Pennsbury High School Project Committee Takes Tour

FALLSINGTON, PA —Members of the Pennsbury High School Project committee recently visited two school districts to see their newly constructed high schools.

The ad-hoc committee —consisting of students, staff, parents, and community members —is exploring options as the district considers a move to a one-high school model.

The group visited the Avon Grove and Upper Merion School Districts.

Proposed plans include renovating PHS West and closing PHS East, or building a new high school on the grounds of the current campus.

The Pennsbury School Board will make a final determination on the project. A date for that decision has not been made yet.

Pennsbury recently held two community forums for residents of the school district to provide feedback.

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 he informed parents last spring that the 2023-24 school budget would begin the "financial foundation" for a move to one building on the high school campus. There are East and West campuses of Pennsbury High School currently.

Smith stated after the budget's approval that the school district would need to jump on the high school project even though a new school would not open until 2029. See the timetable below.

This fall, the pre-planning portion of the project is occurring with the goal of gaining feedback on whether the project should be a major renovation to the West campus or the construction of a new high school on the grounds of the current high school campus.

He said the following activities will occur this fall related to the high school project:

• Site Testing —Site Surveys, Geotechnical and Hazmat investigations, and a Demographic Study.
• Design Discussion Group —The district has assembled an Ad hoc committee of parents, community members, students, and staff that will provide feedback regarding the project.
• Board Facilities and Finance Committee meetings —Over the next months, these board committees will be discussing various aspects of the project.
• Monthly Board Meetings —Share your thoughts during the public comment portion at an upcoming Board meeting.

Smith said he believes the project will have a positive impact on students and staff for many years to come.

During the construction, the East and West high school campuses would remain open.

Tentative Project Timeline

• May-November —Discussions/Assemble Committee/Community Meetings/Site Surveys, GeoTech Investigation, Hazardous materials investigation
• November-December —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