District to host meeting on $10M expansion

ROYERSFORD>> In an effort to dispel any rumors circulating about the proposed $10 million high school expansion project, the Spring-Ford Area School District wants the community to come together nextmonth and talk about the official plan as it stands today.

The district will host a town hall meeting Thursday, March 23, from 7-9 p.m. in the SpringFord Area High School auditorium, 350 S. Lewis Road, Royersford. Themeeting promises to include a formal presentation and offer time for community members to provide input on the project. Registration for the meeting is suggested but not required. Visit www.spring-ford.net to register.

“Each day, thousands of students attend school within the Spring-Ford Area School District,” the district wrote on its Facebook invitation to the meeting. “Year after year, the Spring-Ford Area School District receives local and national recognition for out- standing dedication to public education. Additionally, our teachers strive to challenge students to their fullest potential, both in and out of the classroom. To continue achieving such success, it is imperative for our community to work with the district as we plan for the future.”

The current design, created by the architecture firm Crabtree, Rohrbach and Associates, calls for a 24,000-square-foot expansion of the school. Included would be a 14,000-square-foot fitness center and a 9,800-square-foot performing arts center attached on the eastern side of the nearly 400,000-square-foot building. The project, according to the proposal, would provide more space

for the 2,400 students to use and could also handle the district’s continued population growth in years to come. Estimated construction costs for the work range from a low of $7.8 million to a high of $9.3 million. The entire board presentation is available online to view along with the slide show presentation.

School board Vice President Tom DiBello has expressed his desire for the community to come together for a town hall for months in order to combat any false rumors circulating about the project.

“Invite the public, give them the opportunity to understand what’s going on, why decisions are being made the way they are, what the short term and long term goals are,” he said in November. “Really understand. Instead of making decisions based on what they heard at the local diner or whatever it may be, understand what’s confronting this district and what we feel we should or shouldn’t do.”

DiBello said he also wanted to use the town hall as an opportunity for those opposed to the proposed expansion to come and voice their opinions.

“Also it will kill the rumor mill once and for all,” board President Joe Ciresi added at the time. “The public will understand what’s being proposed.”