Upper Darby moves forward on school in Clifton Heights
UPPER DARBY >> The Upper Darby School Board Tuesday night approved a contract to examine the viability of building a new middle school in Clifton Heights and to put an addition on an elementary school, plans known as phase one for the potential capital projects.
An 8-1 vote of the board approved hiring KCBA Architects to complete schematic designs for no more than $2.5 million to see if a $65 million, 166,500 square foot middle school building for 950 students is a possibility on almost 12 acres of developable land the district owns on North Springfield Road in the borough. The land currently has athletic fields that are used by community groups for sporting events and fundraisers. The plan includes rehabbing the fields and reconfiguring them to the back of the property for continued use by the community.
Also approved is the viability of renovating almost 69,000 square feet of Aronimink Elementary School and building a 26,000 square foot addition to allow the building to more than double its student capacity from a current figure of approximately 260 to 700. KCBA Architects was hired to do schematic work for this estimated $24.3 million project for no more than $1.2 million.
For both contracts, schematic design means doing architectural analysis and planning, site/civil engineering, traffic study, environmental study and topographic land survey.
School board member Lee Jordan did not approve these architectural appointments that were included in the facilities report, saying after the meeting she wanted more buy-in from the public and more time to discuss the projects.
Tuesday night’s vote came after the first official presentation on Feb. 26 for these two major capital project plans that have been proposed for the district. Proposals from that presentation also included building a new elementary school on 69th Street and to renovate and put an ad-
dition onto Garrettford Elementary School, but they did not proceed into contracted phase one work Tuesday.The draft proposals were prepared by KCBA Architects who were contracted in November to perform the costing out of a new middle school for $4,780.
The proposals are all part of a process to address overcrowding in the two middle schools and elementary schools that are overcrowded or housed in two leased buildings owned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
“I think we’re hitting our stride to do this, but the pressing issue that we have is we’re in a bubble and we’re about to explode,” said board President Rachel Mitchell before voting on the schematic design work. “I wish that we could do it tomorrow, but that’s not how this process works. From start to finish it’s an approximately three-year process in order to build these additional spaces for our students.
“We don’t have any more time to waste and that’s why I’m supporting that we at least go forward to see if these two sites are even viable to carry on these plans.”
As board member Jordan wanted more time to look at these projects, board Vice President Ed Brown said he felt the process was a bit rushed. But he said he likes the plans and voted to approve the phase one work.
A number of community members still wanted more time and information about the proposals.
“A neighbor here told (my husband and I) today and it’s ridiculous that we live there, on that street, and we don’t even know what’s going on,” said Clifton resident Patricia Simpson. “We have a right to know what’s going on. I’m not saying that you don’t need the schools, but let us have a decision in this, don’t put it on us without us knowing. It’s not fair.”
Drexel Hill resident Kelly Colvin said things were moving too fast without elements of strategy implemented. Clifton resident Suzanne Briddes said there was an overall lack of discussion on the proposals and questioned the financial implications of the plans.
Toeing the line in the mixed conversations by the public of for or against was Kyra Raphaelidis who said she was tentatively in favor of moving forward with the viability studies. She said an underlying message in this matter was the lack of education funding received from the state.
“Recently I looked up a report on the most overfunded districts and my taxpayer dollars are going to Western Pennsylvania to build state of the art sports stadiums (for schools). I want them here,” she said.
In stark contrast to the 100 minutes of public comments made at the Feb. 26 presentation, there was less disapproval expressed among the 15 commenters at Tuesday’s meeting.
“If everybody outreaches and works together, I think something reasonable could come out of this. I don’t think it has to be no absolute, yes absolute,” said Christine Boggi of Clifton Heights. “To me, the benefit of having a new school on that property gives you state of the art grounds. You’re going to get new fields … as long as …”
Boggi was heckled by Clifton residents who mocked her acceptance of the middle school prospect in relation to the importance of the athletic fields to the community.
When she was able to keep speaking after Mitchell stepped in to settle the spat, Boggi said the new fields and school would benefit the community.
“I agree with the plans, so good luck,” she said.
Boggi was booed as she walked back to her seat, to which she told her naysayers, “Oh, shut up.”
The support for the middle school plan was carried by Upper Darby residents Bill Kaplan and Deborah Campbell and Upper Darby 5th District Councilman Bob Gwin.
But what support was expressed for the middle school proposal was countered by Michael Humphreys, a Clifton Heights residents who closed out the public comment portion that addressed the phase one work that was about to be voted on.
“Ninety-nine percent of the residents, the residents,” said Humphreys placing heavy emphasis on the second exclamation term, “of Clifton Heights do not want this school built on their field, and that’s what it comes down to.” His comment met with applause from the crowd.
Community comments thus far have implied that the middle school proposal is a done deal without stakeholder input. No definitive plans have been made on any proposed plans for major capital improvement projects to build or renovate any properties in the district.
When the schematic work is complete and the board determines that the middle school and Aronimink sites are not viable for renovation and/or new construction, the district will only pay the firm $600,000 and $250,000 respectively, for their services.
Acting Superintendent Dan McGarry said after the meeting said he was excited to see these initial steps go forward and stressed the need for continued community outreach.