‘New Chapter in the District’s History:’ Bristol Twp. Breaks Ground on New Schools

Despite a short burst of rain, officials broke ground on two new 1,300-student elementary schools in Bristol Township’s Levittown section of Thursday.

Local and state officials broke the ground for the new buildings at the site of Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School on Mill Creek Road and James Buchanan Elementary School on Haines Road in two ceremonies.

“Physically these buildings can not meet the demands of 21st Century education,” Superintendent Dr. Samuel Lee said while standing behind Emerson. He added that ground breaking brings in a “new chapter in the district’s history.”

A crowd of students and community members gathered for the ceremonies at both schools, many cheering as officials talked about the new schools, which are expected to cost more than $41 million each.

See Inside Bristol Township’s New Schools

“When Emerson, Lincoln and Barton merge, we bid farewell to the end of an era and welcome a thrilling beginning,” School Board President Angela Nober said.

Lt. Governor Jim Cawley, a Bristol Township native, said the ground breaking marked a “great day for Levittown.”

“This is, once again, Bristol Township setting an example and leading the way for the rest of the commonwealth,” he told the crowd.

The ground breaking was ceremonial as the district has yet to get all the permits needed to start construction of the new buildings, which are predicted to open in September 2015. Officials have said the permits should be coming soon and work will follow shortly after.

Many of the politicians that spoke mentioned the boon to the local job market and economy that the massive construction project would have.

The two Levittown schools were approved by township officials several months ago. Plans to build a similar 1,300-student school at the Mary Devine Elementary School site in Croydon are still awaiting preliminary and final land development approval from the council.

Under the district-wide plan, Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School would close, while Neil A. Armstrong Middle School and the former Benjamin Franklin School, currently home to the district administrative staff, would be renovated for middle school students. Harry S. Truman High School would not see any major work done and Clara Barton Elementary School would be re-purposed into the administration and maintenance building.