North Hills picks firm for West View Elementary renovations

North Hills School District will go with a full-service firm to manage renovations of West View Elementary School.

The school board will vote later this month on a $889,492 contract with SitelogiQ, an Oakmont-based company that specializes in projects from start to finish. The money will come from the district’s capital improvement fund.

Mike Arnold, program executive of SitelogiQ, said the company focuses on K-12 public schools and employs a broad range of specialties, including architecture, engineering, construction, renewable energy, and project management.

“We can provide a bit more of the turn-key process for you,” he told board members during their Sept. 2 work session.

Because they handle all phases of the project, there will be no change orders, he added.

The contract will also contain a long-term assessment of all buildings, with an interactive computer program that district officials can use.

They also provide a “student engagement experience” with guest instruction about the design and construction industry. “We bring the kids in, and we

talk to them about these designs,” he said, adding that a student in the Peters Township School District decided to major in architectural engineering after a session in that district.

Besides Peters Township, the firm has done projects in the Canon-McMillan, Woodland Hills and Riverview school districts.

The district plans to have the West View renovations complete for the building’s 100th anniversary in August 2025.

In other business, parent Mike Santucci thanked board members for mandating masks for the start of school.

Mr. Santucci, who teaches in a district where masks were optional until the state mandate takes effect Tuesday, said that 5% of the students in his school were quarantined after only five days in class. While in quarantine, they cannot participate virtually in class.

“From a concerned parent who really wants to see our kids in school five days a week, thanks,” he said.

Also, Superintendent Patrick Mannarino announced that the homecoming dance will be held this year outdoors at Martorelli Stadium on Oct. 2.