Case Study: Pittston Area School District — Security Window Film Installation

When Pittston Area School District in northeastern Pennsylvania needed to harden its glass against forced entry, Security Director Michael F. Boone found himself weighing two options: replace thousands of dollars worth of existing glass with laminated security glazing, or apply a fraction of the cost in security window film and get comparable protection in a fraction of the time. The choice was clear, and the project was completed in less than one week during the COVID-19 closures. This case study breaks down the numbers, the decision process, and the results that have made this project a benchmark example for school districts nationwide.

Project Overview: Pittston Area School District, Pennsylvania

District context: Located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Pittston Area School District serves approximately 3,500 students across four separate school buildings — a primary school (K–2), an intermediate school (3–5), a middle school (6–8), and a high school (9–12). Like many districts across the country, Pittston faced the challenge of securing large areas of glass that serve as potential entry points during an emergency.

Scope: Approximately 2,000 square feet of 8-mil security film installed on entry doors and windows across all four buildings.

Product: 8-mil security window film with wet-glaze (silicone adhesive) anchoring to window frames.

Installer: Sun Control Plus, based in Jessup, Pennsylvania. Rose Bartoli, company president, led the installation team.

Cost: Under $80,000 — compared to over $80,000 for replacing glass with laminated glazing, which would have also involved longer installation time, boarding up openings, and greater disruption.

Timeline: Less than one week for completion across all four buildings, taking advantage of empty buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic closures.

The Decision: Film vs. Laminated Glass

Security Director Michael F. Boone evaluated two primary approaches to glass hardening:

• Option A (Chosen): 8-mil security window film with wet-glaze silicone adhesive anchoring. Cost: under $80,000. Timeline: under one week. Disruption: minimal.
• Option B (Rejected): Replace all existing glass with laminated safety glazing. Cost: over $80,000. Timeline: weeks or months. Disruption: significant (would have required boarding up openings during construction).

Boone chose film for three decisive reasons: cost, speed, and the ability to install without disrupting the school calendar. The film option was less expensive overall, could be completed during a planned closure period, and still provided the level of forced-entry delay the district needed.

"You don't know you need it, until the day you don't have it." — Michael F. Boone, Security Director, Pittston Area School District

Why Wet-Glaze Attachment Matters

Not all security film installations are created equal. The anchoring method used to attach the film to the window frame is what determines how long the film will hold under attack. Pittston's installation used wet-glaze (also called structural silicone glazing), a method where the film is bonded directly to the frame using a structural silicone adhesive. This creates a continuous mechanical connection between the film and the building structure, preventing the glass from being pushed out of the frame.

Wet-glaze attachment is a critical upgrade over "dry" installations (adhesive-only edge seal) because it significantly increases hold time. While laminated glass replacement offers a permanent, integrated solution, properly anchored security film with wet-glaze attachment comes remarkably close in performance at a fraction of the cost — typically 30–50% less.

The Installation: One Week, Four Buildings, Zero Disruption

The project was completed in under one week — a timeline that was only possible because the COVID-19 closures had emptied the buildings. Rose Bartoli of Sun Control Plus coordinated the team to move rapidly through all four buildings, applying 2,000 square feet of 8-mil security film with wet-glaze anchoring to the most vulnerable entry points.

"We were able to move through the buildings quickly because they were empty," said Rose Bartoli, President of Sun Control Plus. "Under normal circumstances, coordinating access after hours across four school buildings would have taken weeks of scheduling. The closure gave us a rare window."

Key installation details:

• 8-mil film thickness — standard for forced-entry deterrence (thicker than standard solar control film but not so thick as to require special glass considerations)
• Wet-glaze silicone adhesive applied to perimeter of each window frame
• Targeted at entry doors and large ground-floor windows most vulnerable to forced entry
• Applied to all four school buildings: primary, intermediate, middle, and high school

Cost Comparison Breakdown

The financial case for film over glass replacement is straightforward:

The immediate cost savings alone — not to mention the avoided disruption — made the case for film compelling. But the hidden savings are equally important: no need to board up windows (which would have created temporary security gaps), no construction trailers or temporary classrooms, and no interruption to the educational calendar.

Lessons for Other Districts

Schedule Around Closures

Pittston's ability to complete the project during COVID closures was serendipitous, but the lesson generalizes: film installation is fast enough to be completed during any extended break — winter break, spring break, or summer vacation. A one-week installation window means districts don't need to wait for an emergency closure to get the work done.

Cost Is Not a Barrier

At under $80,000 for 2,000 square feet across four buildings, the per-building cost was roughly $20,000 — a tiny fraction of most district capital improvement budgets. For smaller scopes (e.g., front office glass only), costs can be even lower. This makes film a realistic option even for districts with limited security funding.

Film Plus Attachment Is the Complete Solution

A common mistake is to apply security film without frame anchoring. Pittston did it right: 8-mil film with wet-glaze silicone adhesive. The film alone delays breakage; the anchoring prevents the glass from being pushed out of the frame. Both are necessary for meaningful hold time.

Key Takeaways

• Pittston Area School District installed approximately 2,000 sq ft of 8-mil security film with wet-glaze anchoring across four school buildings
• Cost was under $80,000 — vs. over $80,000 for laminated glass replacement — and the project was completed in under one week
• Installation took advantage of COVID-19 closures, demonstrating how film can be deployed during any extended break
• Sun Control Plus (Rose Bartoli, president) performed the installation; wet-glaze silicone adhesive anchored the film to window frames
• Security Director Michael F. Boone evaluated two options and chose film for its cost, speed, and minimal disruption advantages
• The project covered entry doors and windows across primary, intermediate, middle, and high school buildings

Related Resources

• Real Schools: 10 Security Window Film Case Studies
• Are Security Window Films Required in Schools? 2026 State-by-State Guide
• Navigating 2026 School Safety Grants for Security Window Film
• Campus Security: Strengthening School Glass with Window Film

Sources

1. Campus Safety Magazine — Pittston Schools Bolster Campus Protection with Security Window Film