The Gillingham Charter School board of trustees approved architectural work during a special meeting Monday night for renovations to the school in the amount of $860.
The construction contract is with Yongcheol Kim Architects, Pottsville.
Christie Werkheiser, director of organizational development and the liaison for public relations and marketing, said that quotes for various projects in the renovation are still coming in so the school doesn't know the full amount yet.
"Previously, we consulted with the Coalition of PA Public Charter Schools and their legal department, so that we best know how to proceed with the renovation bid process," Werkheiser said. "There are multiple differences and exemptions within the charter school requirements. We've been told that we do not have to bid any portion of the project unless it exceeds $18,500.00. How we allocate the projects will largely depend on our architect's final renderings."
The school is also working closely with Donald J. Chescavage, Pottsville city code enforcement officer.
Werkheiser said that the proposed work is to divide at least one classroom to make an additional classroom to accommodate the 11th grade being added this year.
Additionally, it is proposed that the entrance to the office building will be enhanced to include security doors and a buzzer, plus cameras will be installed to extend security measures.
The school wants to install a ramp to make the office building handicap accessible and to add a handicap bathroom there as well.
"We're still waiting for drawings, then contractors can start giving estimates," Werkheriser said. "When we get the complete set, other items can proceed."
During the 2013-14 school year, music will be in the schoolhouse and art will take place not only in the school house, but also in a room in the office building.
Other items that are of interest that Werkheiser mentioned include the school added a new phone and intercom system to aid with busing and safety protocols, plus there will be some scheduling innovations implemented after visiting Urban Academy, another charter school in New York City.
Also during the meeting Monday, Nicolle Hutchinson, director of education and CEO, released a statement.
"This past week the offices were closed for renovations and I was off on vacation, so it's a pleasure to be back with you," she said. "Questions have been raised about processes here at Gillingham. Recently, members of the community questioned our supervisory protocols, so I would like to take this opportunity to clarify our practices."
Hutchinson said it was especially important since Pennsylvania charter school code differs greatly in many ways from Pennsylvania's traditional school codes.
"This confusion concerns us, so we as an administrative team want to let the public know the various steps we take throughout the school year to support our staff and faculty," Hutchinson said. "First let me say that throughout these past two start-up years, we have refined our practices based on feedback from our faculty, staff, stakeholders and consultants. Second, according to our calculations, teachers and staff receive between 145 to 250 hours of professional development yearly."
Hutchinson then went on to list options, protocols and practices, that the school draws upon to individualize support for its team members' needs.
The practices include informal and formal observations, evaluations, an "open door policy," formal and informal meetings and discussions, reflective practices, formal schoolhouse development meetings, round table discussions and problem solving, reading response groups, coaching, modeling, shadowing, time with consultants and partnering charter school educators, grade level team meetings and shared planning time, relational education protocols and a developing manual, improvement plans, individualized learning plans, curriculum mapping with experts, summer readings, trainings, webinars, conferences, workshops and specific relational education training and letters, emails and meeting summaries, among others.
"Even some of our evening collaborations are used for professional development and team building," she said. "How these are implemented and all supervisory decisions are not unilaterally made, but a consensus is formed among the administrative team, which regularly seeks advice and wisdom from experienced educators and sources."