About Us

The Peters Township School District Buildings, Grounds and Transportation Department plays an integral part in maintaining the interior and exterior portions of all District facilities and provides transportation for all District students. Visit Transportation

The Buildings, Grounds and Transportation Department may have as many as 135 personnel in its employ at any given time. Employees consists of supervisory, maintenance, custodial, secretarial, drivers, and seasonal staff. Approximately 600,000 square feet of floor space, 68 acres of grass and field space, 24 acres of pavement, 9,500 square feet of sidewalks and walkways, and 7 fuel storage tanks come under the jurisdiction of this department. The department's work includes preventative maintenance, regular cleaning and maintenance, and emergencies. The department also provides manpower and assistance for a multitude of educational programs. Safety, regulation compliance, and support of educational programs are main priorities.

The Department is proud of its efforts to support the District's pursuit of quality education by keeping the physical plants facilities, and vehicles safe, clean, and well-maintained.

Emergency Management Plan

During our country's heightened level of security, we want to reassure you that Peters Township School District is concerned about your child's safety and we have an emergency management plan. In the event of a national emergency, you should be aware of the following:

• Through the Washington County Emergency Management Agency we have access to current and accurate information. Depending on the scale of the emergency, local, county, state and federal emergency management agencies will provide direction to our district.
  
• Peters Township belongs to Region 13, a group of 13 counties that have an agreement to pull their resources and make them available in an emergency.
  
• Peters Township School District has direct radio communication with fire, police, EMS, and county emergency management operations. In addition, the Peters Township Fire Company can receive and transmit messages on the school district radio system. In addition, the radio communication system has an emergency power back-up.
  
• Statistically, schools continue to be one of the most secure places for our children. In the event of an emergency, we will not dismiss children until we can assure their safety. We are prepared to provide supervision, food, bottled-water, and shelter. If it is necessary to evacuate our students, they may be transported to another school within the district or to a building designated in our emergency management plan.
  
• In the event of an emergency, students will be released only to a parent or legal guardian. We urge you to refrain from coming to the school to pick up your child unless you believe it is absolutely necessary. This action on the part of concerned parents may create confusion and heighten the anxiety of students.
  
• We will use the media to communicate with parents in the same way that school closing and delay information is broadcast. Assuming there is no disruption in service, we will also use this web site and the District's message board on Cable Channel 19.

The following web sites can be accessed to proved the most current information regarding the national alert:

The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. Please take this opportunity to reassure your children that in the event of an emergency, the adults in charge will take good care of them. Thank you for your cooperation.

Asbestos Management

The School District is in compliance with all requirements for contending with asbestos, as outlined in the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.

The Asbestos Management Plan for the Peters Township School District is on file at the Educational Support Facility at 631 East McMurray Road. Copies of the plan are available in each school office. Questions or concerns related to asbestos management should be directed to the Supervisor of Building, Grounds, and Transportation.

Integrated Pest Management

The Peters Township School District uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents and weeds. Our goal is to protect every student from pesticide exposure by using an IPM approach to pest management. Our IPM approach focuses on making the school building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for these pests by removing food and water sources and eliminating their hiding and breeding places. We accomplish this through routine cleaning and maintenance. We routinely monitor the school building and grounds to detect any pests that are present. The pest monitoring team consists of our maintenance personnel and building staff. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM coordinator who evaluates the “pest problem” and determines the appropriate pest management techniques to address the problem. The techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, physically removing the pest, etc.

From time to time, it may be necessary to use chemicals to manage a pest problem. Chemicals will only be used when necessary, and will not be routinely applied. When chemicals are used, the school will try to use the least toxic product when possible. (Applications of chemicals will be made only after normal school hours.) Notices will be posted in these areas 72 hours prior to application and for two days following the application.

Parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school may request prior notification of specific pesticide applications made at the school. To receive notification, you must be placed on the school notification registry. If you would like to be placed on the registry, please notify the district in writing.

If a chemical application must be made to control an emergency pest problem (example: stinging insects), notice will be provided by telephone to any parent or guardian who has requested such notification in writing. Exemptions to this notification include disinfectants and anti-microbial products; self-containerized baits placed in areas not accessible to students, and gel type baits placed in cracks, crevices or voids; and swimming pool maintenance chemicals.

Each year the district will prepare a new notification registry.

If you have any questions, please contact Bruce Riebel, IPM Coordinator. (information updated August 2005)

Feasibility Study

In 1989, the District's architects conducted a feasibility study to determine the condition of each building. Following the study, the decision was made to build McMurray Elementary School, renovate Pleasant Valley Elementary School, and update the High School stadium. Construction of McMurray Elementary began in April of 1992 and was completed for the 1993-94 school year.

The Pleasant Valley renovation began in June of 1992 and was completed in September 1992. In June 1998, construction began on Bower Hill Elementary School. By building a new primary education facility, the district was able to reorganize grade levels and provide for growth in all buildings. Construction on a $24 million renovation / addition at the high school began in the spring of 1999 and was completed in the winter of 2000.

Educational Planning Study Results

In 2005, the Board enlisted the services of DeJong Educational Planning Associates to assist the District in planning for possible future building construction. In the past, the Board has relied upon school enrollment projections provided by the State, but decided that more accurate data based upon a study that was focused on township growth and development would be more relevant. The information was presented to the Board in April 2005.
Visit Final Report (6,698KB)
Visit Appendix to Report (Maps and Charts) (5,526KB)

School District Facilities

For details concerning our school facilities, visit School District Facilities

Community Use of Facilities

To ensure that maximum benefit be derived by the school system and community from properties held by the District, it shall be the policy of the School Board to permit use of the buildings and grounds by school and community organizations at such times as school is not in session, subject to policies, regulations, and rules adopted by the School Board. Visit District Policy No. 1330 -- Use of School Facilities (30KB)

Beginning December 8, 2008, all requests for District facility use after school hours must be done online via the Facilities Direct System. All organizations wishing to use the facilities must first complete an initial request form to obtain an access code for the online system.

Completed forms are to be submitted to the district's Athletic Office located at Peters Township High School in care of Jami Christopher. If the application is approved, the applicant will receive a confirmation letter providing access information. All subsequent scheduling requests can then be made through the online system.

Applicable Board Policies

District Policy No. 1330 -- Use of School Facilities (30KB)

District Policy No. 1330.1 -- Vehicular Traffic on School District Grounds (18KB)

District Policy No. 1340 -- Access to School Procedures, Materials and Facilities (13KB)

District Policy No. 3260 -- Equipment and Supplies Disposal (32KB)

District Policy No. 3550 -- Integrated Pest Management (86KB)

No Smoking Policy

A no smoking policy within district facilities is currently in effect in the Peters Township School District. The policy prohibits smoking in all district buildings. Information concerning violations of the policy will be filed with the Peters Township Fire Marshall.

Employment

Maintenance and custodial applications are accepted as needed. Visit Employment

Contact Us

Building and Grounds Department
Maintenance Facility
110 Bell Drive
McMurray, PA 15317

Mr. Glenn Franceschina Supervisor Tel 724 941-4850 ext 6011 Fax 724 941-2051
Mr. Bruce Riebel Assistant Supervisor Tel 724 941-4850 ext 6012 Fax 724 941-2051
Ms. Rebecca Myers-Matson Secretary Tel 724 941-4850 ext 6010 Fax 724 941-2051