Pottstown School District Study

District Wide Feasibility Study

The Pottstown School District is located in Montgomery County, 20 miles north west of Philadelphia. The district is somewhat unique in that it is small (less than 4 square miles), landlocked, and is co-terminus with the borough limits of Pottstown. As a result, the district enjoyed a unique advantage in that the majority of its pupils live within walking distance of district schools. In addition, a close relationship exists between the borough and the district as the tax base of each entity is one and the same.

Problem

The district, after years of steadily declining enrollment, experienced a reversal and an increase in enrollment from 1990 to 1998. Much of this gain was fueled by an intergenerational shift in the demographics of the community. As older residents left, they were being replaced by young families who found the residences in the borough to be excellent starter homes. In addition, the number of pupils receiving special education support programs rose to over 20% of the district’s total enrollment.

The district faced the need to house pupils in modular classrooms at most school locations. Though the board had begun an aggressive series of limited scope renovation projects at many of its buildings beginning in the early 1990’s, years of under funding and simple aging of the buildings resulted in a tremendous backlog of work to be accomplished. A strong historic preservation movement in the community at large also presented the district with a challenge as it looked at the comparative cost of the renovation and expansion of 80 year old buildings versus new construction.

Process

To address the community’s concerns Vern McKissick, as partner in charge of the Harrisburg office of Hayes Large Architects, implemented a three?phase study process that resulted in development of community consensus. Key to the process was the establishment of a 40?person building advisory group which was composed of representative appointed by the community including the mayor, representatives from the local chamber of commerce, sports booster clubs, the AARP and other local organizations.

Solution

The final solution, later implemented by Mr. McKissick, resulted in the renovation and construction of a 62,000 SF addition to the existing 1932 middle school. Although a renovation project, the solution as implemented was able to address the implementation of a true middle level instruction program versus the limitations of the present facility originally constructed as a junior high school and never renovated. Through a creative scheduling of this building program during the master study process the project was able to be compressed to ½ the time of a traditional program. For a one year period 6th grade pupils were retained at elementary level and a double session held at the nearby High School allowed accommodation of grades 7 and 8. Phase III of the master plan will include renovation or replacement of one District Elementary school and renovations to two others, all sequenced over a five year period to minimize pupil disruption.