BLOSSBURG — With contracts signed between the Southern Tioga School District and Alloy5 Architecture to begin work on the five-building infrastructure project, Michelle Mozingo, senior interior architectural designer at Alloy5, appeared on a Zoom call at the March 9 board meeting.
Mozingo provided an update for the multi-year project while Melissa Hughes from PFM Financial Advisors talked about the borrowing options open to the board for the 2026-27 projects.
Despite approving the infrastructure project, some board members are still questioning the feasibility of keeping Liberty Elementary School, while others want more information before agreeing to close LES for work and send students to Blossburg Elementary School for a year.
Mozingo said that Alloy5 is currently working on this summer’s bid packages to replace the boilers in Blossburg Elementary, Warren L. Miller Elementary, North Penn-Liberty and North Penn-Mansfield high schools. Additional works at WLM will be evaluated to determine how those issues can be incorporated into this summer.
The working plan is to begin extensive repairs to LES in the summer of 2027, requiring the school to be closed. The largest project will be to restructure and replace the roof along with exterior wall upgrades, windows and casements, lockers, HVAC, electrical and fire alarm systems, and communication upgrades.
Director Jim Kreger questioned why the roof project was prioritized, noting he was told that structure of the roof did not need to be altered, but that using standing seam steel would solve the problem.
“If that’s the case, we wouldn’t have to alter the structure of the roof, just put the standing seam steel and regutter,” said Kreger, who asked if the roof could be included in this summer’s bid package. “I would like to know a little more about that because I’d like to prioritize that. That roof has needed replaced for a long time. It is leaking and starting to leak in more places.”
Mozingo said that the firm wouldn’t be able to design the work for this year, but that the team can begin the investigative report.
“The concern with Liberty is that there’s more extensive work that goes into a roof that we need to replace. So that’s the part that really takes the building from being occupiable or not,” said Monzingo.
Sam Rotella, district superintendent, said LES has a peak shingle roof that’s framed, at least partially, over a flat roof, that potentially compromises the venting and air circulation which could lead to mold or other issues.
Furthermore, the lack of an overhang on that building has compromised the integrity of the facade, which is cracked and the building has had times when there is water in the basement, he said.
Because of the scope of work on the roof, Rotella said, it will be easier to do all of the work at one time, which will also be more appealing to potential bidders.
Mozingo said the team is focusing on “pushing to get the documents out there” for the projects planned for this summer because of the time it takes from seeking bids to having a bid accepted by the board.
“If we’re being asked to close down a building for a whole year and it hinges on that roof analysis, I’m not comfortable going ahead and voting on that until I have more information and that could screw up your timeframe in 2027, so I’m saying the sooner the better if possible,” said director Gretchen Lawrence, referring to the agenda item for the administration to make recommendations to relocate LES staff and students for an academic year.
Mozingo said there was a preliminary review on existing conditions to ensure that Alloy 5 is capturing the scope of work within the $40 million budget. She agreed to get that report to the board as soon as possible, with a more detailed list in May or June.
During board comments, director Alice Wheeland expressed concerns about the repair of LES and the relocation of the students.
Wheeland said the estimated cost of the roof for $7 million and possibly more will be needed depending on what issues are discovered. The cost of an addition at the high school to house elementary students would cost an estimated $16.8 million and not require busing students, she noted. Wheeler said she doesn’t understand why the board would vote to rehab the existing building, which could cost more than $23 million.
“I’m just trying to look at what is the better way of trying to get the bigger bang for our buck and getting things done correctly for these students,” said Wheeland.
The motion to allow the administration to begin the process of creating a plan to relocate LES students was tabled 6-1 because the board wanted more detailed information. Voting to approve the motion was Matt Harold. Board members Jim Nobles and Kristin VanLoon were absent.