Butler renovates 11 elementary schools
BUTLER TWP — The Butler School District has renovated all 11 elementary schools. It started with the schools in the worst shape.
"We began with the buildings in the greatest need," said Ed Fink, superintendent. "What we have been able to do is make them energy efficient."
The elementary schools' heating systems were original to the buildings, and with renovations, the energy bills have been reduced.
In the past 10 years, the district spent $71.1 million on these projects. In the past five years, the district has done work on five elementary schools totaling $20.5 million. This work includes:
• Broad Street Elementary work was completed in 2002 when a second floor was added for special classrooms such as art, music and a computer lab at a cost of $4.4 million.
• Clearfield Township Elementary added classrooms and a computer lab. The building had a secure entrance installed, with the renovations completed in 2001. The cost of that project was $2.6 million.
• McQuistion Elementary was completely renovated for $5.8 million that same year because of increasing enrollment.
• Emily Brittain added classrooms because of increasing enrollment. In 2002, the district finished a $4.5 million project that added four classrooms.
• Summit Township Elementary was renovated in 2001 for $3.2 million. Art, music and computer rooms were added and the library was expanded.
After the renovations were complete, a consulting company came to the school board asking to do an energy efficiency study of the facilities. When the firm returned to the board, it said the buildings were as efficient as it thought possible, Fink said.
The company had no recommendations about how to make the buildings more energy efficient, he said.
The only building not brought up to date is the administration building, which was built in 1967. Fink said if any future work is done, the board will examine the administration building first.
The district is now making renovations to the intermediate high school. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit was replaced by W.G. Tomko of Finleyville for $5.6 million.
The building, constructed in the early 1970s, has not had a major renovation before.
Work to the building began in the summer of 2005 and is expected to be completed this summer.
<b>Address:</b> 110 Campus Lane, Butler, PA 16001<b>Telephone: </b>724-287-8721<b>Web site:</b> www.butler.k12.pa.us<b>Superintendent:</b> Edward Fink<b>Enrollment: </b>8,237<b>Municipalities served:</b> City of Butler; Center, Clearfield, Connoquenessing, Butler, Oakland and Summit townships, and Connoquenessing and East Butler
