Chartiers Valley schedules special meeting for district improvements plan

Chartiers Valley school directors will hold a special meeting Jan. 20 to discuss and vote on a high school renovation and district facilities plan.

“During this meeting, the district will present, discuss and vote on phase 1 of a two-phase facilities improvement project, beginning with the next phase of the High School renovation,” said Superintendent Daniel Castagna in a message to families. “District leaders will also outline plans for future construction across the district.”

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Primary School, 125 Thoms Run Road. People should enter through Door 15.

At the meeting, district leadership will explain the scope and timeline of the high school renovation, how it is funded, safety measures during construction, the district’s long-term facilities plan and how construction could affect daily school operations, according to Castagna.

Castagna said in the message that additional classroom space is needed at the intermediate school due to current and projected increasing enrollment.

Before construction can begin there, the administrative, business and special education offices need to be relocated to the high school, in turn freeing space at the intermediate school to create additional classroom capacity needed, he said.

The high school project would complete remaining construction, including athletic spaces, common areas, safety and site improvements, HVAC and sound systems and ADA compliance, according to the district. Construction could begin April 6.

The second phase of the district improvement plan would be at the intermediate school and would require additional funding due to the building’s age and scope of necessary upgrades, the district said. Upgrades could include roofing, HVAC systems, flooring, windows and athletic facilities. Any project would require school board approval through a public process.

The high school renovation is funded using remaining proceeds from the original bond approved specifically for high school construction. No new bonds or additional taxpayer funding is required for that phase of the project.