Penn Hills School District to spend more than $1 million on new boilers for high school, elementary

The Penn Hills School District plans to spend more than $1 million to replace boilers at the high school and elementary school.

District plant manager Bora Caliskan said two of five boilers at the high school and one of three boilers at the elementary school are not working.

Boilers have been a problem for more than a year. Two high school boilers failed in January 2019 and cost at least $80,000 to repair.

Officials said corrosion and poor maintenance were a couple of factors that contributed to the problems.

Superintendent Nancy Hines said the district needs a long-term solution and not more Band-Aid fixes.

The school board voted 5-3 at a special meeting Aug. 19 to have Oakmont-based SitelogIQ install new boilers at both schools for about $1.34 million.

District documents show that price could end up being about $1.76 million with a five-year warranty and service contract.

Those in favor of SitelogIQ were board President Erin Vecchio, Vice President Yusef Thompson Sr. and School Directors Jackie Blakey-Tate, Evelyn Herbert and Mike Tauro.

Board members Rob Marra, Meryl Thomas and Elizabeth Rosemeyer wanted to go with McClure Co., which is headquartered in Harrisburg with offices in Wexford and Pittsburgh. Director Kristopher Wiegand was absent.

Marra said McClure’s upfront costs were lower and projected savings over 20 years was higher than SitelogIQ.

Proposal documents indicate McClure’s base cost was $665,000 to refurbish and reprogram the existing boilers that were not due for a full replacement. Savings were projected to be $6.3 million over 20 years.

SitelogIQ’s projected savings were listed at about $56,000 annually, which comes to about $1.12 million.

Proposal documents also indicate McClure’s project could cost about $1.86 million with a five-year warranty and service contract.

“Originally, the boilers were ‘way over designed, and what (McClure) is saying is that their capacity is adequate if they are properly set up with proper controls and things to provide the heat for both buildings,” Marra said. “The control systems are very modern.”

Both companies were recommended by Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials for boiler work.

Vecchio and Thompson said they wanted to go with a more local company and new system.

“They’re going to be bringing us in a new product versus a refurbished product,” Thompson said. “They are located just miles away. So if there is an issue, we can get to them fast and they can make their way over to the school. This is the best choice. They were recommended by PASBO first. Would you rather have a brand new product or a refurbished product?”

State-appointed financial recovery officer Dan Matsook clarified the state recommendations.

He said PASBO recommended SitelogIQ last fall for a short-term fix to help the district get through the winter.

The state experts recommended McClure after the district requested proposals for a long-term fix of its boilers.

Both companies submitted proposals that were reviewed by the board and PASBO.

Matsook noted both companies are very reputable. He indicated going with McClure would be better for the district’s recovery plan because it only budgeted about $660,000 for boiler repairs.

He said the district would be spending at least $500,000 more of taxpayer money that it doesn’t have budgeted by going with SitelogIQ, as well as missing out on more long-term savings. The move also went against PASBO’s latest recommendation.

Vecchio said the board does not have to vote for a particular company just because it was recommended by Harrisburg.

“I live here. I answer to these taxpayers, not Harrisburg,” Vecchio said. “This is a local company that we just hired. These people are 15 minutes down the street. I don’t think they’re going to let us down on anything we do.

“… Nobody’s going to tell us how to vote, period.”

The high school first opened its doors in January 2013. The elementary school opened in August 2014.