By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

Looking ahead to summer projects at Cetronia, Kernsville and Fogelsville elementary schools, Parkland School Board recently approved a proposal from Boyle Construction Management to oversee the work at a cost of $227,544 for a minimum of 2,208 labor hours.

Director of Facilities and Operations Art Oakes suggested the district see how things work out with Boyle on smaller projects.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson commented on the matter.

“Butz has been a good partner but we have a lot of work to do and this is an opportunity to partner with another firm on smaller projects,” Madson said. “This is not in any way a reflection on the quality of Butz’s work.”

Oakes noted with a different manager, the district can “perform contracts under a different construction model with bidding.

“With all the upcoming work in the future and beyond vision 2030, this is the time to look at the differences in the management methodologies.”

The agreement with Boyle management services covers the preconstruction phase of four months and construction phase of nine months.

“Evaluation of their management of the contract is what we are looking forward to doing,” Oakes said.

In another matter, the board approved an affiliation agreement between Point Park University and Parkland for a student teaching center in the district.

People enrolled in the teacher education program at Point Pack, Pittsburgh, will have an opportunity to work with Parkland students.

Madson said some of the contact may be online,

He noted with the shortage of teachers, the district is doing what it can to encourage students who are working toward a career in education.