Construction project presentation for Burrell School District anticipated next week

The Burrell School Board and the public likely will get a chance to hear from the district’s architect on possible construction projects during a meeting next week.

Pittsburgh-based HHSDR Inc., Burrell’s architect, is anticipated to present drafts on possible capital improvement projects at the district’s schools during a board meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Shannon Wagner said.

Wagner said Burrell’s architect will propose different specifications and alternative bids so officials are aware of all options open to the district.

The architect was scheduled to present during this week’s board meeting but was unable due to illness, Wagner said.

The planned drafts include heating and ventilation at Burrell High and Bon Air Elementary schools, and additional kitchen space and six more classrooms at Bon Air.

Wagner anticipates the board could consider seeking contract bids for the projects they want to pursue as early as the April meeting.

The board, also next week, will consider awarding bids for a boiler replacement at the high school and a boiler rebuild at Bon Air, after rejecting bids in January.

District officials said they rejected the bids at the advice of the architect and instead readvertised those projects differently in an effort to lower costs.

The boiler replacement and rebuild is necessary, district officials have said. Burrell High School’s boilers are from 1964, and Bon Air’s boilers were installed in 1997.

It’s anticipated that construction would start in June and finish in late July.

Recapping the planned projects

The boiler projects are the district’s first phase of proposed upcoming construction projects.

With Stewart Elementary closing next year, the district is working through a reconfiguration of Bon Air Elementary and Huston Middle schools. Fifth graders will attend Huston next year and fourth graders will attend Bon Air.

Additional cafeteria and kitchen space is needed at Bon Air with the reconfiguration and, if fifth grade were to be moved there after next school year, six additional classrooms would be needed.

Huston can accommodate fifth grade with no additions.

Task forces for Bon Air and Huston continue to meet to discuss proposed schedules at each school. Building reconfigurations have been finalized.

The task forces are scheduled to give a presentation to the school board in March.