Parkland High School's expansion plans are getting closer to reality.

The South Whitehall Planning Commission received a draft proposal for the expansion on Thursday from representatives of the Parkland School District, marking the next stage of the drawn-out procedure leading up to the building. District Facilities and Operations Director Arthur Oakes stated that specifics about the Orefield Middle School project, including whether the district stadium will relocate to the high school, are still up for debate. The district's proposal to address school overcrowding, called Vision 2030, starts with the extension of the high school.

District data indicates that Parkland High School is expected to reach capacity before either of the middle schools. At present, the high school has roughly 3,200 pupils enrolled. According to Oakes, that figure is expected to increase to almost 3,950 by 2030. About 4,000 students may be accommodated in the two-story addition, which would also include new classrooms, science labs, and areas for big group instruction.

If the construction expenses are within the allocated budget, the extension may also include a new library and athletic lobby, according to Oakes. The district states that the entire funding for Vision 2030 is somewhat less than $210 million. The amount allocated for Parkland High School is $54.6 million, while Orefield Middle School will receive $122,500,000. A new turf sports stadium at the high school will cost $19 million, and a new bus garage will cost $11 million.

By the start of the 2027–2028 academic year, the Parkland High School extension should be complete. While the plans for the Orefield Middle School expansion are "a whole animal unto itself," Oakes stated that the plans for the high school expansion are "very obvious."

This is due to the fact that the location currently houses the middle school, the football stadium, and the district's transportation center, in addition to an operations center that is still under development.

According to Oakes, "we are still figuring out how it all fits on that site." Plans for the prospective new high school stadium, according to Oakes, are contingent upon the district's decision about the Orefield Middle School site plan. In order to keep the project within budget, it also depends on whether the district receives low enough cost estimates.

By early next year, according to Oakes, the district should have a more defined plan for Orefield Middle School. By the start of the academic year 2029–2030, the Orefield Middle School extension should be complete. Assistant Secretary Timothy Dugan of the Planning Commission inquired about the strategies being used to manage the extra traffic resulting from the growing number of students. The state Transportation Department has mandated a traffic assessment for the project, which will determine whether the surrounding roads need to be improved, according to Laura Eberly of the engineering company Reuther + Bowen.

Dugan inquired as to whether the project will include any facility upgrades. According to Oakes, the district intends to modernize its boilers and HVAC systems. Chairman of the Planning Commission, David Wilson, enquired as to how the new portions will affect the building's façade.

According to Oakes, the building would blend in with the current structure because it was intended to support additions. According to Oakes, "the goal is to make it appear as though it has always been there." Oakes stated that more details regarding the Vision 2030 plan's current state will be provided during the Parkland School Board meeting on September 17.

 

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