Summer construction focused on keeping students comfortable and learning in classrooms
Mehlville School District students will be more comfortable in their classrooms this school year regardless of the temperature outside thanks to summer construction to improve HVAC and roofs.
HVAC upgrades
Five schools (Blades Elementary School, Trautwein Elementary School, Oakville Middle School, Washington Middle School and Oakville High School) received complete HVAC upgrades this summer. The work included replacing rooftop units, chillers, boilers, wiring, unit ventilators and temperature controls in each classroom.
Image: A construction crew removes old classroom HVAC units at Blades Elementary School.
Additionally, John Cary Early Childhood Center received a new boiler, and Rogers Elementary School received a new chiller.
This work is part of a plan approved by the Mehlville Board of Education in 2024 to upgrade outdated HVAC equipment at schools across the district. At the time of approval, many of the district’s HVAC systems were 20 to 30 years old. The typical lifecycle of an HVAC system is 15 to 20 years.
IMAGE: Construction crews use a crane to add a new rooftop HVAC unit at Washington Middle School.
- Looking back: Five locations underwent HVAC upgrades during Summer 2024: Oakville Elementary School, Point Elementary School, Wohlwend Elementary School, Bernard Middle School and the District Pool.
- Looking ahead: Three more schools (Beasley Elementary School, Bierbaum Elementary School and Mehlville High School) are scheduled for HVAC upgrades in 2026.
By the end of 2026, all HVAC equipment in the Mehlville School District will be at or under 10 years old.
Roof replacement
Two schools, Wohlwend Elementary School and Washington Middle School, received partial roof replacements this summer.
IMAGE: Crews replace a portion of the roof at Wohlwend Elementary School.
The work was paid for using funds generated by Prop A, which has funded 35 roofing projects at schools across the Mehlville School District since the 2016-2017 school year. It is set to sunset following the 2025-2026 school year.
The Mehlville School District Board of Education voted unanimously Aug. 21, 2025, to place a levy on the November 4, 2025, ballot that would not increase the current tax rate. Called Proposition A, the levy would fund the upkeep of school roofs, buses, parking lots, technology and safety systems — preserving and protecting district facilities for generations of students.
Proposition A would generate an estimated $1.4 million annually for recurring maintenance needs by making a temporary tax levy permanent and reallocating a small portion of the district’s existing debt service levy from Proposition S. The proposal, which would not increase the current tax rate, requires voter approval in the November 4, 2025, election. Prop A would provide long-term stability for essential infrastructure like roofing, school buses, technology equipment, parking lot maintenance and building safety – all of which directly impact our students’ daily learning experience.
Visit the Prop A section of our website to learn more.
Prop S projects
Following the completion of safer entrances at every school in the Mehlville School District, the district is nearing the end of its list of projects being funded through Prop S. On the first day of school, students were able to take advantage of the completion of one of the largest projects, the addition of six classrooms and a library at Bierbaum Elementary School.
Image: One of six new classrooms opened at Bierbaum Elementary School this school year.
Bierbaum is the district’s fastest-growing school in terms of student population. This construction allows the district to avoid the costly work of redistricting that would impact families across the district.
Work is also ongoing on the new elevator at MOSAIC Elementary to make the school more accessible for students, staff and visitors.