Salem BOE receives project updates

SALEM-- Superintendent Sean Kirkland provided updates on two of the district's ongoing projects during Monday's school board meeting.

Work at the construction site for the district's wellness center is underway. The initial phase was ongoing including leveling ground in preparation to begin construction of the building in earnest.

"If you came down Sixth Street in the last week you probably saw that we've broken ground there," said Kirkland.

The next step is to install footers. Weather permitting, the building's structural siding would go up March 29. From that point Kirkland said the center "should start going up fairly quickly," with installation of the roof, then floor to follow.

The center will have a dedicated weight and cardio room, and three glass garage doors which can open to overlook the baseball field, and boys and girls locker rooms. Kirkland said that the rear of the building would house a multi-purpose room which could be utilized for a variety of sports.

"We'll be able to have basketball in there, volleyball, wrestling cheerleading, just about anything we need," said Kirkland.

Kirkland also provided an update on the ongoing selection process for the construction team for the new $57 million K-8 school building.

He announced that Akron-based GPD Group had been selected as the project's architectural and engineering firm. The project would be guided by Senior Management Lead Mark Salopek, Educational Planner/Design Manager Abby Raineri, and Project Manager Chris Bader. Kirkland is pleased with the selection and happy to have GPD Group on the project.

"They're extremely capable, and I'm very excited about the fact that we have this firm working for us," he said.

The next step is to select a Commissioning agent and CMR firm, which is already underway. Kirkland said that interviews for the CMR start Friday, with formal presentations on April 3. Once this step was finished the project construction team would be complete.

"By the end of that we will have our full construction team," said Kirkland.

Interviews for the commissioning agent will be held March 25, with interviews currently scheduled with Osborn Engineering, Stan Engineering, and Four Seasons Engineering. Kirkland explained that the commissioning agent served as another point of review and scrutiny for the plans put forward by the architect and CMR.

"What that is, is another engineer firm that looks critically at what GPD and the CRM put in front of us. They're another set of eyes, and this is standard procedure for OFCC projects," said Kirkland.

The board of education will meet next at 7 p.m. April 15.