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Rare one-day Section 8 application acceptance scheduled Thursday

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Luzerne County Election Board issues recommendation on new voting system

<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; There&#8217;s a whole new entrance road off Maffett street, the hole for the swimming pool is complete, the foundations of nearly every part of the building are clear, and two walls of the gym tower over the work site. The Wilkes-Barre Area consolidated high school continues to form at a quick pace, a tour Wednesday showed.</p><p>The most imposing thing on the site isn&#8217;t those gym walls, it&#8217;s a large yellow crane brought in to lift the steel beams that will span the gym ceiling, each beam an imposing 7 feet deep and 140 feet long. As Superintendent Brian Costello stood in what will be the gym, he pointed to the &#8220;second floor,&#8221; partially done, that will ring the entire area for extra seating and a running track.</p><p>The last time Costello provided a tour of the site, footers for some of the walls were plainly visible, and the auditorium stage was roughly outlined. A smattering of wall rose here and there, never high enough to cover a doorway.</p><p>Tuesday the outlines were clear for &#8220;Main Street,&#8221; the primary hall that will run from the main entrance to the back of the school. Door and window openings for the gym were plainly visible for the both floors The structure under the stage was finished and a pink line marked where the orchestra pit will be excavated.</p><p>A parking lot next to the four classroom pods has been prepped and, Costello said, should be paved before winter. While pointing to the areas that collectively will make the &#8220;learning center&#8221; to house computers and books, he said his hope is to make it accessible nights and weekends for community use.</p><p>Most of the infrastructure &#8212; sewer and water pipes, electric wiring &#8212; is in and covered with ground, pipes popping up throughout the site. Sewer manholes and red fire hydrants dot the ground around the foundation.</p><p>Costello speaks with relentless optimism about the school that will house grade nine-through 12 from the three existing high schools, even as candidates opposed to consolidation run for election to the School Board this November. He talked of expanding both the district&#8217;s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academy, currently restricted to about 16 students per grade due to space, and the Creative and Performing Arts Academy now at GAR Memorial.</p><p>The merging of three high school sports programs has been well-received by students, he said, and will lead this November to an Ice Hockey Club (hockey is not one of the sports overseen by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association).</p><p>While the fate of the renovated Mackin school building &#8212; currently holding two grades from Coughlin High School &#8212; remains uncertain, Costello said it may work well as a special education center to serve students now sent to other facilities because the district lacks the space and equipment. Bringing them back into the district could save money, he said.</p><p>The goal is still to have the roof and walls of two classroom pods complete by winter and ready for interior work. The rapid development on the gym? &#8220;That&#8217;s just a bonus.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre Area Superintendent Brian Costello points out one of the pods in the new school that is begining to take shape. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School1.cmyk_.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wilkes-Barre Area Superintendent Brian Costello points out one of the pods in the new school that is begining to take shape. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School2.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Masons set bricks in the gym at the new Wilkes-Barre Area High School. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School2.cmyk_.jpg</photo1><caption1>Masons set bricks in the gym at the new Wilkes-Barre Area High School. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School3.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bricks are being set in the gym for the new school. To the right is the learning pod which extends to the classroom pods of the new high school. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School3.cmyk_.jpg</photo2><caption2>Bricks are being set in the gym for the new school. To the right is the learning pod which extends to the classroom pods of the new high school. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School4.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">This is the area where a pool will be in the new school. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School4.cmyk_.jpg</photo3><caption3>This is the area where a pool will be in the new school. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School5.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Work continues on what will be the new Wilkes-Barre Area High School. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School5.cmyk_.jpg</photo4><caption4>Work continues on what will be the new Wilkes-Barre Area High School. </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School6.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">This is the hall between the gym and accessory rooms at the future Wilkes-Barre Area High School. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School6.cmyk_.jpg</photo5><caption5>This is the hall between the gym and accessory rooms at the future Wilkes-Barre Area High School. </caption5><photoCredit5>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School7.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Work continues on what will be the new Wilkes-Barre Area High School on Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School7.cmyk_.jpg</photo6><caption6>Work continues on what will be the new Wilkes-Barre Area High School on Wednesday. </caption6><photoCredit6>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School8.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Work continues on what will be the new Wilkes-Barre Area High School. Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100319School8.cmyk_.jpg</photo7><caption7>Work continues on what will be the new Wilkes-Barre Area High School. Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </caption7><photoCredit7>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit7></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Gym walls, stage and pool show big progress</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

W-B Area’s new school: Gym walls, stage and pool show big progress