Credit: Pennsbury School District
Renovations for the Pennwood Middle School in the Pennsbury School District are estimated to cost $46 million and will not be completed until the Summer 2017. That is if all goes according to a plan released Thursday evening.
Pennwood was constructed in 1952. In 1972, there was an addition built. Aside from these instances, there has been no construction work done on the school, and no major renovation has ever taken place.
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According to Owen Hyne of Remington Vernick, and Beach Engineers during a public hearing for the renovation project, many pieces of the schools structure could be more efficient and need renovating. Some of these changes include a new heating system, a new cooling system, new roofing and ceilings and new windows.
A couple notable changes that would come to Pennwood include a new nursing suite and a new guidance area. In addition the administration center would no longer be down a main hallway and would be accessible right from the main entrance.
One of the biggest changes to the building comes in the idea that the pool will be removed. According to information made available at the public hearing, the pool is no longer needed for the middle school curriculum and would cost unnecessary money to keep and maintain.
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In addition to Pennwood, changes are coming to the overall middle school campus. Most changes to the campus include securing routes where kids commonly walk and separating passenger vehicle traffic and bus traffic.
“It’s a lot of work, and a lot of careful planning,” Hyne explained during the hearing.
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People on the inside of the district also recognize the time for renovation. School Board President Gary Sanderson, said, “I think anyone that would walk through the school would agree that it is in desperate need of renovation.”
The district has been saving money to help pay for the work and would take out bonds to cover the project.
