Abington Heights board approves phased middle school addition, declines full rebuild

The Abington Heights School District Board voted to move forward with a phased renovation and addition to the district middle school, approving the plan identified in the meeting as “Option 3,” with seven board members voting yes and two abstaining.

The vote authorizes a project the district described in discussion as roughly $41,000,000–$42,000,000 to add classroom space for seventh- and eighth-grade students and to renovate the school’s music, art and STEM areas. Board members said the plan preserves the option to expand later in a manner similar to a larger addition described as Option 4.

District officials and board members said the approval responds to longstanding safety and instructional concerns at the middle school, which serves grades five through eight. Speakers called out the school’s semicircular classroom wing, limited natural light and walls made with particle board as impediments to learning and safety. The approved phase does not renovate the auditorium, cafeteria or library, board members said.

During debate, several directors pushed to delay a proposed new gymnasium included as an alternate in the construction bids. One board member who spoke at length — identified in the transcript as an unnamed board member — urged the board to “save those funds and use those funds for the fifth and sixth grade classrooms,” saying the gym’s roughly $4,500,000 price tag would be better spent addressing the most acute classroom needs. The member said fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms currently remain in the semicircular wing until a potential later phase can be completed.

Board member Rod Azar said he was “very excited” to approve the project and urged the finance committee to finalize financing quickly so the district can take risk off the table and move forward. Board member Mrs. Henderson, who said she has served on the board for four years, described tours of district facilities and called for a detailed look at options to reconfigure the semicircular classroom area in a future phase.

Supporters framed the approved plan as a fiscally prudent compromise. The board’s discussion referenced cost estimates and a facilities study presented by the district’s consultants (KCBA was cited in discussion), with directors saying a complete replacement would exceed available resources. Proponents emphasized the option to add more educational space later if funding allows.

A roll-call vote followed. Missus Henderson, Missus Karam, Mister Moran, Mister Robeson, Mister Abdela, Mister Azar and Mister Acker voted yes; Missus Hillebrand and Missus Tierney abstained. The chair said the motion carried, 7 yes with 2 abstentions.

The board did not adopt specific language in the meeting minutes for amendments or financing terms; directors said the finance committee will continue work on funding scenarios and will publish projections for the public. The board’s motion to approve the project was not transcribed verbatim in the record provided (motion text not specified).