Major renovation projects are expected to be done in time for next school year

An ABM Industries official provided an update at Tuesday’s board meeting.

ABM Industries announced Tuesday it expects to complete the roof replacements at Monessen’s elementary and high schools, structural repairs to the high school gymnasium and STEAM space conversions before the start of the 202526 school year.

The infrastructure upgrades are part of “The New Modern Monessen School District” plan, an effort to update aging facilities and offer a wider range of curriculum options.

John Ferragonio, ABM account executive, provided a project update to the school board at Tuesday’s meeting.

A couple board members expressed their excitement about the project’s progress.

“I can’t wait to see the (construction) teams in action,” board President Mark Panicucci said.

As part of the STEAM space conversions, the district will transform the elementary and middle/high school libraries into media centers.

The middle/high school’s media center will include a cafe where students can learn workforce skills and spaces for cybersecurity, esports and video production labs.

The number of jobs in cybersecurity and esports are expected to increase over the next decade.

The elementary art room will also receive significant upgrades, including the addition of 3D printers and charging racks for tablets and laptops.

District officials hope the upgraded STEAM spaces will attract charter students back to Monessen.

While the project has already begun, the bulk of the construction will not start until students leave for the summer.

“There’s a lot of work going on in the background right now, and you don’t see a lot of construction going on right now because of the students, but materials are being ordered and engineering work is still being done,” Ferragonio said. “But we don’t plan on doing anything heavily disruptive until the kids leave. As soon as they’re gone, there’s going to be a whole army of us that are going to be here this summer.”

Next week, the board will decide between a pair of three-year contract options from Twisted Computing to provide IT services for the district.

The first option would cost the district $13,500 per month with supplemental IT support. The second option would cost $23,000 and the company would assume full control of the district’s technology needs, providing Monessen with a technology director and a technician on campus.

The district currently uses an in-house IT coordinator and contracts out work for some of its technological needs.

After the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte said the district could benefit from having one contractor handle all its tech services and repairs.