On Thursday April 12, 2018 the Feasibility Committee, in conjunction with RLPS Architects, presented an update on the Feasibility Study during the Board Study Session. Included in the presentation were:

Updated Timelines -  Based on the revised schedule, the District anticipates releasing bids in fall 2018 and plans to award a contract for construction of a new elementary school (kindergarten to grade 4) on the existing Rossmoyne site at the October 2018 Board meeting. This building should open in the fall of 2020, and it is anticipated it will operate as a kindergarten to grade 5 for the first year, until the intermediate schools are complete the following year (see below).

The construction of a new intermediate school (grades 5-6) on the lower lot portion of the Red Land High School campus along Pleasant View Road requires additional traffic studies, submissions to PennDOT, and potential road improvements. The time needed to complete these processes has pushed the opening of this new school into the fall of 2021. However, this delay potentially creates an opportunity to build both intermediate schools at the same time and maintain a consistent grade configuration throughout the District. 

Site Plans, Floor Plans, and Exterior Concepts – RLPS presented 3D renderings of the new elementary school building design. Using concept renderings of the new buildings to aid discussion, the District continues to meet with teachers, administrators, and support staff. In addition, an update on the parking lot plans for the property beside Crossroads Middle School was reviewed. 

Building Capacity and Cost Estimates - The updated cost estimates developed by RLPS Architects show an increase in costs compared to the original estimates in the Feasibility Study. The primary driver of this increase is the square footage, which has been recalculated using the District’s proposed designs. 

Click here to view updated phasing and cost estimates, similar in format to the information presented in past updates.

Looking Ahead

In the coming months, building plans will continue to develop, and the District will begin to refine transition plans and discuss the changes to attendance boundaries that will allow the feeder school concept to take shape.

The West Shore community is encouraged to attend board meetings, check the District website, and follow District social media accounts (Twitter|Facebook) for additional updates as projects move forward. Thank you for your continued interest and engagement in this process!  

 

 

Progress Since May
Since the Board unanimously approved Option 1 - the Feeder School Concept in May, the District's Feasibility & Facilities Committee has hosted four design sessions. These sessions, which included administrators, teachers, Board members, parents, and community representatives; produced preliminary design concepts and established major building elements. 

In addition, the District has been working with the architects and civil engineers to assess potential sites for the new elementary school (kindergarten to grade 4) and intermediate school (grades 5-6) included in Phase 1 of the Feasibility & Facilities Plan.

Adjusting the Timeline
The evaluation of sites, exploration of properties available for purchase, traffic study, and thoughtful design process has pushed the District's timeline back one year. In evaluating the benefits of following the original timeline versus adjusting it to allow the District to gather additional information and data, the District felt there was considerable value in adjusting the schedule. The information below reflects the revised Phase I schedule for building two new schools.

Elementary School Plans
A new elementary school (kindergarten to grade 4) will be constructed on the existing Rossmoyne site and will open in the fall of 2020. On the site plan, a red dashed line shows the existing building, while the blue dashed line represents a public utility easement. This design, presented to the Board on February 8, 2018, allows the current building to continue operating while the new school is constructed. 

 

The new facility is designed to accommodate four classrooms per grade level, with a capacity of 448 students, based on current class size guidelines. 
 

Continued design development and the creation of construction documents will take place over the next several months. Based on our revised schedule we should be releasing bids in the fall and hope to award a contract at our October 2018 Board Meeting. 

Intermediate School Plans
At the October 2017 Board Study Session, the Board discussed the possibility of building a new intermediate school on the lower lot portion of the Red Land High School campus along Pleasant View Road. As part of that consideration, a traffic study was authorized. Results of this study and continued discussions with key stakeholders will assist the District in assessing the impact of building a school in that area. 

Below are the proposed intermediate school (grades 5-6) plans presented to the Board on February 8, 2018.

The new building, which will open in the fall of 2020, is designed to serve all fifth and sixth grade students in the Red Land attendance area. The building will operate with two teams per grade level and a capacity of 624 students, based on current class size guidelines. 

 

 

 

The intermediate school is approximately one to two months behind the elementary in design and development. Based on our revised schedule we should be releasing bids in the fall and hope to award a contract at our November or December 2018 Board meeting. Some of the current athletic fields will be impacted by the construction. The District is developing plans to replace those fields through additional site development at Red Land or Crossroads.

Looking Ahead
In the coming months, building plans will continue to develop, and the District will begin to refine transition plans and discuss the changes to attendance boundaries that will allow the feeder school concept to take shape.

The District's Feasibility & Facilities Committee will also begin working on Phase 2, to be completed in the fall of 2021. Phase 2 includes construction of an additional intermediate school on the Fairview Elementary site and a major renovation to Allen Middle School. 

The West Shore community is encouraged to attend board meetings, check the District website, and follow District social media accounts (Twitter | Facebook) for additional updates as projects move forward and the West Shore School District prepares to serve the class of 2029 and beyond. Thank you for your continued interest and engagement in this process!