$53.9M Middle School Opening In Bristol Township

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA —Middle school students are going to be moving to a new location in March.

The Bristol Township School District has scheduled the opening of the Benjamin Franklin Middle School for Monday, March 6, after a $53.9 million renovation and expansion.

The school has served numerous purposes over the years, school officials said.

It was an elementary school while Keystone Elementary School was being built. Then it became a middle school, a Freshman Center, and even served as the district's administrative building.

“The school board is proud of the adaptive reuse and modernization of the original building. We are very excited to see students learning there soon,” School Board President Jim Morgan said.

With the Ben Franklin Middle School opening, the FDR Middle School will be closed on March 6 as students make the move to the new school.

The 35,000-square-foot addition includes 20 new modern classrooms, common learning areas, a two-story main entrance, a reception area, and a newly designed cafeteria and kitchen.

With the addition, the Ben Franklin Middle School measures 156,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 900 students.

At the core of the building, the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) areas will enhance grades 6-8 curriculum through project-based learning and implementation.

Learning stairs and collaborative, large-group instruction spaces for each grade will support student learning. Designed for flexibility with technology support, computer labs are structured around coding, design and modeling, automation and robotics, and a Verizon Maker Lab.

The Media Center and art rooms are adjacent to the STEAM labs.

Other upgrades include improvements to wall insulations and roof replacement, and an energy-efficiency system designed to improve comfort and air quality.

School officials said a secured entrance vestibule, security cameras, and card access were included to prioritize building safety.

The bus loop and drop-off point for students driven by parents will have separate queue lines to improve traffic flow.

To enhance physical education and athletic programs, the site includes a lighted softball field, a turfed multipurpose field with a track, a full-size multipurpose field, an auxiliary multipurpose field, and a baseball field.

Principal Kevin Boles was expected to release a transition plan detailing the move. The plan calls for a “soft opening” and a phased-in approach for teachers and students to get to know the new school and layout before the school officially opens.

“Students and staff are excited for the transition to Ben Franklin and to start using all the new learning spaces,” Boles said. “Current FDR, and now future Ben Franklin students and parents will receive the transition plan in the coming weeks, and are encouraged to reach out to the administration if they have any questions or concerns.”

The district will also announce plans for an official ribbon-cutting and dedication for the building.