Parents, others review design ideas for new high school

The Peters Township School District is taking further steps toward designing its new high school and is gaining input from district stakeholders.

The school board held a special meeting Monday with a buildings and grounds committee meeting to discuss the project.

During the buildings and grounds meeting, the board participated in what was called a “gallery walk” in whichmembers were able to look at drawings of the latest design.

A few days earlier, high school booster group parents, PTA parents, high school staff and emergency responders walked through the design so they could provide ideas on what may or maynot be needed.

“We’re moving pretty quickly now,” said district spokesperson Shelly Belcher. She said the footprint of the design will be nailed down more in September when Hayes Design Group will use the information gathered to revise its concept.

Ms. Belcher said there’s not really a set timeline for construction yet, but she anticipates contracts could be awarded as early as spring.

She said it has been beneficial talking to stakeholders during the process.

“We’re designing a building to last 50 years. We have to do this right,” she said.

During the voting portion of the meeting, the board approved Hayes Design Group of Robinson to proceed with a preliminary master site plan design at a cost of $8,400.

“This is for a master plan of the entire parcel,” superintendent Jeannine French said.

She said the plans will encompass the school district’s approximately 90 acres of land along East McMurray Road at the former site of Rolling Hills Country Club. Peters Township owns the other half of the nearly 180acresite.

In addition to the school, the master plan would encompass any future plans for the district’s portion of the property, including a possible stadium and roads in and out of the parcel.