Greater Latrobe OKs junior high roof replacement, high school track resurfacing

Work to replace the leaking roof at Greater Latrobe Junior High will begin this summer and is expected to wrap up during the summer of 2026.

The school board this week awarded the roof contract to Island Contracting, which submitted a low base bid of about $6.2 million. That’s about $2 million below the original estimated cost, according to Josh Predovich of project consultant SHP.

The junior high project includes replacement of metal wall panels associated with the two-tiered roof that have played a part in the leaks occurring there, according to Predovich.

Water is meant to drain from a central upper roof to a surrounding lower roof, finally reaching drains on the exterior wall.

“The main failure we see on the roof has to do with that metal wall panel and where it connects in with the lower roof,” Predovich said. “This is where we see snow piling up and water making its way through that system.

“The problem with that roof is it’s so low-sloped that water kind of ponds and meanders its way until it finally makes its way to the drains.”

The new roof will includes measures to force rainwater and melting snow to the drains, he said. Replacing material dating from the late 1990s, the new multi-layered roofing will have thicker insulation — increasing from the current 3.5 inches of thickness to 5.2 inches.

Predovich said Island plans to complete work on the upper roof and metal panels this year and has been given a November deadline to have the new panels in place. They are to return to complete the lower roof replacement by August 2026.

Track project

The board also awarded a $147,345 contract to ATT Sports for resurfacing of the synthetic track at Rossi Field, located at the high school complex in Unity. It agreed to seek bids for proposed improvements at Memorial Field in downtown Latrobe, including an expansion of the running track there.

Greater Latrobe officials noted the cost for the Rossi Field track project was cut in half after the district chose a more economical resurfacing with a “structural respray” instead of upgrading the track from a basemat surface to a higher-performing sandwich system. ATT originally installed the track in 2014.

Plans for Memorial Stadium include expanding the track from six lanes to eight lanes, to accommodate countywide meets held there. Other proposed improvements include new LED lighting and upgraded fencing, scoreboards and sound system.

Greater Latrobe Head Track Coach Andy Wnek said close to 90 athletes take part in events during one of the invitational meets held at the stadium.

He said parts of the track have been patched as many as four times.

“We’re at a point where we’re down to the bare foundation of the track,” he said, adding that makeshift rubber runways for jumping events tend to slide and become slick when it rains.

“Hopefully, with the improvements to Memorial Stadium, we’ll be showcasing Greater Latrobe and the City of Latrobe and hopefully bringing in spectators who are willing to spend some money,” he said.

HVAC on hold

The school board tabled having consultant Siemens Industry move forward with developing plans for replacement of aging heating, ventilation and air conditioning units at the junior high. Several board members argued against proceeding further until there is a plan for funding the estimated $9 million cost.