Board approves HVAC change orders as elementary and IMS construction updates continue

The Bethel Park School District Board of School Directors approved two HVAC change orders for the new K–5 elementary school on May 13 and received progress reports on both the new elementary and Independence Middle School construction projects.

District finance and construction staff told the board the two change orders — HVAC05 and HVAC06 — were necessary after coordination and code changes during construction. A motion to approve the change orders was seconded by Mr. McGregor and the board voted to approve them.

The board heard from a SiteLogic contractor about near-term work at the elementary school. The contractor said the lower-level locker rooms by the gymnasium received temporary occupancy and the district will move orchestra and band areas into health rooms through the end of the school year to allow demolition and fit-out of the music wing. "Today we received temporary occupancy so the school can go ahead and start using that area," the SiteLogic representative said.

SiteLogic said the auditorium is under construction with demo complete, electricians installing lights, fire alarm and AV/data cabling, and the PVC roof above the auditorium about 85% complete. Auditorium seating and gym seating deliveries are expected roughly mid-August, with the contractor aiming to finish the music wing by the end of summer and to complete remaining punch-list items through September. The contractor said the district will delay installing new storefront doors and flooring in high-traffic areas until after summer activities to avoid damage.

On the HVAC change orders, the board was told HVAC05 covers replacing refrigerant-related components because code changes earlier this year prohibited the originally specified R-410A refrigerant; the units needed conversion to R-454B, which required reworking internal wiring and controls. The presenter said the roughly $25,000 cost covers all eight affected units. HVAC06 reflects coordination-driven duct rerouting and larger transfer-duct sizes to achieve proper air-balance; that change order was described as roughly $2,700.

Massaro, the IMS contractor, gave the board a slideshow update on the Independence Middle School project, showing exterior sheathing, steel set in several areas, CMU block completed in the gym/storm shelter, and substantial progress on MEP rough-ins. Massaro said the current priority is getting the building dried in so interior finishes can proceed. "We're making a mad dash to get the building enclosed and dried in," Massaro said. He confirmed the project is behind schedule but said substantial completion remains contractually unchanged and that staff are evaluating overlapping trades and potential shifts to recover time.

Board members pressed for a clearer recovery schedule; the IMS contractor said he expects to have a detailed schedule that all prime contractors sign off on by the next board meeting in June.

Discussion vs. decision: the HVAC change orders were a formal board action and were approved. Other construction items reported were informational updates; no new bonding or contract awards were taken at the May 13 meeting.

What happens next: contractors said they will continue roofing and interior work over the summer, aim to install auditorium and gym seating mid‑August and complete punch-list items by September. The IMS contractor said he will present a recovery schedule when available.