Pleasant Valley OKs plans for Polk roof restoration

The Pleasant Valley School Board directors approved plans for the restoration of the roof on Polk Elementary School. The building was built in 1929 and now serves as a day care center and as the new location for the district’s Pupil Services office. These educators work with children in need of special education, learning assistance and gifted education.

William Gasper, the director of operations, told the board during the building and grounds committee meeting that an infrared test had been performed on the roof and three wet spots were found. The test also helped to determine how much repair work would be needed before the roof can be coated.

“They had minor infiltration into the insulation,” he said at that meeting, but the problem could get worse if not fixed.

The roof also has some problems with ponding of water and cracks in the parapet wall. The cracks are 8 to 10 inches long.

“That water is going somewhere up there,” Gasper told the board at the earlier meeting.

Gasper told the school board he thought the work should be a priority. If the work had to be delayed, then the building shouldn’t be used.

Work on the specifications for the roof restoration project began in October, concluding with a project manual prepared by roofing and building maintenance company Tremco Inc. Gasper said the work would be done in a three-part application: primer, base coat with a membrane put into the base coat, and a final coat. Similar to the coating project at the high school, the work comes with a 20-year warranty.

Gasper will put together a contract to go out to bid. Money has already been set aside in the bond fund to cover the expense.

Following some discussion, the school board also approved hiring a full-time custodian in an 8-to-1 vote with school board Director Susan Kresge voting no.

Kresge asked Gasper why he thinks the district needs an additional custodian when in past years, it operated with even fewer custodians but more students.

Gasper said that the district has been understaffed according to guidelines for the recommended number of custodians per student. The frequency of overtime is another problem. And the addition of more kindergarten classes at PVE has increased the need for extra custodial help.

“We’re up to 1,200 students in the elementary school,” Gasper said.

School board Director Laura Jecker asked, “Would that stop the overtime,” if the district hires another full-time custodian.

Gasper said he thought it would help.

The new custodian will work half of the time at the Polk Elementary School building and the other half in areas throughout the district, but mainly at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.

In a nonagenda item, the school board approved creating a Conditional Retirement Incentive for teachers. School Board President Donna Yozwiak said the incentive would provide a financial motive for teachers nearing the age of retirement to make that move and retire. She said the board is hoping about 10 teachers will decide to accept the incentive.

Specifics of the incentive are not available at this time, because it needs to go before the teachers’ union for approval.

Thursday night was School Board Appreciation night. All of the schools presented cards and gifts to the board and the acting superintendent. They were grateful for the cards and gifts and thanked everyone for them.

Students representing Student Council, National Junior Honor Society, Drama Club, athletics and others at the middle school, as well as members of the Future Business Leaders of America representing the high school thanked the board for their support. They said they value their education and involvement in school activities has given them confidence and provided a foundation for success.