Oct 2, 2014 4 min read

Members of the Peters Township School Board spent more than two hours during a special meeting Sept. 29 discussing possible renovations at McMurray Elementary School as outlined by HHSDR Architects of Pittsburgh.

No official action was taken with board members agreeing that more information is needed before moving ahead with the changes, which are estimated to cost slightly more than $4 million.

Matt Franz of HHSDR said current plans call for new windows, a chilled water air conditioning system, ceiling replacement in sections after new piping is installed, an updated fire alarm system, new light fixtures on two floors and new flooring in places.

Franz told the board that issues resulting from movement caused by pyrite are not being addressed in the year-long project estimated at $4,045,000. Members Sue Smith and Lynn Erenberg did not attend.

During construction, which may begin as early as March 2, 2015, six modular classrooms may be needed. Several board members expressed concern with students traveling outdoors during the winter months to reach the classrooms. As the work progresses, classes would be shifted from inside to the modular units on a rotating basis for about four to five weeks each, Franz said.

Plans call for occupancy lighting sensors in the classrooms to conserve energy.

Board members agreed that during construction when the rooms are empty, the rooms should be painted at a cost of $1,900 per room using low-emission paint to reduce possible sensitivity.

Blair Stoehr, McMurray Elementary School principal, said carpeting in the rooms is about 20 years old. Franz said tile flooring could be installed on the second and third floors for $315,000. Replacing flooring with carpeting or tile would cost about the same, said Greer Hayden of HHSDR. The board has not decided on what type of flooring will be used. No flooring changes are anticipated in the main office or in the first floor hallways because of the pyrite movement.

According to Ron Gault, district director of buildings and grounds, the main entrance doors should be replaced. A proposal to enclose the garbage Dumpsters with new walls and a gate was rejected.

New gutters and downspouts are also needed on the three-story brick building. The current ones, Gault said, have been patched and pieced and need to be replaced.

Franz suggested a schedule to advertise for bids in early December, with bids due by Jan. 15. Bids should be awarded Jan. 19 during the board’s regular meeting. With much of the work set for the summer recess, completion is expected March 4, 2016, Franz said. Some of the work could be completed after regular school hours during the school year.

Some of the estimated $4 million could be recovered through state grants.

The board discussed the current parking situation at the elementary school with the possibility of moving the bus garage adjacent to the school and making the area additional parking. No decision was made.

One project the board did approve was to replace the air conditioning system in the district administration offices, expected to cost about $352,000. The current boiler will not be replaced. Initially, the bids were to be advertised at the same time as the middle school project, but the board agreed to separate the two with the central office project to begin sooner. Construction on the new water chiller system should take about three months.

On Sept. 15, the board approved issuing more than $10 million in bonds for future projects including the elementary school and the administration office ventilating system.

In other action, the board:

• Appointed Edward J. Rafferty as the board’s representative on the township’s Parks and Recreation Board. The appointment is until January when three vacancies are expected.

• Unanimously approved a bid from A. Liberoni Inc. for $14,930 to pave the playground at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Paving will be completed within the next month or so.

• Purchased a pickup truck salt spreader from Crossroads Mower Center Inc. for $5,471.

• Purchased 12 AED units with wall mount cabinets to AED Superstore for $17,723 that includes trade-in allowance for five current units.