Construction moves forward on referendum and state-funded projects in Colonial School District

At the July 14 board meeting the Colonial School District received a quarterly facilities update outlining progress on both state-funded and referendum-funded capital projects.

Operations director Mr. Moffett said work at the state-funded John G. Leech school is well underway and that concrete pours were expected within days. He emphasized this project is state funded and does not draw on local tax dollars. Three referendum projects — including roof replacement and athletic-complex work at William Penn, security and ADA improvements at Gunning Bedford, and site work at Eigenberg — are moving into active construction phases with some elements slightly ahead of schedule.

Moffett described a cost-saving measure: relocating excavated dirt from the Leech site to other referendum sites, which he estimated would produce roughly a 50% savings on material acquisition for those projects. He also discussed phasing plans intended to keep extracurricular activities operational during construction: turf fields could be available as early as spring, and the stadium complex is expected to be ready in fall 2027.

Board members asked timing and sequencing questions. Moffett said Leech is planned to open next school year, with an overall 14–18 month build timeline subject to weather. He encouraged board members and community observers to visit active sites and noted upcoming groundbreaking and ADA-accessible community events tied to the projects.

The board thanked staff for the update and deferred detailed contract and schedule decisions to the construction review committee and administration.