Monessen school board hears report on recommended facility upgrades

ABM Industries, which inspected the district’s buildings, will compile cost estimates.

ABM Industries conducted a presentation before the Monessen school board Tuesday regarding potential facility upgrades to the district, including roof replacements for the elementary and middle/high schools.

ABM surveyed the district’s buildings and presented a list of suggested improvements to its facilities to the board.

At the middle/high school, ABM recommends installation of solar panels, structural repairs to the gymnasium, replacing the HVAC system and windows and adding STEAM labs in addition to others.

ABM also recommended upgrading the HVAC system, installing solar panels and adding STEAM labs at the elementary school, along with updating its cyber security and utilizing its greenhouse.

John Ferragonio, ABM account executive, stressed the importance of replacing the roof at the middle/high school.

“The roof, it’s critical that it’s replaced at the high school,” he said. “It’s original, so I think it’s 28 years old now.”

ABM said it will provide an estimated cost for all of the suggested upgrades in December. The company will craft a few options based on the feedback from the board.

Director Marc Bellora asked ABM how the conditions of its facilities compare to other districts.

ABM representatives said Monessen has similar needs to many other school districts.

Phil Martell, superintendent of River Valley School District, worked with ABM on a project a few years ago. Martell emphasized ABM’s ability to modernize Monessen’s classrooms, which would allow space for esports and cyber security programs among other STEAM learning opportunities.

“When you’re trying to attract the 115-plus outside cyber charter students you have, that’s what sells. You’re reinvesting in your community,” Martell said. “Word’s going to get out about a new, modern Monessen. You can say, ‘Hey, PA Cyber Charter School, Commonwealth Charter Academy, we’re doing things now that you’re not.’” The board will evaluate the upgrade options and decide which are necessary for the district.

“There’s a couple of things that might have been more of a wish list for me. But in general, some of it has to be done,” board President Doreen Smith said.

ABM intends to finalize the scope of the project’s details by the February school board voting meeting.

“I’d like to thank ABM and Mr. Martell for working with us to try to better Monessen, make it the new, modern Monessen. I like a lot of their ideas. They’ve been extremely cooperative and very helpful,” Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte said.

Students cooperating with Yondr bag policies

At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, Motte remarked that high school students are cooperating with the implementation of Yondr bags, a pouch that secure students’ cell phones throughout the school day.

“The kids are very cooperative. You can see a difference,” Motte said. “I feel like the kids aren’t as angry.”

Some students have alerted staff about defective bags.

“If their bag is broken and they can’t lock it shut, they will immediately bring the bag down to get fixed. They don’t have to do that,” Motte said. “They could easily not tell us.”

Motte said he’s also noticed students interacting with one another more at lunch.