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Community Corner

New Hallowell Elementary Site Plan Takes Center Stage at Hatboro-Horsham Board Meeting June 16th

Hatboro-Horsham School District is continuing its efforts to provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for 21st century learners with the development of a new Hallowell Elementary School. Architectural firm EI Associates’ Vice President Bonnie Sowers presented a schematic of the building to the school board during its meeting on June 16. The two level, 88,000 square feet building will be constructed to LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold standards.

In the spring, the school board approved phase I of the project for a new building that can welcome 600 students. Over the summer, the school district is moving into phase II of the project. This phase consists of seeking input and ideas from community and staff for a finalized plan before holding Act 34 hearings in September.

“I’m very excited about the progress we made so far,” Superintendent Curtis Griffin said. “The school district is thrilled that we’re able to include community stakeholders throughout this process. We will continue to listen to them as the project moves forward throughout the months ahead.”

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Funding of the project got an early boost when the district received a state LEED grant for $2 million and received the former Army Reserves property for $1. The remaining costs will be financed through a responsible financial plan that the school district has been working on for several years, which includes bond funding, so Hatboro-Horsham will be able to minimize taxpayer burden. With the Willow Grove Naval Air Station redevelopment, the district anticipates future student growth.

“Hallowell is a good candidate for being rebuilt,” Director of Business Affairs Bob Reichert said. “The school is centrally located in the district and its outdated operating system needed renovations. However, the amount of these renovations would not be feasible or cost effective.”

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Reichert said there were many positives to rebuilding Hallowell, which included constructing the new school on the adjacent former Army Reserves property and not disrupting student education at the current building. Additionally, the building will be state-of-the-art and offer students a more encouraging, flexible learning environment.

“The flexibility of the new building will improve our educational offerings,” Hallowell Principal Steve Glaize said. He said currently, the school uses an all-purpose room as both a gym and cafeteria. At the new building, plans have already been established to create separate spaces for these needs, which will allow for more student learning opportunities. “The district is embarking on something that will change the future of education with this new building.”

The new school will also be available for community use for events and organizations. Reichert said the goal of the district was to create a school that not only incorporated better learning opportunities, but offered the community educational and cultural programs as well.

Hallowell parents, district staff and the Hatboro-Horsham community are encouraged to share their ideas for the new building by submitting comments through the Hallowell webpage, hosted by the district’s website at www.hatboro-horsham.org.
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