Ribbon Cutting For $53.9M New Bristol Township School

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA —While the new Benjamin Franklin Middle School has been open for a month, it will get the royal treatment on Saturday.

Bristol Township school officials are inviting community members and staff to Ben Franklin’s ribbon cutting and open house at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The event will feature brief remarks by administrators and invited guests, and the community will be able to tour the new school. They will also be able to view before and after photos of the project and enjoy light refreshments.

“We are excited to welcome the community to Ben Franklin and show them how our beautiful new school maximizes student learning,” Principal Kevin Boles said.

Following a $53.9 million renovation and expansion project, the middle school opened in early March.

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.

With the Ben Franklin Middle School opening, the FDR Middle School closed. Its future use has yet to be determined.

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.