Burrell requests specifications on potential construction projects at 3 district schools

Burrell School District is moving ahead with preparations to handle renovations at three of its schools should it go through with closing Stewart Elementary.

The school board this week revised its agreement with HHSDR Inc. for the Pittsburgh-based architect to map out proposed construction projects that include renovations at Burrell High School, Charles A. Huston Middle School and Bon Air Elementary.

The move is the first step if the board decides to pursue any of the construction projects, Superintendent Shannon Wagner said.

“Now, the architect is actually going to go ahead and prepare those specs,” Wagner said.

The projects include paving and HVAC at Bon Air; air conditioning at Huston; upgrading the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and boilers and controls at Burrell High School.

Those parts of the plans would be needed regardless of the fate of Stewart, officials said previously.

HHSDR also would prepare specifications for a project that includes additional cafeteria space and seven classrooms at Bon Air. That would be a possibility if the board were to close Stewart Elementary and move fourth grade students, or fourth and fifth grade students, to Bon Air.

The board expects to vote on a decision regarding Stewart at its meeting Oct. 15, Wagner said. The district’s administration recommends its closure because of declining enrollment, issues with infrastructure and the condition of district buildings and the opportunity to focus resources on three district buildings instead of four.

If Stewart closes and only fourth grade students are moved to Bon Air, additional cafeteria space at Bon Air would be needed, district officials said. That project, including paving and upgrades to HVAC at Bon Air, air conditioning at Huston and upgrades to HVAC and air conditioning at the high school, has an estimated cost of $20 million, according to the district.

If Stewart closes and both fourth and fifth grade students are moved to Bon Air, the district has determined seven additional classrooms would need to be built, as well as additional cafeteria space.

Those additions, plus the other projects, would cost an estimated $26 million, according to district officials.

If the district were to keep Stewart open, maintaining all four buildings with heating and ventilation upgrades would cost an estimated $36 million, according to district officials.

In May, the school board chose to pursue $5 million in state grant funding to help pay for HVAC work at the high school. If that grant is awarded, the district would have to come up with about $3 million for that project. An award has not been announced.

Wagner expects to have the architect’s specifications by January.