STATE COLLEGE — The State College Area School District Board of Directors has given its approval for bids for the Mount Nittany Elementary School renovation project at the school board meeting on Monday, Sept. 23.
The Mount Nittany Elementary School project will construct a 40,000-square-foot wing due to increased enrollment at the elementary school. The building addition will include an extra classroom for each grade and multiple other classrooms for special education and student support services.
The renovation project will also include a classroom specifically designed for STEM and instrumental music, a new cafeteria and a new main entrance.
After the renovation, Mount Nittany Elementary School’s enrollment size is expected to be comparable to that of Park Forest Elementary School, which currently has around 430 students enrolled, and Radio Park Elementary School, which has around 400 students.
Next on the agenda for the renovation project, which was first introduced in August 2023 and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2026, is an Act 34 public hearing at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, at the Panorama Village Administration boardroom in State College.
An Act 34 public hearing, also known as the Taj Mahal Act, is a Pennsylvania law that requires a public hearing for all major construction projects, including new builds and renovations. The main purpose of these hearings is for the public to be able to openly address concerns and be provided with accurate information.
At the hearing on Monday, Sept. 30, project architects and district administrators will present the construction details and the financing plan.
After bids are approved by the school board, construction on the renovation of the elementary school could start as soon as December 2024 or January 2025 and is expected to last 18 months.
The school board will receive and review the project bids on Monday, Nov. 18, and will accept said project bids on Monday, Dec. 2.
