Council Rock School District officials are planning to borrow another $42.7 million over the next two years to finance two major elementary school renovations-additions.
School district interim Business Director Robert Reinhart outlined steps for floating bond issues of $23 million this year and $19.7 million in 2024 at the Feb. 9 Facilities/Finance Committee meeting. The money would be used to complete financing of an ongoing $31.72 million project at Sol Feinstone Elementary School in Upper Makefield, and an upcoming renovation-addition at Richboro Elementary School in Northampton, recently estimated to cost about $35 million.
All steps toward borrowing the funds would have to be approved by the school board. According to the rough timetable laid out by Reinhart, district officials would go to settlement on this year’s bond issue in late April or early May.
The project at Richboro ES when it’s completed would substantially finish off a multi-year cycle of major projects in Council Rock that has seen work done at almost every one of the district’s 14 schools and an entire replacement of Newtown Middle School.
“Maintaining the buildings after Richboro is done will be very important,” school board President Ed Salamon said. “We only have so much buying power.”
Also at the Feb. 9 meeting, Supervisor of Facilities/Physical Plant Jessica Binda-Rischow went over plans to install new playgrounds at seven of Council Rock’s 10 elementary schools by September 2025 at a total cost of $2 million. All the new playgrounds would be accessible to students with physical disabilities, she said.
Scheduled for work would be Holland, Goodnoe, Newtown, Maureen Welch, Churchville, Rolling Hills and Wrightstown elementary schools. New playgrounds have already been or will be erected at Hillcrest, Sol Feinstone and Richboro as a part of larger projects at those elementary schools.
“We do need some refreshers,” Binda-Rischow said of the need for new playgrounds. “Play has changed over the last 20 years.”
The facilities committee is also recommending a two-year contract extension for ABM to continue custodial services at district schools at a cost of $4.9 million in 2023-24 and $5.1 million in 2024-25. All items discussed at the Feb. 9 combined committees meeting must be approved by the full school board at one of its regular meetings.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
