Middle school addition nears partial turnover; parent raises student-site safety concerns

CHA project manager Josh Grice and district staff briefed the Springfield Township School District property committee on December 18 on progress at the middle school and a parent who attended raised safety concerns about the construction site.

Grice said the project is being delivered in phases and that the overall building renovation is expected to be complete in August 2026. He told the committee that Phase 1c — the new secured main entrance, vestibule and administration suite just to the right of the cafeteria — is scheduled for final township inspection and occupancy on 2025-12-19. "The interior spaces are being completed with finishes, paint, ceiling tile, casework, [and] appliances," Grice said, adding that fire alarm, speaker and card-access systems are being tested for day one when students return.

Grice also reviewed the auditorium addition, saying the masonry exterior walls and waterproofing are in place and the roof is installed so interior mechanical and electrical work can proceed through the winter. He displayed photos comparing architectural renderings to built areas including the stage opening and reception/welcome spaces.

On phasing, Grice said new student bathrooms outside the cafeteria are finished and a partial kitchen extension behind the auditorium will begin in January 2026; cafeteria operations will continue behind temporary partitions during construction. He described a separate renovation (Phase 3a) to convert the existing main entrance/administration suite into a clinical suite after staff relocate.

Grice warned the committee that geothermal well-field installation has been more difficult than anticipated because subsurface conditions vary within the well footprint. "We're finding very different conditions from one area to the next," he said, and the contractor paused activity to bring a different drill rig and bits to site. The contractor expects delivery of the new drill by December and Grice estimated mobilization to the site could be "up to about two months from now," making the well-field a focal point for spring completion so it can be integrated with the HVAC system.

Kara (meeting host) confirmed food-service logistics for the move: meals will be prepared at the high school and transported to the middle school beginning when students return on January 5 and continue through the end of the school year. Food will be individually prepackaged to meet off-site transport health requirements, and menus have been posted on Nutrislice/Nutriserve.

During the public-comment period, Marielle Marsh of Orland, Pennsylvania, told the committee she had repeatedly reported hazardous conditions at the construction site without response. Marsh said she has photos showing an open gate and a child riding a bike through the site when no construction personnel were present. "The problems at the construction site related to safety have continued," she said, and asked the district to take the concerns seriously. Kara acknowledged the comment and said Marsh's remarks were placed on the record.

The committee asked about wayfinding and exterior signage for the new entrance; Grice said exterior signage is included in the general-contractor scope, that temporary signs will direct people when the entrance opens, and that final signage will likely follow site shaping in spring. The committee was told there are no board action items arising from this meeting.

The property committee scheduled its next meeting for a Wednesday in March at 8 a.m. (virtual).