Mar 14, 2019 By Mark Soroka for The 2 min read

MONESSEN – Monessen School District’s new LED lighting system will be so energy efficient, that it will practically pay for itself, according to Roberta Bergstedt, school board president.

On Tuesday, the Monessen school board approved a $425,000 contract with Trane for the district’s energy conservation lighting retrofit project. According to Bergstedt, the new lighting system is expected to significantly reduce wattage and cut down maintenance costs.

“We are expecting to save so much money that we are considering this as a non-budgetary item,” said Bergstedt, during the board’s monthly meeting. “The savings will pay off the loan. Trane also backs up the system with a guarantee that we will save money or else they will reimburse us.”

Superintendent Dr. Leanne Spazak added that the new lighting system will help to foster a more productive learning environment.

“LED lighting helps to reduce eyestrain and enhance concentration,” she said. “It also helps to improve the overall mood in the classroom.”

Lighting will be installed throughout the district this summer.

In other business, the board:

n approved the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit’s 2019-2020 general operating budget.

n appointed Sharon Mauck to serve on the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit’s board of directors, for a term running from April 6, 2019 through April 5, 2022.

n hired William C. Philips as varsity girls head soccer coach and Tom Gigliotti as varsity girls assistant soccer coach.