News File Photo Pied Piper School is seen in this News archive photo. Damaged ceiling tiles at the school are part of the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District’s planned renovations.

ALPENA — The Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District is working to improve its facilities for staff and students.

On Thursday, the district’s Board of Education approved a $46,000 contract with architectural firm OHM Architects to develop a plan for facilities improvements at Pied Piper School.

The district hopes to complete work on canopy downspouts, replace the roof, replace ceiling tiles and lighting, expand storage space in the industrial education area, replace windows, and replace the school’s public address system.

“Outside of the scope, we anticipate there to be some asbestos abatement on a much smaller scale,” ESD Superintendent Scott Reynolds said.

After the plan is development by OHM, bids will be solicited. The bids will then go before the board for approval.

“Along the way, they have to sign off on the work and make sure that it’s up to code and meeting our minimum expectations, which are going to be pretty high,” Reynolds said.

The board in November authorized Reynolds to negotiate an up-to-$40,000 agreement with OHM, but the dollar amount increased because expanding storage space, replacing windows, and installing a new public address system were added to the scope of work.

The work will help improve the environment for Pied Piper students and staff, Reynolds said. The school setting should be safe and have no distractions, he said.

“It’s difficult to do that if the roof is leaking, if the ceiling is sagging and tiles are falling in, and that also becomes a safety issue,” Reynolds said. “It will be much safer.”

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 Thursday also:

∫ designated Director of Special Education Mary Zann and Mandy Canute, executive administrative assistant and human resources coordinator, as District 504 Compliance and American with Disabilities Act coordinators.

∫ approved a 2019-20 budget amendment increasing estimated general fund revenues by $659,659 and expenses by $621,759, meaning the general fund cash reserves are expected to increase to $876,937. The changes were necessary because the district received grants.

∫ changed its next board meeting to 6 p.m. Feb 13.