Greater Latrobe eyes $1M gym roof replacement

Greater Latrobe School Board on Tuesday will consider spending a little more than $1 million to replace the roof on the senior high school’s upper gym wing.

The board also is expected to vote on replacement of the sound system in the school’s gym and swimming pool and on expansion of the district security access system, to include additional doors at three district buildings.

The roof over the main gym, swimming pool and auxiliary gym is about 20 years old and has five years remaining on its warranty, which would be tacked on to a 30-year warranty for the replacement roof, according to Kurt Thomas, the district’s director of facilities, operations and planning.

The replacement would be supplied by Garland/DBS Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, which has provided roofing for other extensive work at the school. Over the past two years, the district has replaced more than half of the senior high roof, at a cost of $2.6 million, updating material that was installed in 1993.

“We’ve been doing lots of roof replacements at this building,” Thomas said. “This is another segment of that.”

The main gym roof developed leaks as a result of harsh weather last winter, Thomas said, indicating the warranty covered repairs and restoration of resulting water damage to the gym’s wood floor.

“We have done warranty work on that roof, but to make sure the deficiencies that were there are covered, this is the proposal,” he said. “We thought it was in the best interest long-term to have a full replacement.”

Payments to Garland/DBS would be spread over five years, Thomas said.

If the board approves the project, he said, “we’ll start right away.” He said he’d like to have the new roof installed over the main gym and swimming pool before Thanksgiving, in time for winter, with work on the auxiliary gym roof anticipated in the spring.

He said the work shouldn’t interfere with use of the athletic facilities.

“You’re going into the busiest times for the gyms, which is late fall and winter, with volleyball and basketball,” he said.

Horizon Information Services of Glenshaw is proposing to install a replacement sound system for the gym and swimming pool at a cost of $34,255. The equipment, including speakers, microphones and a control system, will replace apparatus that is outdated and deteriorating, Thomas said.

At the pool, he noted, harsh chemicals such as chlorine cause audio equipment to deteriorate more rapidly.

It would cost about $17,000 to upgrade security systems on four exterior doors at the senior high, junior high and administration buildings so that district staff can enter by swiping their ID cards. The system, available from Stanley Security Systems, also tracks who enters through the doors and when, Thomas said.

“Each year we do upgrades and identify more exterior doors for electronic access,” he said.

District officials may seek a $25,000 grant for school security that could cover the cost.

Business Administrator Dan Watson said the proposed roof replacement, sound system and security system all have been planned for under the district’s capital fund.