STATE COLLEGE — State College Area School Board on Monday, March 2 approved the Park Forest Middle School Act 34 booklet. The booklet provides comprehensive details about the project, including site plans and cost estimates, and is available for public inspection.
An Act 34 public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, March 23 at the Panorama Village Administration Building. The hearing provides another chance for public feedback.
The board approved seeking bids for the project last month. Construction is expected to begin in May and the building is scheduled to open in January 2029, according to the latest timeline.
Special Education update
Also at the meeting, the board heard an update on the district’s special education and gifted plan. School districts are required to submit an updated plan every three years to the state Department of Education.
As of Dec. 1, 2025, 1,011 SCASD students receive special education, or 15.1 percent of students. That number is growing, up from 14.25 percent last year. Those numbers remain below the state average. When compared to the state, SCASD has a higher percentage of students educated inside regular classrooms for more of the day.
The district is focused on building capacity to provide a continuum of services to meet the evolving needs of its students, administrators said in their report. In recent years, the district has expanded its special education staffing to address the increasing number of students and continues to monitor the special education population and student needs that correlate with this growth, they said.
Following the review, the draft of the plan will be posted on the district’s website for review. The board could consider the final plan for approval in April.
Other business
In other business, the board approved:
- a resolution to apply for a PA Department of Community and Economic Development grant that would provide 75% of the cost for roof replacements at four district schools. These building upgrades were identified as part of a 2025-2036 10-year capital plan.
- purchasing instructional resources and funding professional development training related to the updated Math Scope and Sequence for grades K-8, which outlines the courses that will be offered and the order in which they will be taught.
- the termination agreement between the Centre County Solar Group and developer Prospect 14 related to the intergovernmental solar project. Due to changes in regulations and financial incentives, the developer was no longer able to move forward with the contract as agreed upon. The 10 members of the CCSG will receive a payment of $135,000 in the settlement.
