Fountain Hill demolition on schedule; Freedom High auditorium and field-house projects advance

District facilities staff told the Facilities Committee that demolition of the old Fountain Hill building finished as planned and site work has started. Staff showed photos of staged demolition, explained tight site constraints for the new building footprint and said the project remains on schedule with approximately 19 months of remaining work.

At Freedom High School, a multi-part summer program of renovations included asbestos abatement, a new sound booth, an accessible elevator to the stage, improved egress and floor lighting trenches to meet current codes, new seating finishes and architectural lighting, and removal of dated wood paneling. The presentation emphasized improved accessibility and safety, noting added companion seating and handrails and that the renovated stage is now structurally sound for full performance use. "We built that out... now an accessible elevator to now make the stage accessible for all of our students," a facilities presenter said.

Staff also reported other summer projects—water-heater replacements, intercom upgrades and a new roof at Governor Wolf—and previewed a planned field-house project for Freedom High School that has completed land-development review with Bethlehem Township. The field-house is estimated at about $3,000,000 to $3,600,000; staff said a facility-improvement grant will offset part of the cost and that the project will be bid later in the month with a recommendation to the board in November.

Board members asked about student involvement opportunities. Facilities staff said direct student labor on live contractor-managed work is usually impractical for safety and contracting reasons but encouraged apprenticeships, site visits and VOTEC house projects as ways to give students hands-on exposure.