By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Pelham Board of Education approved a bid for the auditorium portion of an ongoing renovation project at Pelham High School during a special called meeting May 18.

The board awarded a $631,750 bid to Williford Orman Construction, LLC for renovations and repairs to the PHS auditorium.

Board President Rick Rhoades said the bid covers only non-electrical components of the auditorium, including heating and air conditioning and roof work.

The auditorium’s facelift is part of a $10-$12 million renovation project, which started with a new sign and landscaping for about $300,000 in October 2014. Landscaping work is complete.

The school’s gymnasium is also undergoing renovations, including painting, replacing the bleachers and redoing flooring. Renovations are scheduled for completion before school resumes in the fall, Pelham City Schools communications manager Nicole Knight said.

Interior parts of the school will be revamped to better accommodate academies, or specialized course pathways, that will start with the 2015-2016 school year.

Work on academy classrooms is set to begin this summer and will continue through the 2015-2016 school year, Knight said.

In other business, the board:
•Approved a resolution authorizing the Pelham City Schools superintendent to settle claims of no more than $10,000.
•Approved personnel recommendations from Superintendent Dr. Scott Coefield.
•Heard from Coefield a request for the board to review and revise a policy regarding non-resident students for the June 2 BOE meeting.