Breslin Architects study shows long‑term enrollment decline; district models renovations for full‑day kindergarten

Breslin Architects presented results of an updated utilization study to Pennridge School District committees on June 10, reporting sustained enrollment declines and proposing facility changes to support planned full‑day kindergarten.

Michael Bell, a principal at Breslin, reviewed historical enrollment data and new enrollment projections produced with the Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL). The district’s total enrollment declined about 16.2% (roughly 1,200 students) between 2015–16 and 2024–25, with elementary enrollment falling about 19.2% and middle school enrollment falling about 21.1% over that span. PEL’s 10‑year projection presented to the committee projects a further district‑wide decline of about 8.1% over the next decade, with much of the projected decline occurring in the first five years of the outlook.

Breslin combined enrollment forecasts with floor plan reviews and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) capacity methodology to estimate building capacities and utilization rates. Bell reported that many elementary schools currently operate with spare capacity (utilizations generally between about 66%–80%), while middle schools show considerably lower utilization—some below 50%—and the high school sits near 68% utilization.

Because full‑day kindergarten reduces the number of classrooms available (a district half‑day classroom serving two sections becomes a single full‑day section), Breslin modeled options to create additional kindergarten classrooms by converting large existing rooms into two “small‑group” rooms better sized for special education and intervention. The firm identified targeted renovations at six elementary schools to create approximately 7,000 square feet of small‑group space. Breslin estimated renovation costs around $2.9 million and projected that adding full‑day kindergarten district‑wide and associated needs (additional buses, staffing and one‑time renovation costs) could raise initial costs to about $4.0 million, with ongoing annual costs of roughly $1.2 million (teachers and bus drivers) if implemented broadly.

Bell and administration staff noted redistricting and targeted additions at specific schools (Dibler and Grass) as tools to rebalance utilization. They proposed conducting a careful, multi‑stakeholder redistricting process if full‑day kindergarten is expanded, and emphasized that the conceptual renovation plans would be adjusted locally to preserve grade‑level groupings and special education programs.

The presentation was framed as conceptual planning; no decisions were recorded in committee. Staff said the administration will use the study results to inform next steps—including possible redistricting, more detailed cost estimates and integrating facilities work into the district capital plan.