Pennsbury Sets Price For New High School Project

A rendering of the new proposed Pennsbury High School.

The Pennsbury School Board has approved a maximum project cost of nearly $270 million for a new high school and authorized a required public hearing on the plan.

The school board voted 8-1 on Wednesday to approve the maximum project cost of $269,546,944. Board member Donna Ahrens abstained from the vote.

The approval came during a school board meeting held on a Wednesday instead of the usual Thursday in observance of Juneteenth.

“This is a major milestone for the high school project and I appreciate the board’s support in taking us this far,” Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith said.

The board also unanimously approved a motion to advertise for a required Act 34 public hearing, which is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4.

The hearing is a key step required by state law before school districts can undertake major construction projects.

School Board President Dr. Joanna Steere stated the project’s financial breakdown during the meeting.

“The board is asked to authorize the maximum project cost of $269,546,944, which includes the maximum building construction costs of $212,409,380,” Steere explained during the meeting. “That 269 million dollar number includes the building construction costs of 212 million dollars.”

The new high school is planned as a 497,000-square-foot facility to replace the existing East and West high school buildings. It would be built on the south side of the current campus along Hood Boulevard.

The design includes a 1,000-seat auditorium, a three-story academic wing and state-of-the-art athletic facilities, including a natatorium and wrestling room. The new building would also feature a “learning stair” multi-use space, a large media center/library, flexible learning spaces, an outdoor terrace, and the latest security measures.

The district is planning separate areas for bus loops, student parking and staff parking at the new facility.

If construction begins in the spring of 2026, the project is expected to take four years to complete.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, several residents expressed concerns about the project’s cost and the district’s ability to finance it.

Robert Abrams, a resident of Lower Makefield Township, questioned whether the total project cost could ultimately exceed the stated amount.

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

Another Lower Makefield Township resident, Tim Daly, criticized the district’s financial planning, warning of potential cost overruns similar to other district projects.

“You will get 75 percent through this construction build and then you will shrug your shoulders and say, ‘oops, we’re out of funds,’” Daly said.

Some residents have called for a referendum on the costly new building.

Previously, Pennsbury Chief Financial Officer Chris Berdnik stated that the total principal and interest payments for the high school project’s bonds would amount to $569.4 million. The bonds will have to be paid back by the early 2060s.

At the same meeting, the school board approved its final $263 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The budget includes a 4 percent tax increase, the maximum allowed under Act 1 index requirements.

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