New middle school considered in Upper Darby

UPPER DARBY » After years of facility studies to evaluate the need for a new elementary school in the Upper Darby School District, the focus has shifted to a new middle school instead.

The Upper Darby School Board in committee structure on April 24 wanted the costing out of a possible third middle school for the district. The consensus was made following an update that evening of the progress made by the facilities committee in its continued effort to determine the most suitable learning spaces for over 8,000 elementary and middle schoollevel students.

“The facilities committee has come to the board with the idea of a third middle school,” said Assistant Superintendent Dan McGarry. “However you want to look at it as a neighborhood middle school or a concept middle school, we are asking the board to cost out or to consider a third middle school based on the work of our demographer and the need for too many classrooms and additions on Drexel Hill Middle School.”

In November McGarry said that future enrollment in the middle schools was quickly becoming an issue. With no room to expand at Beverly Hills Middle School and over $25 million worth of capital improvements needed at Drexel Hill Middle School, the priorities have changed.

“It is not our recommendation to go with the elementary school movement first,” said McGarry, which has been the focus of the district’s attention for the last few years. Those plans, he reminded, have the opportunity to be implemented down the line if needed.

It was not determined as of Thursday who would be doing the costing out study, but the funds to do it are available in the budget.