Dear Bethel Park School District Families,
Re: Update on the District’s Facilities Projects
Tonight is President Biden’s State of the Union address. In that spirit, we think this is also the appropriate time to share some important updates about the State of the Bethel Park School District. Let’s begin with the issue that has commanded most of our attention over the past few years: the planned new state-of-the-art Elementary School Project, which will be built on the campus of what is currently Neil Armstrong Middle School.
The design of the new elementary building has advanced from the “design development” phase into the preparation of the construction documents.
Transparency has been one of our chief priorities throughout this process. We have held monthly facilities meetings for the past year to discuss the elementary school project and others. In January, we held a Town Hall-type forum where more than 100 community members shared their concerns and thoughts on what the new school should include. We have also provided many opportunities for our staff to meet with the architects to share their thoughts on the new learning center.
In July, to help keep the public informed about the state of the elementary school project and others, we created a microsite called www.bpsdbestinclass.org.
We are very grateful for the time and insights so many community members have shared with us and the architects from Draw Collective to collaborate on designing the best building possible for our students’ needs. You have been heard, and your feedback has impacted our decision-making. We are delighted with the results so far.
During those conversations and discussions with some of the building trades and financial sector experts, it became increasingly clear that our original timeline for 2025 was a bit optimistic, especially in the current climate.
Last week, our construction management firm, Massaro Construction Group, informed the district that a project of this size and complexity would likely take at least 32 months to build, partly because of a labor force shortage. Also, interest rates have continued to climb since the start of this process, which could limit the district’s borrowing capacity. The experts we consulted believe interest rates should stabilize by late summer, giving the District a better idea of how to proceed best and allocate its resources.
While everyone is understandably disappointed to move the opening date from August 2025 to August
2026, we also understand the new facility will benefit Bethel Park for the next half century, and it is much more important that we build it well and responsibly than we build it quickly to meet our initial timeline. The new timeline will also provide us with more opportunities to discuss and deliberate on the new school’s programs, schedule, and operations.
Even today, many things about our elementary program are up for evaluation or reconsideration. We will take this time to work through each of the curricular and programming goals, implementing what we can along the way. We want to progress with our academic and curricular goals before 2026.
The new elementary school is one of many major capital projects at Bethel Park. Here is an update on the District’s other major capital projects.
IMS Construction
Aside from the new elevator near the cafeteria and gym, which is still being installed, the bulk of the work in Phase I of the Independence Middle School renovation project has wrapped up. The main office is complete, and so is the guidance suite. The classrooms in the future home of the sixth grade are also finished and look fantastic! We are most grateful for the patience and extra efforts of the entire IMS students and staff for keeping the great things happening despite the dust, noise, and moving boxes.
We are ready for Phase II to begin. The drawings and specifications for Phase II are ready for cost estimating from energy savings contractors. If our expectations are met, we should see the project’s next phase begin in the late spring and last through the summer of 2024.
Because of inflation, labor shortages, and supply chain problems, the project’s original cost has crept above the $42 million estimate initially set in the winter of 2022. To keep the project within its approved financing threshold, all work in the auditorium, music hallway, and locker rooms has been moved into Phase III, which will be delayed until we have a better handle on the costs of the elementary school project.
Bus Garage Campus Completion
It has been 40 years in the making, but the paving and electrical work at the bus garage is finally complete, and it looks magnificent! Our heartfelt thanks go out to our bus drivers and mechanics for smoothly managing the inconveniences of using alternative parking lots while their home base was torn up.
Our next major transportation-related project will be hiring a new Director of Transportation. Scott Ziehler has informed the District that he will retire in June. His retirement is well deserved, and with sincere gratitude, we wish him nothing but the best and acknowledge that he will be next to impossible to replace. I have come to respect his leadership of challenging work in challenging times, as everyone struggles to fill jobs, let alone keep the buses on schedule and our students safe every day. On top of these difficulties, his steadfast support of this district and this administration has been most appreciated.
Concession Stand/Restrooms/Storage Facility on Bethel Park High School’s Turf Fields
The School District and Municipality are partnering on a restroom and concession stand facility at the turf practice and softball fields adjacent to the high school. Everyone agrees that a concession area and outdoor restroom facility, partly underwritten by a grant from Allegheny Health Network, is much needed and long overdue for such a high-traffic area.
The $280,000 facility was a part of the high school’s original plan when it was built in 2012 but was scrapped due to financial considerations. Over the past several years, however, rental fees for storage facilities and temporary restrooms have risen to the point where it is no longer cost-effective or practical.
The district is leading the site’s development and has chosen a relatively modest concrete modular building to best meet its stakeholders’ needs. The new facility will have two restrooms, a concession stand, and storage for some of the school’s athletic teams that often use those fields. The pre-constructed modular units are expected to be shipped to the school in the spring. A concrete pad and the utilities will be prepared to accept the building before the delivery. Installation of that facility should be complete by June.
Thank you, once again, for your patience and understanding as we navigate this complicated and evolving landscape. We will continue to monitor conditions, making any necessary adjustments when the circumstances warrant them and based on the guidance we receive from the experts. Also, we will continue to be transparent in our decision-making while we continue to do our best to provide 21st century resources for our students in a way that is fiscally responsible for the community.
Sincerely,
James Walsh, Ed.D. Superintendent,
Bethel Park School District
