CLARKS SUMMIT— The Abington Heights school board hired the contractors that will work on renovating and adding an addition to Abington Heights Middle School.
Board members voted 7-0 Wednesday night on four contracts with three contractors for the project. The contracts, totaling $41 million, were awarded to Quandel Construction Group of Harrisburg for general construction, Everon Electrical Contractors Inc. of Moosic for electrical, and JBM Mechanical Inc. of Nazareth for mechanical, and plumbing and fire protection.
Board Secretary Michele Tierney and Board member Grace Hillebrand abstained. Hillebrand said after the meeting she has a potential conflict of interest on the project.
Before the vote, Tierney said the project is a way for the district to move forward and an opportunity for students, but asked if a new gymnasium included in the project could be added in the final phase of the project and use the money for the gym toward the academic portion of the project.
“It’s really important to focus on grades five through eight and our education classes,” Tierney said.
She also told her colleagues to consider the finances of the project, noting rising costs for items like health care.
Officials plan to construct a two-story, 70,000-square-foot addition at the school in Newton Twp. serving grades five to eight, with an 800-seat gymnasium. They also plan to renovate 15,000 square feet of the current building, and add parking spaces and two soccer fields.
The addition would include administrative offices, a vestibule, three spaces for science, technology, engineering and mathematics classes, and 20 classrooms on the two floors. The gym would include a court and two practice courts for basketball and volleyball, along with retractable bleachers, locker rooms and bathrooms.
The design includes space for a possible second addition, two stormwater management areas, improvements to the school’s two driveways and a new access road behind the building.
Officials estimate the middle school project will cost $49.5 million. The school board agreed to issue up to $55 million in bonds for it last fall.
In a presentation prior to the vote, Superintendent Christopher Shaffer, Ed.D. said the project is an investment in education and a response to infrastructure needs.
He said the district has prioritized finding alternative funding sources, resulting in $5.1 million that can be reinvested into the district.
Waverly Twp. resident Mark Stahller said he understands the need for a new building, adding the current one is inadequate. But he said the project is large and asked about the project cost and for officials to explain how it doesn’t go above the Act 34 index.
James Keiffer, director of operations for KCBA Architects, the project’s architect, said Act 34 has a formula that reimburses schools for expenditures but it doesn’t include construction and site work, costs of which can vary. He said the project cost is within the Act 34 limit and is in on budget.
“We feel we are very close to the Act 34 limit,” Keiffer said.
Shaffer said municipal bonds and district funds will be used for the project.
Multiple board members, some of whom had children attend the school, shared support for the project prior to voting.
Board member Philip Robson said he is excited about the project, adding he asked for a new middle school since he arrived on the board in 2016. He noted the board’s work getting the project to where it is.
“This is a good thing,” Robson said. “Let’s get this started.”
Board member Gretchen Henderson said the gym can be used for academic purposes, as well as recreational uses. Board Treasurer Emily Karam said the costs to completely renovate the current building could be exorbitant and the board has ensured they will manage the finances of the project.
Construction is expected to start in the summer and be completed by the fall of 2027, Shaffer said earlier this week.
The addition and renovation are part of a districtwide facilities study completed by KCBA in 2023, which determined improvements are needed in all six district buildings, with the middle school being the highest priority.