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Abington administration sets design timeline and community input plan for planned middle school
Summary
District officials say they have contracted ICS for program management and expect a 12–15 month design period before competitive bids for construction in late 2026; community input will include an online survey in September–October and stakeholder sessions.
The Abington School District said Aug. 12 it has engaged program manager ICS and is moving into the design phase of a voter-approved middle school project, with a roughly 12–15 month design timeline followed by competitive construction bidding.
Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey S. Fetcher and Chief Financial Officer Christopher A. Lyonetti told the Board of School Directors that the district entered into a contract with ICS during the June board meeting to provide program management, design and construction management services for the middle school construction, demolition and relocation of athletic fields and related improvements. Lyonetti said the district expects a 12–15 month design process "before we go up to bid in the timeframe that you're stating."
Lyonetti said the administration plans public input this fall, including an online stakeholder survey anticipated in late September to October and sessions with middle school teachers and staff to gather programming and design priorities. "There will be opportunities for community input this fall," Lyonetti said.
Officials said the district has been touring other recently built middle schools and will continue site visits as part of developing design plans. Lyonetti said financing preparations — including bond sales work — are underway and that the administration is coordinating with bond counsel and the district’s financial advisor. A separate board action Aug. 12 authorized a finance team to prepare for issuance of general obligation bonds to fund the project.
The district said the program management agreement with ICS followed a competitive procurement process; construction contracts for prime contractors will be publicly bid when plans and specifications are finalized and will follow state purchasing rules imposed by the Department of Education. Board members and administration said local contractors will be eligible to bid but the district cannot apply a local-preference rule during the award process.
Officials said more detailed timelines and financial plans will be provided to the board in future updates as design work and bond planning proceed.
Ending: The board authorized the finance team to begin preparing for a 2025 series of general obligation bonds; administration said it will return with updates to the board and with public engagement materials as design work progresses.
