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GIRARD -- The Board of Education has approved capping and closing a gas well on the northwest section of the high school property off Shannon Road to accommodate a planned auditorium.
Board President Mark Zuppo said Thursday the board entered into a contract with Enervest Operating LLC at $61,800 to cap and close the gas well. He said the work will be done this spring when school is not in session.
Treasurer Mark Bello said the well has reached the end of its usefulness.
Zuppo said the board also will look at architects to help with the planning of the needed auditorium. He said he would like the board and administration to suggest names of firms they would like to use.
School officials have said previously there is not enough room at the Girard middle and high school complex cafetorium to house the entire grades 7-12 student body at once. The school uses the cafetorium for many school events, but more space is needed when students in all six grades are together.
Discussions have included an auditorium being connected to the school or being a standalone structure that could be used for school plays and graduation ceremonies.
The high school gymnasium is used for larger school events, such as assemblies and guest speakers, and can house all grades.
A performing arts committee chaired by resident Brian O'Hara -- along with board members Zuppo and Cheryl Asente, school administrators, school staff and students -- has been discussing the auditorium project.
''We have the committee in place to get ideas and input on what we would like to have,'' Zuppo said.
Bello said the board will be meeting to compile criteria for the project and then discuss how they would seek interested architectural firms for the project. He said the process should take three to four months.
In other action, the board:
l Accepted the retirement resignation of Teresa Canterino, who worked 20 years in the treasurer's office effective Aug. 1;
l Decided to split the soccer coach position into boys soccer coach Harry Leith and girls soccer coach Darcy Quinlan. Previously Leith was handling both boys and girls soccer, but officials said soccer games sometimes are held on same days and conflicting times;
l Approved Keith Brown as cross country coach;
l Heard from Curbstone Coaches Association's Jerry McNally, who recognized senior Nick Hall for receiving the organization's scholarship.