News Photo by Julie Goldberg Luke Gerhart of Wolgast Corp., standing, talks with the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District Board of Education on Thursday about the board approving a contract with architectural firm OHM Advisorss for updates at Pied Piper School.

ALPENA — Pied Piper School will receive some much needed improvements within the next few months.

The Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District Board of Education approved an agreement Thursday with Livonia architectural firm OHM Advisors. The district has been working with Wolgast Corp., an Alpena construction management firm, to develop the facility plan for Pied Piper and the district’s central office.

The board voted to allow Superintendent Scott Reynolds to negotiate a contract with OHM that doesn’t exceed $42,000. Reynolds had originally proposed an upfront cost of $42,000 plus hourly services, but the board felt that was too high and asked Reynolds to negotiate a lower number.

“I’m very optimistic that it will end with a favorable outcome,” Reynolds said of the negotiations. “I’ve got no doubts that we’ll end with a workable agreement to get the work started.”

As part of the district’s Strategic Plan, its Facilities Committee worked to prioritize projects into three separate phases. The first phase is to replace the boilers, heating ventilators, and fire alarm system at Pied Piper. The school had to cancel school one day this year because of boiler issues.

“Our boiler system has outlived its lifespan,” Reynolds said. “Over the years, we’ve put extra dollars in it to keep it functioning.”

Reynolds said a couple of the heat ventilators were replaced in the last four years at Pied Piper, but the district wouldn’t know whether any other heat ventilators need to be replaced until the end of the school year.

Reynolds said OHM has expertise working with schools, has a positive working relationship with Wolgast, and the district has had some initial work done by OHM.

“We’re satisfied that they can get the job done,” Reynolds said.

When the district has project specifications completed and bids are solicited, those will go before the board for approval of the construction and purchase, per board policy. Reynolds said Wolgast will work with OHM to make sure costs line up.

“I want to be real clear that I’m not asking for a $500,000 approval on any work, but we’re asking for the architects to do some of that work and get it started,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said the improvements in Phase One need to be done before next winter starts. He said that, if things start rolling now, he anticipates everything will be in place in time.

“Our students don’t deserve anything better than a reliable heating system,” Reynolds said.

Luke Gerhart of Wolgast Corp. was in attendance at Thursday’s meeting and said, since it’s almost March, there is a sense of urgency to get things started. He said it will take several weeks for engineers to evaluate the systems at Pied Piper, come up with designs, and take the information and submit it to the state for approval for permits.

Gerhart said that, when you start adding everything up that needs to be done, it will be very close to the end of the heating season would be, which is when everything would have to removed and replaced at Pied Piper.

Julie Goldberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jkgoldberg12.

In other business:

The Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District Board of Education on Wednesday also;

∫ approved the creation of an additional school psychologist position and authorized Superintendent Scott Reynolds to offer an employment contract to Nora Pizzino for the position, effective July 1.

∫ voted to allow Reynolds to sign a contract with 1010 Technology Center Inc. for districtwide technology services for this fiscal year to increase and extend services to the district, effective Feb. 4. The total cost of the contract is not to exceed $1,000 at $82 an hour.

∫ went into closed session to begin discussion on Reynolds’ superintendent evaluation. Reynolds said he will share some of the things that he has worked on this past year with the board and share some of his growth areas. At the board’s March meeting, they will present an assessment on Reynolds’ performance.