By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

Erik Troutman has been approved by the Parkland School Board as the first project manager, a new position included in the 2022-23 budget.

His position was effective July 1.

He will work with Director of School Services David Keppel.

At the budget seminar in April, the administration reported the district has outsourced management of capital projects to the firm of Alvin H. Butz, for several years.

Parkland has a list of capital needs requiring attention over the next five to 10 years.

These include roofing, parking facilities and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning updates.

The addition of the project manager will enable the district to bring the projects in-house for better oversight and lower costs.

The project manager will not be responsible for new building projects or major renovations but will be involved in the overall review of them.

Keppel said Troutman will be the liaison between construction management, architects and the school district.

He offered further comments.

“We have many projects going on,” Keppel said. “I have a lot of responsibilities, and he will take the burden of overseeing the projects off me. This position is needed.”

For a capital project coming up soon, the board approved an $81,835 bid from Valley Builders for construction of a toilet in a kindergarten classroom at Ironton Elementary School.

For the high school, the board approved a bid from Donaldson Co. Inc. for replacement of the dust collection unit at a cost of $18,670.

School directors also approved purchase of a new $11,499 wrestling mat from Dollamur Sport Services.

For the gymnasiums at Cetronia and Parkway Manor elementary schools, the board approved purchase of complete rear screen projection systems at a cost of $19,744 for each unit.

Payment will be provided through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, established at the federal level in response to COVID-19.