School Retirees Appreciation Week.

Scott taught preschool at Reid Elementary for more than 20 years, as well as three years at Salnave Elementary, and retired last year.

"I loved it, but I had a better offer with my own two little grandchildren," she said. She now watches her grandchildren and volunteers reading stories to district preschoolers. The board passed a resolution honoring retired educators for their contributions and continued involvement in education.

Becky Thomas can be reached at becku@cheneufreepress.com.



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© 2010 Cheney Free Press Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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