New Pennsbury High School Vote Thursday

FALLSINGTON, PA —The committee has spoken. And the Pennsbury School Board will now decide on whether it's in the district's best interests to build a new high school.

The Pennsbury School Board will meet Thursday night to vote on a recommendation by its facilities committee at a Nov. 9 meeting to build a new high school instead of spending money on renovating the high school's West Campus.

Approval would mean that the school district would have one high school going forward instead of an East and West 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.

But based on the facilities committee's recommendation, a new high school seems to be the way to go.

During the facilities committee meeting, the new high school would cost between $235 million and $275 million.

James Lynch of D'Huy Engineering, who made a presentation to the committee, said that cost depends on whether any additional features would be added, such as a pool.

Schools Superintendent Thomas A. Smith said the district would like to have high school costs not exceed $250 million.

Meanwhile, the renovations for the West Campus were estimated to cost between $185 million to $235 million, Lynch said.

Pennsbury held two community forums for residents of the school district to provide feedback and also created an ad-hoc committee of students, staff, parents, and community members. Members of the Pennsbury High School Project committee visited two school districts to see their newly constructed high schools.