Intermediate High School to be renovated

Board approves $5.7 million project

The 63-year-old North Allegheny Intermediate High School is the next building to get a facelift.

The school board awarded $5.7 million in contracts for the project at its Jan. 25 meeting.

Funding for the work was included in the district’s most recent bond issue. That work includes replacing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as the auditorium sound and light controls and some kitchen equipment. Renovations will be done to science classrooms that have not been touched since the building was constructed in 1954.

Contracts were awarded to: Arcon Contracting, Inc., general contractor, $1,835,000; A. J. Demor & Sons, Inc., heating, ventilation and air conditioning, $2,580,000.00; Right Electric, Inc., $212,212; R & B Contracting & Excavation, Inc., plumbing, $388,000; Tuscano-Maher Roofing, Inc., $396,800; and Commercial Appliance Contracts, Inc., food service equipment, $317,544.

“It’s great to see this set of projects as a whole coming in under budget,” board President Kevin Mahler said.

Other facets of the project include expansion of the robotics lab; safety improvements, including a double-sided fume hood, in the chemistry labs; a new four-concept serving line in the cafeteria; and renovations to student restrooms and the health suite.

There was discussion during the Jan. 18 work session about whether the heating system would be adequate for the building. Building principals and student representatives to the board said the current system is uneven, with some rooms freezing and others boiling.

Board member Richard McClure, chair of the buildings and grounds committee, said the heating system has individualunitsineachclassroom, which is common for schools. “Are the kids going to be comfortable?” he asked. “The engineer was confident that this is an excellent system. This is an excellent economical way to get where we need to get on this project.”

In other action, the board accepted the resignation of Kristen Silbaugh, principal of Ingomar Elementary, who was hired as an assistant superintendent in Pine-Richland.

The board also voted to give the Ingomar position to Tracie Tomichek-Michalowski, currently assistant principal of Marshall Middle School.

Before joining North Allegheny nine years ago, Mrs. Tomichek-Michalowski was a teacher and elementary principal in the Shaler Area School District. She will be paid $110,000.

The board also approved a proposed budget for the 2017-18 school year to comply with state law, despite not having enough information to determine whether they will need a tax increase.

The proposal currently has a $3.8 million shortfall, and the board voted to seek permission from the state to raise millage beyond the index, citing exceptions for pensions and special education.

Several board members said, however, that they do not want to raise taxes this year. The board last raised millage two years ago.

Resident Allyson Minton urged board members to raise taxes this year for the future financial health of the district.

“Your facilities absolutely need a tremendous amount of work in the next few years,” she said.