SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — While students are away for summer break, Slippery Rock Area School District is looking to make some small facility upgrades.

The district school board considered three projects during an operations committee meeting Monday evening, April 13: replacement of the middle school gym floor, upgrading the high school auditorium stage and painting both elementary schools.

Regan Hess, the district’s business manager, said he is almost ready to put the 7,525 square-foot gym floor replacement out to bid.

“It’s a full replacement. The clips under the floor are rusting out due to some prior water damage on the floor,” he explained to the committee.

As for the high school stage, Hess said the upgrades would be primarily for the stage lighting, sound and sound booth. He said it was part of the initial scope of the recent high school renovation, but got cut.

“I think there’s going to be enough funding available for some other projects. This is one that had some interest from (principal Cory Hake),” he said.

He said he will be meeting with people next week to get a preliminary assessment and see if some older quotes are still in line with the scope of the project.

As for painting, Hess said the district is looking to put a fresh coat on both Slippery Rock Area and Moraine elementary schools.

“We should have quotes by the end of the week,” he said.

The committee also discussed parking at Slippery Rock Area Elementary after board member Sara Whitman raised concerns about people parking in the grass in front of the building.

“I drive past Area multiple times a day and I swear, every day, there’s multiple cars parked in the grass. Presumably because there’s no parking elsewhere, but I don’t know,” she said.

Board member Mark Taylor said even though the district is not set to pave anywhere this year, he thinks there should be more consideration about the district’s sidewalks and paving for a later date.