The Bellwood-Antis School Board of Directors took an important step last evening in correcting a problem that has persisted for years.
Directors authorized the administration to advertise bids for the landscaping of three fields that lie between the high/middle school and the elementary school.
At last week’s committee meeting gathering, the board learned that a landscaper from LD & C of Ebensburg inspected the area now known as “Green Space” and reported that landscaping would cost between $8,000 and $18,000, depending on the extent of the work.
Directors agreed the landscaping would be completed in three phases or sections, with the area nearest to Stadium Drive to be first on the agenda. Next fall, the area proceeding toward Martin Street will be completed, followed by the final section either this spring or next fall.
Over the years, the field has been used extensively for high and middle school physical education classes, junior and senior high and pee wee football practice, track and field practice and events and band practice, and also a prime area for visitors to Bellwood-Antis events.
All this traffic has caused the earth to pack significantly, caused a good number of large ruts to appear, and caused an infiltration of rock and stone gravel, thus providing unsafe conditions for those who use the field.
According to officials, these conditions make it unsafe for students using the field.
According to the district’s business manager, Ken Swanson, the process to remediate the 80,000 square feet of land would include spraying to kill the top layer, followed by chisel plowing. Afterwards, the sod would be loosened and 250 tons of top soil would be placed on top. The final part of the plan calls for the spreading of lime, fertilizer seeding then straw mulch. He added there would be a processes to remove the stone and gravel from the site.
Although fencing for the area was on Tuesday evening’s agenda, district Superintendent Rod Kuhns said it was not discussed.
Last week, board members expressed their interest in not installing a chain-link fence to circle the perimeter. Board member Donna Tyler said a small wall or cement posts with looped chain could be used.
The district may also consider using the bridge stones that will soon be removed during the upcoming bridge project in Bellwood.
Also, the board authorized the administration to enter into an agreement with eScholar for the purchase of a data warehouse in the amount of $31,540.
The purchase will be funded through a $50,000 state demonstration grant.
According to Mike Lingenfelter, the district’s technology coordinator, the data warehouse will allow school officials to cross reference data and ask important questions that may improve the quality of education offered at Bellwood-Antis.
“This warehousing will allow us to target information from many separate systems,” said Lingenfelter. “We’ll be able to see what effective practices are in use now and what works. We’ll also be able to look at what we’re doing then ask all the important questions to improve it.”
Lingenfelter used class size as an example. He said the district could use this new tool to assess class size in the district and compare student achievement within those classes.
“We’ll be able to use this tool as a very effective form of planning,” said Lingenfelter.
He said in the future, parents will be able to access the site through the Internet and find important statistical data, including testing scores not only in the district, but nationwide.
The $50,000 received from the state will be used as start-up money for the project.
