SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

Construction Update- South Fayette Elementary SchoolCampus

Things are getting brighter at South Fayette Elementary School – and not just our students. As part of the upcoming renovation of the Elementary Building, new lights will be installed throughout the building. And that’s just the start of the list of improvements to the building.

At the January 25th Regular Board Meeting, the South Fayette Board of School Directors voted to move forward with the proposed $1.4 million renovation and that means great things for our students in grades K-4.

The proposed changes will not only mean improved lighting in the classrooms, but also increased safety with a new advanced warning fire alarm system and a redesigned main entrance that includes a permanent greeter station where all visitors must check-in prior to entering the building, and a new security/card access system for the entire building. Changes will also be made to the Multi-Purpose Room that is used for physical education classes, school events and special productions, and community sporting events. This room also serves as the school cafeteria every day.

Following the vote, construction details are being finalized and the meeting with contractors took place in late February, with work scheduled to begin in March. The bidding process for this project was completed in December and contracts were awarded to Nello Construction (general contractor) and Vern’s Electric (electrical contractor).

Among the improvements to the Elementary Building are:

Renovation of the Multi-Purpose Room
New synthetic floor suitable for sports programs and cafeteria usage, new lighting, acoustical ceilings, electric bleachers, and a movable wall to allow more flexible use of the room; A refinished stage for elementary drama programs, special presentations and community events, including a new sound systems, a lighting system with dimmers, and a new stage curtain

Updated Building Security
State-of-the-art security system building-wide, card access system, permanent greeter station at the main entrance, new advance warning fire alarm system throughout the building
New Main Entrance
Reconstruction of the main entrance to provide new exterior doors and the incorporation of a permanent greeter station; New sidewalks and curbs, removal of existing trees and planters
General Improvements
Lighting and ceilings will be updated throughout the building, exterior doors replaced throughout, cleaning of the building’s ventilation system, and renovations of the restrooms adjacent to the Multi-Purpose Room
School officials are hopeful that work will be completed prior to the start of the 2005-2006 school year. Earlier this summer, renovations began with the necessary replacement of sections of the roof at the Elementary building. This year, South Fayette Elementary houses more than 790 students in grades K-4.

“We’ve learned a lot about the construction process at South Fayette,” said Elementary Principal Denise Beverina Moore. “Our goal is to make these improvements to our building with minimal disruption to our students and staff.”

Originally built in 1974, the Elementary Building has housed a steady increase of students over the years. In 1989, 16 classrooms were added to the building on the ground floor. Earlier this fall, the Board of School Directors examined several options that included the addition of a separate food court and 16 additional classrooms built as a second floor over the 1989 addition.