Matt Schickling, the Wire
On Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, students will come pouring back into Bensalem schools to begin the 2015–2016 school year. The classrooms have been empty, but district administrators were working through the summer to make sure the facilities are ready for the students, and for the most part, they are.
One major point of concern is the ongoing high school construction project. The $78 million project is intended to transform the aging high school into a state-of-the-art facility, improving almost every aspect of the school in a phased sequence so that it can be utilized during renovations.
Last November, when officials first broke ground, Superintendent David Baugh was holding the shovel. Now, Dr. Sam Lee is steering the project, which is expected to complete in 2017. He was named superintendent of Bensalem schools in June, after Baugh decided not to renew his expiring contract. Previously, Lee was superintendent of Bristol Township School District.
Phase two, the most involved and complicated part of the renovations, is nearing completion, but not every aspect will be finished by the beginning of the school year. This part of the project included the cafeteria and auditorium as major pieces.
“The bulk of the renovation is less challenging and less involved than phase two,” Lee said. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not challenging.”
High schoolers will not have hot food options in the cafeteria for the first few weeks of school, Lee said, and there will not be time to install the terrazzo flooring, but the cafeteria will be functional. Sandwiches, salads and other food options will be available until the kitchen is ready to implement full services and the staff is trained to use the new equipment.
“While we’re disappointed in that, I’m confident the kids can get through it,” Lee said.
It’s not necessarily a setback, just a bump in the road. These are the kinds of challenges that may come in a project of this scale.
This is something Lee experienced on a larger scale in Bristol Township, when last year’s harsh winter caused delays in the construction of new elementary schools.
“My experience in the position usually relates to an awareness of challenges and opportunities and aligning them with a community’s mission,” Lee said. “The bottom line is you want to advance your community.”
But there’s an added incentive for Lee in Bensalem — he’s been a resident of the township for 27 years. Five of his seven children graduated through the district, and the other two are still in Bensalem schools.
“There are some advantages to me being a resident. I try to always look at things from multiple and diverse perspectives,” he said.
Another aspect of change, not only in the district, but across the state is that some parent volunteers need to get criminal clearances to participate in school activities. A law that went into effect this year calls for people working or volunteering with children to update their clearances every 36 months.
“Certainly the intent is to make sure that kids stay safe,” Lee said.
The information for these clearances is located at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov or on the district website.
The district is also moving on the sale of the former site of Armstrong Middle School, a Street Road property that has not hosted students since the mid-2000s. The school board was scheduled to hear proposals from two potential buyers for the 30-acre property on Aug. 18, but the meeting was delayed because the developers requested more time to prepare their presentations, Lee said.
The sale isn’t expected to go through until 2017, but the price has been projected to be north of $8 million, which would bring in funds needed for district-wide capital improvement projects.
“We’re ready to move the district forward,” Lee said. “I think it is well-positioned to grow and build on its successes.”
For information on the district and updates on the high school construction, visit www.bensalemsd.org.
