District presents high school site plan, $298M budget and phase‑1 timeline; $14.78M preliminary hard cost for athletic phase

District officials and the project team gave a multi‑part update on the new Easton high school project, covering site plans, permitting, schedule and financing.

Colliers site planner Doug White reviewed a two‑phase site plan: phase 1 focuses on the western Kunkle tract with a turf varsity baseball field, varsity turf softball field, relocation of tennis courts and related road/sidewalk improvements. Phase 2 locates the new school north of the existing high school and includes parking, a dedicated bus lot and circulation changes to separate bus and car traffic.

Architectural presenters described the new building as a three‑story academic wing with a performing‑arts wing, athletics facilities including a 3,000‑person assembly/gym space, natatorium and extensive mechanical/solar screening. The team emphasized durability, maintainability and flexible interior spaces intended to adapt to future instructional models.

Project manager Mike DePodwin (CHA) outlined the near‑term timeline: planning commission review (Palmer Township) scheduled for Feb. 10, advertising for phase‑1 work Feb–Mar, mandatory pre‑bid and site visits in March, bid opening April 8, standing‑committee bid review April 14 and anticipated board approval in late April; notice‑to‑proceed in May with construction beginning June 2026 and about one year for phase 1 completion. He reported a preliminary phase 1 hard‑cost estimate of $14,780,000 and said the overall project estimate remains $298,000,000.

On financing, Ken Phillips of Raymond James described a phased borrowing approach that would fund a $20,000,000 financing for the athletic complex and refund portions of existing debt to realize debt‑service savings. He discussed the district’s historical debt profile (annual debt service ~ $16.5 million), Act 1 index constraints and the need for a reimbursement resolution and bond‑rating process timed with the bidding schedule.

Officials stressed that several approvals remain: conditional approvals from the planning commission and county conservation district for stormwater permits, plus a zoning hearing board variance process for building length in certain zones. The team also noted an Act 34 hearing scheduled the following week for public comment on the project. Value‑engineering work has been completed and the design team will progress toward construction documents.

Next steps: planning commission and Board of Supervisors reviews, responses to county conservation comments, bid advertising and the bond‑rating/timing work with bond counsel and financial advisors. District staff plan to return with refined hard‑cost estimates during the construction‑document phase and to present final contract language for board approval before awarding construction contracts.