Children First on verge of contracting for cleanup

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03/25/06

Children First on verge of contracting for cleanup

http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/032506/np6.htm?

date=032506 & story=np6.htm

Charlotte,FL

NORTH PORT -- After reviewing proposals from three contractors,

Children First selected Cutting Edge Technologies to perform cleanup

at its portable Head Start unit in North Port.

Children First, the agency that runs the Head Start program in North

Port, had requested bids to clean up mold in the unit so it could

decide whether it was cost-effective to do the remediation.

Head Start is a federal program designed to help underprivileged

youngsters prepare for preschool.

Children First Executive Director Philip Tavill said his agency may

be about to sign the contract, " But we still have a few revisions to

make, so I'm not sure what the final cost is.

" We learned, for example, that we could save some money by doing

some of the preparatory work ourselves, " Tavill said. " That will

reduce the contract amount a little bit. "

Tavill said some of the preparatory work involved steps such as

removing some ceiling tiles to give easier access, removing certain

wall panels and putting bookshelves and other fixtures up on boards

to give better access to the flooring. He and other Children First

staff members have just completed the preliminary steps.

The Head Start portable unit, which is behind Glenallen Elementary

School, has been plagued with mold problems since last autumn. When

mold was first discovered, the Head Start children were temporarily

removed while cleaning was done.

However, that first cleaning was not totally effective and, in a

matter of weeks, mold reappeared in the unit. In December, all of

the children were relocated to Head Start programs elsewhere in the

area while the unit was tested more intensely.

The contractor recommended certain cleanup steps to address the mold

problem. Children First then sought bids to complete the steps.

Tavill said the cost for the final contract will depend on how much

Children First saved by doing the work itself. He added that once

the contract is signed and work begins, it is expected to take four

days to complete. Follow-up testing will be done to assure that all

mold has been removed.

It will take another seven days for results to be received.

Assuming that tests show the unit to be clean, it will be ready for

the summer term of Head Start.

Children First is also planning to construct a new building to house

the Head Start program permanently. Tavill said that they are doing

energy calculations and making some code architectural revisions to

the building plans, as the city requested.

" Right now, I'm hoping to present the contract schedule to our board

in April. Once those preparatory things are done, we'll be able to

get our tree-clearing permit and be ready to start site work, "

Tavill said.

You can e-mail Hoffman at shoffman@....

By SUSAN E. HOFFMAN

North Port Assistant Editor