Connellsville Area School District Kicks Off Major Infrastructure Modernization Project at District’s Largest Elementary School

Comprehensive upgrades to the learning environment, developed in partnership with OPTERRA, will modernize critical building systems, improve accessibility and safety, and create a new, inclusive playground.

CONNELLSVILLE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Connellsville Area School District today announced a major infrastructure modernization project at Dunbar Township Elementary School, the district’s largest elementary school, in partnership with OPTERRA Energy Services (OPTERRA).

The comprehensive project represents the first major renovation of the school in more than 55 years and takes a holistic approach to addressing the facility’s current and future needs. The District and OPTERRA developed an integrated plan that combines long-term infrastructure planning and implementation to modernize the school and create a safer, efficient, and more accessible learning environment for students and staff.

One of the celebratory additions of the project championed by the local community will be the development of a new, inclusive playground designed to provide students with special needs greater access to outdoor play, recreation, and social interaction. This important focus of the project scope was driven by support from Connellsville families, faculty, staff and students for many years. Recognizing the community’s long-term support for this addition, District leadership is excited to leverage the upcoming project development to meet the opportunity for expanded recreational access.

The new accessible playground will include comprehensive site preparation and earthwork, safety surfacing systems, inclusive playground equipment, accessible pathways, and security fencing.

“This project is about more than repairing aging infrastructure. It is about taking a comprehensive, long-term look at the needs of the school and creating a plan that supports students, staff, and the community for decades to come,” said Mr. Robert Renzi/Board Member Connellsville Area School District. “After nearly 60 years without a major renovation, this project provides an opportunity to address critical infrastructure needs in a coordinated way while also making important investments in accessibility and the student experience.”

"At OPTERRA, we are proud to partner with school districts across Pennsylvania to deliver infrastructure solutions that create safer, more efficient, and more inspiring learning environments for students, faculty, and staff," said Courtney Jenkins, CEO of OPTERRA. "We applaud the Connellsville Area School District leadership and community champions who have embraced a holistic vision for this project, ensuring that student-centered educational outcomes remain at the heart of every decision. When schools plan comprehensively – looking holistically at their infrastructure, utility systems, safety, accessibility, and long-term facility needs – we see smarter investments that modernize facilities and strengthen learning environments for generations to come."

The project also includes other major areas of infrastructure resiliency improvement including:

• HVAC Infrastructure Upgrade: featuring new boilers, a chiller, unit ventilators, and advanced temperature controls to enhance comfort, energy efficiency, and system reliability
• Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade: A proposed electrical infrastructure modernization will upgrade aging systems with new electrical distribution equipment, enhanced fire alarm and public address systems, and a standby generator for critical operations. These improvements will increase safety, reliability, resiliency, and capacity to support the District’s future needs.
• Restroom Renovation: A proposed restroom modernization project will renovate restrooms with new plumbing fixtures, durable finishes, enhanced accessibility features, and touchless technology. The upgrades will create cleaner, safer, and more functional facilities while improving comfort, hygiene, and the overall student experience.
• Parking lot Renovation: Upgrades to expand and repave the front parking area while enhancing traffic flow, accessibility and safety. The project includes new pavement, stormwater infrastructure, striping, signage, and accessible pathways to create a safer, more efficient arrival experience for students, staff, and visitors
• Locker Replacement: New lockers will be installed to replace aging units with secure, space-efficient storage solutions
• Classroom Window Installation: Install new, energy-efficient windows in select classrooms to bring more natural daylight into learning spaces. The upgrades will enhance classroom environments, improve energy performance, and create a brighter, more engaging experience for students and staff.
• Exterior Door Replacement: Includes the full replacement of primary exterior doors plus classroom entry/exit doors to enhance safety, durability and efficiency.

About OPTERRA Energy Services

OPTERRA, an LS Power company, is a national energy company headquartered in Oakland, California. Following Opterra’s acquisition of NORESCO in 2026, OPTERRA employs 750 energy professionals across the U.S. as one of America's premier energy service companies. The company provides comprehensive energy and infrastructure solutions to municipalities, K-16 education, special districts, and state and federal agencies. OPTERRA and its NORESCO line of business have delivered 880 megawatts of installed distributed generation, provided services to 19,000 facilities, and secured more than $8 billion in customer energy savings over the company’s 50+ year history. For more information, visit www.opterraenergy.com.