Supervisors Approve Plans For $269.5 Million Pennsbury High School

Falls Township officials have cleared the way for the new $269.5 million Pennsbury High School after a major vote Thursday evening.

The Falls Township Board of Supervisors voted to approve preliminary and final development for the 495,000-square-foot facility.

Opponents had requested the supervisors delay final authorization to give time for a separate contractor bidding process and cost verification.

“If you grant preliminary approval, you are essentially saying that the plan in front of you this evening complies,” said Township Solicitor Michael Clarke. “There are not going to be substantial changes.”

The new building will be constructed on the south side of the existing campus along Hood Boulevard. It is designed to accommodate 2,800 to 3,000 students and staff,

The new high school will be replacing the district’s current East and West buildings, which both date back to the 1960s.

Construction is slated to begin before the end of 2026.

The district has said it expects to move students into the new facility at the start of the 2029-2030 school year.

The demolition of the old high school buildings are scheduled for completion by summer 2030.

Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith described the design last month as “future-proof,” adding that the planned layout that promotes flexibility and collaboration.

KCBA Architects’ Mike Strohecker outlined the latest design last month at school board meeting.

The new high school will feature a 250-foot-long commons area and eight study “nooks,” a 3,000-seat gymnasium and an eight-lane swimming pool, an 800-seat auditorium and dedicated arts spaces, and individual gender-neutral restrooms with sinks located in security-monitored corridors.

Security measures will include bulletproof glass in a secure vestibule and more than 300 cameras.

The design also allows for a future expansion of 40 classrooms if needed.

The pay for the new high school the district plans to add 14.6 mills to property taxes over four years.

For a median-assessed home valued at $32,000, the first-year increase is projected at $287. Approximately 40 percent of that increase is earmarked for construction, while 59 percent will cover ongoing operations, district officials said.

To address current traffic congestion, the plan introduces an new parent drop-off system. Vehicles will enter via a central driveway on Olds Boulevard and follow a counterclockwise pattern to a designated zone in front of the school.

“We have significant amount more queuing than they have currently,” Strohecker said, noting the design aims to prevent traffic from backing up onto public roads.

Project representatives confirmed that no additional fill will be brought to the site beyond what is needed for balance.

While roughly 258 trees may be removed, the district will pay a fee in lieu of replacement for those lost.

Township Engineer Joe Jones stated that while some technical items remain, they are standard requirements that will not stall the overall process.

Residents raised concerns about various project details including sanitary line locations, stormwater management, and whether additional facilities like a bus depot are included in the current approval.

The project has already received approval from the Bristol Township Council last year regarding a small portion of the campus that sits within its jurisdiction.