Pennsbury Gives Update On $269.5 Million High School Plan

The Pennsbury School District is moving ahead with plans for a new 497,000-square-foot high school in Falls Township.

The project is currently estimated at $269.5 million and looks to replace the aging two-building high school.

Pennsbury High School Credit: Pennsbury School District

The Pennsbury School Board recently received an update from KCBA Architects and SitelogIQ, the project’s construction management firm.

Mike Strohecker, of KCBA Architects, stated that construction documents are “roughly 50 percent through.”

Strohecker said he would anticipate a four-year construction period if work begins in spring 2026.

The new high school will be built on the south side of the current campus along Hood Boulevard, with separate areas for bus loops, student parking, and staff parking.

Miranda Esposito, a member of the design team, showed off renderings of the planned building, including the administration and performing arts areas, a three-story academic core, and athletics and cafeteria facilities.

“The building is organized into three zones,” Esposito explained. “If there’s public events, the academic core is able to be locked down.”

Features include a main lobby with a Pennsbury Wall of Fame, learning stairs in common areas, an 800-seat auditorium with a 200-seat balcony, a small performance space, and various seating options throughout the building.

The gymnasium will seat approximately 3,000 people with seating on all four sides, and the design includes multiple courtyards providing natural light to classrooms.

Board member Linda Palsky said the district is working with the design team to make spaces multi-use.

Michael Pickens, the pre-construction manager from SitelogIQ, said the project’s current cost estimate of $269,546,943, which is slightly higher than the original budget estimate of $266,145,125. The first projection was from October 2023.

“The total project is $485 a square foot, all inclusive, including site work, $412 for the building,” Pickens said.

Pickens notes that material costs have increased since the April estimate was produced, with some items seeing 5 to 20 percent increases.

After the school board meeting, district spokesperson Jennifer Neill said the estimate covers “escalating costs, which means it already accounts for the possibility of increasing prices of materials, supplies, and labor throughout the project.”

She added that the cost estimate also includes options for various materials, finishes, systems, and supplies.

“Similar to if you were constructing a new home, the cost and value of these options will be evaluated during the bidding process and may be deleted or included in the final high school. Our goal is to build a quality high school that is fiscally responsible to taxpayers,” she said.

Members of the public have questioned whether a taxpayer referendum would be required by state law to get the project approved.

Neill said the district doesn’t believe a referendum will be needed.

“Pennsbury has $304 million of borrowing capacity before needing voter approval through a referendum. We are well within our borrowing capacity, and we are confident that we can manage the project carefully through our selection of materials, finishes, and systems, and remain fiscally responsible while still constructing a high-quality high school,” she said.

The district has previously said they expect tax increases for years to come as they work to pay down the new high school, which would replace a two-building high school that is aging.

Board member Donna Ahrens voiced concerns about the district’s current debt service and the need to raise taxes.

“We’re going to continue to raise at the maximum rate for the next, what, five years,” she said. “I do have a concern that we’re going to be paying for a school that’s not going to be there anymore.”

Ahrens, who said she supports a new high school, noted that the district is currently only paying interest on existing debt.

“We’re not paying off any principal. We’re just paying the debt service,” she said. “I would like to see us pay down some of this debt.”

The board member expressed concerns about potential cost overruns and the bidding process.

“I think that’s something else that we have to look at, that we’re going to set a budget but then when it goes out to bid, you know, are we willing to, if we can’t get bids on what we’re saying we can spend, what are we going to do then?” she asked.

The geotechnical report for the site has been completed, with no major concerns, Strohecker said. He added that while the site is wet and has groundwater under where the foundation would be located, it is buildable and won’t require more costly pilings needed at some wet sites.

“The report was good. Nothing too bad that we have to deal with,” he said.

The land development package has been submitted to Falls Township and comments are expected back within the next couple of weeks.

The team hopes to be on the June Falls Township Planning Commission agenda.

The Act 34 hearing, which is needed to build the new high school, is tentatively scheduled for early September, according to Strohecker.

Pennsbury High School’s East Campus. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

During public comment, several community members raised concerns about the project’s cost and financing.

Andrew Dell, a candidate for school board from Falls Township, spoke at the meeting and raised worry over the cost to the district, saying the new building will “ruin this township and school district.”

Falls Township resident John Tadlock said he was concerned about the soil conditions at the site, but he was pleased to hear the construction team said the site was suitable for the large building.

“I would hire a team of reputable firms with previous experience,” he said. “But again, you’ve already done that. All very sensible choices.”

Jennifer Metzger, a Republican running for Falls Township supervisor, told the board the district can’t afford to build a new high school with its current debt load.

“We’re asking you to please be aware, we don’t have the money to build this big school,” she said.

Rob Abrams, a Lower Makefield Township resident, opposes the new high school and questioned the costs, noting costs for other school construction projects in the state.

Tim Daly, a Lower Makefield Township resident, said the district should consider better options to building a new high school at that site. He said he reviewed the geotechincal report and has serious concerns the soil conditions could increase costs.

Lower Makefield Township resident Ann Marie Delworth said she knows a new building will be costly, but it is a worthy investment in the school system. She heaped praise on the district and said it provides a quality education.

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