Pittston Area School Board votes to seek bids on primary center expansion

YATESVILLE — The plan to expand the Pittston Area Primary Center moved another step forward at Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting of the School Board with approval to have Quad 3 begin the bid process, upon completion of documents and a final district review.

Current plans call for a two-story addition of 10 classrooms. Superintendent Kevin Booth has stressed because of supply chain issues and ongoing inflation a realistic estimate is not possible until the bids come in. At the December meeting the board began the process of borrowing “up to $17.5 million,” but the amount was chosen because of cost uncertainty and the project is not expected to come anywhere near that, a fact Booth reiterated after the meeting.

Booth said he expects bids to be received and opened sometime next month, with construction possibly beginning in June. The addition is expected to be available for use at the star of the 2024-25 school year.

The board also:

• Changed the school calendar to move the last day from June 5 to June 6, with June 1, 2 and 5 to be early release days. Graduation remains scheduled for June 7.

• Authorized appropriate district officers to “execute the release of all claims, the informed consent letter and any other additional documents required in order to participate in the national settlement of claims against JUUL Labs, Inc.” Area districts have been joining the suit filed by multiple law firms seeking payment for “nuisance and other damages” from the prominent vape manufacturer, and possibly other defendants. There is no cost to the district. If successful in winning money for damages, the attorneys will take a percentage of the amount awarded.

• Appointed Samuel Parente to the position of maintenance custodial.