Pennsbury Seeks High School Project Committee Members

FALLSINGTON, PA —Now that the dust has settled with the ending of merger talks with Morrisville, the Pennsbury School District is focusing on plans for its high school campus.

Whether that be a new high school or renovations to the existing Pennsbury High School West is still undetermined, but the district is starting to move forward with plans.

Schools Superintendent Thomas A. Smith has announced the formation of a High School Project Committee and is seeking members of the public to fill the board. He said the district made a financial commitment to a "major change" to the Pennsbury High School campus.

On June 15, the school board approved a 2023-24 final school budget that included a 4.1 tax increase tagged to a new high school or high school renovations.

School officials said the tax increase was tagged as a "downpayment" for either the renovation of Pennsbury High School West at a $166.4 million cost or the building of a brand new high school, which would cost $213.2 million.

The school district held a public hearing regarding options for a possible merger with Morrisville. One was for an outright merger while the other two explored tuition agreements. But the board opted to go the route of the high school over a merger when it approved the budget, thus ending talks with the Morrisville School District.

Smith said the project will take several years to complete. See the timetable below.

"This fall, a district-wide committee will be assembled to help guide the direction of the high school project," Smith said. "We would like to include individuals from our greater community on this committee."

Anyone interested in joining the committee can submit their information by sending an email to PHSproject@pennsburysd.org or by calling 215-428-4111. Information is also available on the district's website. An online form needs to be completed. Find that here.

Committee members will be randomly selected and notified in mid-to-late August.

Smith said the process may require daytime, evening, and weekend meetings and site visits to other high schools.

"This project will have a positive impact on our students and staff for many years to come and
would like to include as many community members as possible in helping shape our future," the superintendent said.

Previous high school designs are available on our district website www.pennsburysd.org

High School Project Timetable

July - November 2023

• Discussions/Assemble Committee
• Community Meetings
• Site Surveys
• GeoTech Investigation
• Hazardous Materials Investigation

November/December 2023

• RFP for Architect and School Design

January 2024 - June 2025

• Assemble Design Committee
• School Visits
• Community Presentations
• Design and Construction Approvals

Summer 2025

• Construction Starts

Winter 2029

• New building opens