As the Mt. Lebanon school district considers undertaking major school renovations, other districts in the South Hills are in various stages of large-scale construction projects.

Here's what's happening:

Baldwin-Whitehall

Students will once again occupy the major portion of the Baldwin High School this fall, as a $60 million renovation and reconstruction project enters its final stages, said Dr. Lawrence C. Korchnak, the district superintendent.

Students have rotated throughout different areas of the school since 2005 when major construction and renovation began, he said.

The final phase of construction is expected to be complete in December or January.

The high school received a major overhaul and general update, which included improved athletic facilities, a new TV studio, a computer infrastructure, a new library, new administrative offices and new music facilities and auditorium, Dr. Korchnak said. The only portions of the school that were not torn down and rebuilt, were the cafeteria and library, he said.

"I am impressed with the magnitude of this project, and the relative ease of the construction," Dr. Korchnak said. "Students have been very patient during this disruptive process."

Dr. Korchnak said the final project is expected to come in under budget.

Plans for the school were done by architect/engineer HHSDR, of Sharon, Mercer County. P.J. Dick Inc., of West Mifflin, was hired for construction management.

Also ongoing in the district is work on the football field and track. The field is getting a new artificial turf, and work is being done to improve drainage. A new 8-lane track also is being installed.

Dr. Korchnak said that he expected this work to be completed in August, at a cost of about $1.2 million.

Northern Athletic Construction, a division of McElroy Paving Co. Inc., of Ingomar, is working on the project, with P.J. Dick Inc. providing construction management services.

Earlier this month, residents with property adjacent to the field raised concerns over the work. Athletic director Vince Sortino said a meeting was held with the residents and communication with them will be ongoing.

For more on the high school renovations, visit www.bwschools.net/district/bhs-build-project.htm.

Bethel Park

The school board voted earlier this year to build a new high school, citing the age of the current facility -- it is almost half a century old -- and the building's design. The school consists of eight buildings connected by walkways, which makes it a challenge to change classes during inclement weather, and to provide security.

The district's plan is to build a new school adjacent to the existing building on Church Road, where there are now athletic fields. After completion of the new school, the old building is to be demolished and replaced with athletic fields.

The school board authorized the district's architect, Weber Murphy Fox, with an office in Bethel Park, to proceed with design.

Plans hit a setback in May when the Bethel Park Zoning Board denied a variance needed to build the school, citing provisions in the municipal code.

District spokeswoman Vicki Flotta said that school board is moving ahead with plans for the new school, despite the denial.

The board retained attorney David Toal and has appealed the decision in Common Pleas Court, Ms. Flotta said. The motion was filed June 4, but no trial date has been set.

Estimated costs of the construction have escalated from approximately $81 million to about $96 million, Ms. Flotta said. The increase in projected costs is attributable to changes in design and the cost of supplies, she said.

Timing of the project has been delayed, Ms. Flotta said. "We originally hoped to put the project out to bid in January or February of 2009. Now that date is pushed off pending the trial."

For more information, including renderings of the proposed construction, visit www.bpsd.org/BPHSRenovation.

McKeesport Area

The district is in the midst of stadium renovations and is considering building two elementary schools.

The district is in the process of replacing the visitors' side bleachers in the Weigle-Schaeffer Stadium at a cost of $186,5000, said David Seropian, the district business manager.

The school board also approved additional improvements to the stadium totaling about $2.2 million -- including the new bleachers -- which also would add new locker rooms, new offices, an updated weight room, a renovated press box, and a second floor, Mr. Seropian said.

The district hopes to advertise for bids for the remaining work in August, he said, and the work would begin after the 2009 varsity football season.

Roofs are being replaced on Cornell Intermediate School at a cost of $205,505 and on Founders' Hall, at a cost of $199,000. Both projects will be funded from a capital reserve fund and should be completed before school starts, or shortly thereafter, Mr. Seropian said.

Also in early planning stages is replacement of the district's three elementary schools. A recently completed feasibility study recommended closing the three K-3 buildings and constructing two schools to replace them. Also recommended were renovations to Cornell Intermediate School for grades 4 through 6.

The total estimated cost of these projects is between $35 million and $40 million, and the total time for construction and renovation is estimated to be about 3 years, Mr. Seropian said.

He said the district expects its architectural firm, L. Robert Kimball & Associates, of Ebensburgh, to provide plans for the board's consideration in August.

No plan has been made for where students would attend class during construction, Mr. Seropian said.

Upper St. Clair

In the past several years, the school district has renovated the high school and three elementary schools. Now attention is being directed to the two middle schools, Boyce Middle School, grades 5-6, and Fort Couch Middle School, grades 7-8. Both are scheduled for renovation in the next two years.

Graves & McLean, an architectural firm located in the South Side of Pittsburgh, completed a comprehensive feasibility study for the district in 2006 and was hired in 2007 as the architects for the project.

After the feasibility study was presented, an educational specifications committee was formed. This committee comprises teachers, administrators, principals, school board members and community members.

In June, Dave McLean from Graves & McLean presented a preliminary design.

On June 23, the school board voted to hire P.J. Dick Inc. as the construction manager for the renovation project.

Dr. Patrict O'Toole, the superintendent, said the estimated budget for construction remains at $53.5 million. He said that he expects to see detailed architectural plans in the fall, and he anticipates the district will put the project out for bid in the spring.

The estimated start date is June 2009, with a completion date in the end of 2011.

"I am very hopeful that the community will become engaged in the project and will become informed and contribute their ideas and input to the process," said school board member Amy Billerbeck.

For more information, including renderings of the proposed renovations, visit www.uscsd.k12.pa.us.