Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
COATESVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT LAYS FOUNDATION
Construction of new elementary school in the plans
The Coatesville Area School District has approved a comprehensive facilities plan that will see the construction of a new elementary school, the closure of two existing elementary schools, and the realignment of middle school grade levels.
The changes are being made to aging infrastructure, but also to attract district residents to attend Coatesville Area School District schools, rather than charter schools.
As part of the seven-year, $255-million plan, Caln and East Fallowfield elementary schools will be closed and South Brandywine Elementary will be demolished and a new school built at that site.
The school board voted at Tuesday’s meeting to launch the plan that would require an average annual tax increase of about $6.14 per month to district homeowners based on a median home value of $123,000.
“The district has delayed work on our facilities for years, and it is costing us money—both in expensive repair work and in lost enrollment as families choose charter schools that have new facilities,”’ reads a release posted on the district website. “It’s important to rebalance the equity in our facilities.
“Some district buildings are updated while others are outdated, cramped and in serious need of repair.”
The district sends about $67 million annually to charter schools, which is more than half of every tax dollar collected.
Superintendent Catherine Van Vooren said the plan will “truly bring comprehensive improvements” to the schools.
The grade alignments will be altered. Eventually the district will create four ele
mentary schools for grades K-5, two middle schools for grades 6-8, placing ninth and tenth grades in the intermediate high school and eleventh and twelfth grades in the senior high school. Attendance boundaries will eventually change at the elementary and middle school grade levels.
“This will be done thoughtfully and with consideration for all,” reads the release. The plan will be completed over a period of the next seven years.
“Not only will we see physical improvements to our school buildings, but we will be able to adjust our grade alignment so there will eventually be fewer transitions to our middle grade students,” Van Vooren said.
Kings Highway Elementary School will be renovated and modular classrooms removed. Eight classrooms will be added to Reeceville Elementary. A new elementary school will be built on the site of the to-be-demolished South Brandywine Middle School.
Scott Middle School will undergo renovations and a new wing will be added to the existing North Brandywine Middle School. Sixth and seventh graders will move into both Scott and North Brandywine. By 2029, a new North Brandywine will be built on the other side the new wing and both middle schools would house grades 6-8.
Coatesville Area Senior High School would serve just 11-12 graders. Eighth graders would move out of the high school, with Coatesville Area Intermediate High school housing 9-10 graders.
The design phase of the projects starts this year. The construction of the new South Brandywine Elementary, along with renovation at Reeceville and Kings Highway, Scott and north Brandywine will occur in 2024.
In 2025, renovations of Scott Middle will begin and new middle school construction begins at north Brandywine, alongside the existing building. Scott and North Brandywine will then house grades 6 and 7.
The new elementary school will open in August of 2026 and Scott renovations will be completed. Grades 6-8 will move into Scott and North Brandywine in 2026.
In 2027, Caln and East Fallowfield will be demolished. In 2029, the new middle school will be completed as demolition of old North Brandywine occurs.
All projects should be completed by 2030.
Over an eight month time period, a committee of more than 60 staff, parents, and community members considered options for the future. These options were prepared by architectural and facilities use firms that studied the district’s buildings.
Van Vooren was thankful for all the input.
“The district is incredibly grateful to all those community members, parents, staff and administrators who have spent countless hours on the committee helping us to work toward this solution, Van Vooren said. “We are extremely optimistic about the changes this will bring to the Coatesville Area School District.”