The multi-million-dollar Pivik building project will be a high priority for the district in 2011.

“The school project is our main goal,” said Kevin Dowdell, who last week in a 5-4 vote was reappointed school board president.

In addition to his own vote, Dowdell was supported by Sal Colella, Andrew Drake, Shane McMasters and Tom McGough.

Board member Jeff Russo received four votes: his own, Jeff Matthews, Rose McGuirk and Loretta White.

During a public hearing earlier this month, residents spoke passionately about building a new Pivik Elementary School proposed off School Road, across the street from the existing building.

The maximum project cost is $20.6 million. The district’s debt payment is expected to increase by more than $740,000.

The district borrowed $19.7 million for the project, which is expected to be bid early next year.

District officials hope to have the building completed for the start of the 2012-13 school year.

The plan calls for students at Adlai Stevenson and Holiday Park elementary schools to attend classes in the existing buildings as their schools are being renovated.

The board has not decided on a timetable for the renovations. Also, no money has been borrowed for those projects.

Dowdell, who took office a year ago with fellow Republicans Colella, Drake and McMasters, said the year has been a difficult one for the board as members have been split in what have been at times unpopular decisions about the Pivik project.

“There has been stress on the board,” Dowdell said.

Dowdell said he will work in the next year to encourage board members to work as a team.

“We can agree to disagree,” Dowdell said. “But I will work with Mr. McGough to keep the board on task and keep our focus on the objective.” McGough was reappointed vice president.

Dowdell said the board in the next year also will work to promote student achievement.

In other business, the board voted to eliminate the monthly work sessions and set the voting meetings for the last Tuesday of each month.

Other board votes that occurred during the reorganization meeting: district’s depository: S&T Bank; solicitor: Andrews & Price; board representative and alternate on the legislative policy council of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association: Colella and White; local newspaper of record and alternate — Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Valley News Dispatch; Forbes Road Career and Technology Center joint committee representative and alternate: Russo and McGuirk; Eastern Area Joint Schools Committee representative and alternate: White and Drake.

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