Hallowell School Land Transfer Expected in May

A 30-day public comment period regarding environmental concerns on land that will house a brand-new Hallowell Elementary School is expected to segue into land transfer and eventual school construction, officials said.

By mid-May, the Hatboro-Horsham School District anticipates that the acquisition of the Horsham Memorial Army Reserve Center on Easton Road in Horsham will be complete, Bob Reichert, director of business affairs said during Tuesday's school board work session. 

"The property is clear for transfer and environmentally safe to build a school," Reichert said. "The Army is also currently working on the deed transfer paperwork for the property."

Reichert said the public will also have 30 days to share any environmental concerns with regard to the property. Public notices will be printed in area newspapers and information will be available at the Horsham Township Library and the Union Library of Hatboro, he said.

"We do anticipate conversation," Superintendent Curtis Griffin said. 

Since the district intends to build a new Hallowell Elementary School on the property, Reichert said the district is receiving the land as a "100 percent conveyance," or free of charge. The slight cost involves the expense of demolishing buildings, he said. 

Once final plans are finalized, the existing nearly 52-year-old school would be demolished and a new school would be built where the federal government's brick buildings currently stand, officials said previously. The school, which could cost between $15 million to $20 million depending on its size and scope, is expected to be finished by June 2016. 

District officials said previously that the size of the future Hallowell will dictate how many elementary schools would remain open.