Hempfield SD outlines $211 million hybrid plan to rebuild and expand high school, warns of tax and construction impacts

Hempfield School District Superintendent Mike Birmersky said the district is recommending a "hybrid" high‑school project that would add roughly 300,000 square feet, renovate usable portions of the existing building and remove the oldest Franklin wing to address failing mechanical systems, cramped classrooms and circulation and safety problems.

"This is a very exciting time for our district," Birmersky said, introducing the plan and urging community feedback via Q&A cards and a QR form. He noted the high school already serves about 2,200 students and projected that, without action, the building could reach full functional capacity around 2028–2029.

The hybrid option presented by the district and KCBA architects carries an initial ballpark price of about $211 million, compared with about $131 million to renovate the existing building without expansion and $255 million for a brand‑new high school. Charles Maris, chair of the board’s building and grounds committee, said the hybrid approach offers a longer service life: "The hybrid option should give us about 75 years," whereas a renovation-only approach would have a shorter lifecycle.

Maris said Hempfield’s strong bond rating and an expanded capital reserve would allow the district to borrow at favorable terms. The district reported its capital reserve has grown from roughly $7 million in 2019 to about $55 million through two borrowings of $15 million each, a $5 million transfer from the operating budget and a commitment to set aside excess state funds. Maris said the board expects to spread incremental tax increases over about six years to cover additional debt service and that the incremental millage added for the project would be temporary once the bonds are repaid.

KCBA architect Mike Kelly described the staging and site plan: the new three‑story addition would be built on the existing baseball field, with students kept in Buchanan and Franklin wings until the new wing is ready; Buchanan would then be renovated and Franklin removed. Kelly said geotechnical tests are underway and that bidding under Pennsylvania law would likely take place in spring of the next year, with construction aimed to begin after baseball season in 2026. He estimated the new wing would take about two years to build, followed by additional years to renovate and demolish other portions as needed.

Principal Bill Brosman emphasized mechanical and instructional problems that drove the recommendation. "Nothing has been done to this building since I’ve been here," Brosman said, describing aging boilers and steam‑based heating, leaking pipes, classroom air handlers that are loud and hallways without climate control. He also cited cramped classrooms that limit modern collaborative instruction and stressed safety and circulation challenges during large events.

Architects showed renderings of a consolidated entry, widened circulation routes, a new competition gym, expanded music and arts spaces adjacent to the auditorium, expanded cafeteria and learning commons and two large parking lots designed to separate student, staff and visitor parking.

On sustainability, KCBA said the design will exceed current building‑code efficiency requirements, include a new central plant in the new wing and make the roof "solar‑ready" and accommodate green‑roof features where feasible. Board member Judy Brady said geothermal was considered but site constraints and high upfront costs made it impractical for this project.

The district said revenue is primarily local (roughly 71%), with about 26% from the state and about 1% federal, and outlined the budget tradeoffs the project requires. Superintendent Birmersky and CFO Karen Hall gave an example estimate for one year: if the district used the Act 1 index toward this work, the average household tax impact in the near term would be roughly $174, though that figure depends on the chosen millage path and final bond terms.

Officials acknowledged several impacts during construction: the baseball field would be relocated and rebuilt as part of project phasing; some parking and access near the PAC would be fenced off; preschool would be relocated temporarily; and traffic and stormwater studies would be done with township and civil engineers to mitigate neighborhood impacts. KCBA and the construction manager Fidavia said they would stage work to avoid placing students in temporary classrooms and to preserve continuity of programming.

The administration encouraged continued community engagement: schematic design is ongoing, public materials and animations will be posted on the district website, the district will host a fall forum and the buildings & grounds and finance committees will continue public meetings. "If you didn’t get all the questions answered tonight, our contact information is on the district website," a board member said.

Next steps outlined by the district are to complete schematic design in the coming months, finalize geotechnical testing and design details, go to bid in the spring and, pending approvals and bond financing, begin construction after the 2026 baseball season. The district emphasized the plan’s phased approach would minimize displacement of students but acknowledged years of construction activity would follow.

The presentation and Q&A materials will be posted on the Hempfield SD website and the board plans an October community forum for an updated status report.