Elementary Facilities Feasibility Study
In June 2008, the Hatboro-Horsham School District contracted with The Ray Group to provide a Comprehensive Elementary Facilities Feasibility Study. The intent of the study was to provide a long range plan for addressing facility deficiencies. Factors, such as the district's educational programming, enrollment projections, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and various building codes were considered. Optimal school size, desired class size, state reimbursement and fiscal impact were also important factors that were considered in developing the recommended plan.
The process began with an assessment of the district's existing building conditions. A team of professionals visited Hatboro-Horsham's facilities, evaluating physical conditions for wear and tear, code compliance, and energy efficiency. As part of the basic study, The Ray Group worked with the district to define educational parameters, which included desired class and building size.
In September 2008, a district level committee comprised of school board members, parents, teachers, and administrators began the work of studying the report from The Ray Group. The committee was responsible for developing options that would be presented to the School Board for consideration. Bonnie Sowers, Senior Vice-President of The Ray Group also worked with the committee. Objectives were established and served to guide the work of the committee. They included:
-
Provide facilities that are clean, safe, and operational for the next 10 years
-
Provide buildings of reasonable equity, when feasible
-
Allow for future flexibility for changing educational programs and mandate changes
-
Provide for the best interests of the student's educational program, with efficient use of taxpayer's dollars
Other considerations included:
-
Reduce dependency on modular classrooms
-
Provide air conditioning
-
Provide separate gym and cafeteria spaces
-
Maintain safe and adequate building sites
-
Provide sufficient storage
-
Ensure energy (green) improvements
Identified below are the options that were developed for consideration. The options the School Board will take under consideration for future action are highlighted. Please keep in mind, that the Board has not taken any action on the proposed options. A decision will not be made until the fall of 2009.
|
Options |
Cost |
Option Description |
|
1 |
Eliminated by consensus of the committee on 2/26/09 |
$18,046,475 |
Address: Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades Only - All Facilities; No Air Conditioning
(Crooked Billet, Hallowell, Pennypack) |
|
1A |
Eliminated by majority vote on 3/25/09 |
$20,440,163 |
Address: Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades Only - All Facilities; with Air Conditioning
(Crooked Billet, Hallowell, Pennypack) |
|
2 |
|
$28,522,163 |
Address: Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades AND Educational Program Needs - All Facilities |
|
3 |
|
$26,079,963 |
Address: Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades AND Educational Program Needs - Reduce Blair Mill, Hallowell, and Simmons Capacity |
|
4 |
Eliminated by consensus of the committee on 2/26/09 |
$33,367,277 |
Address: Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades AND Educational Program Needs - Reduce Blair Mill and Simmons Capacity; Replace Hallowell with 300 student building |
|
5 |
|
$33,662,154 |
Address: Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades AND Educational Program Needs - Reduce Blair Mill and Simmons Capacity; Replace Hallowell with 600 student building; Close Pennypack |
|
6 |
Eliminated by majority vote on 3/25/09 |
$20,864,908 |
Address: Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades AND Educational Program Needs - Additions to Blair Mill and Crooked Billet; Close Hallowell & Pennypack |
|
7 |
|
$25,451,991 |
Address: Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades AND Educational Program Needs - Additions to Blair Mill, Crooked Billet, and Pennypack; Close Hallowell |
|
8 |
Eliminated by consensus of the committee on 2/26/09 |
$33,054,489 |
Address: Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades AND Educational Program Needs - Additions to Blair Mill and Crooked Billet, Close Hallowell, Replace Pennypack |
|
9 |
|
$0 |
Delay making any decision; "wait and see" what economic challenges develop or opportunities become available. |
|
10 |
|
$35,981,481 |
Address Maintenance/Code/Infrastructure Upgrades, Program Needs, AND Reduce Capacity Replace Hallowell with 480 Student Capacity Building |
Bonnie Sowers, architect for the project, offered a recommendation from The Ray Group, which was a modification of Option V identified on the above table. Under the proposed recommendation, Mrs. Sowers proposed Renovation/Maintenance/Upgrades AND Educational Program Needs - Reduce Blair Mill and Simmons Capacity; Replace Hallowell with 480 student building with expansion capacity to 600 students, and to build several additional classrooms on to Crooked Billet to accommodate increased enrollment, and to close Pennypack.
