STATE COLLEGE — On Monday, Jan. 22, the State College Area School District Board of Directors heard an update about the districtwide facilities master plan process that could lead to a new Park Forest Middle School.
The update explained efforts to form a DWFMP steering committee whose members initially will focus on renovating or replacing the aging PFMS building. Initial committee members will have a connection with PFMS. When the DWFMP shifts to other needs, the steering committee composition will change accordingly.
PFMS employees have already been invited to participate on the committee, and the district plans to invite district staff and parents to apply as well. During the DWFMP, the district will share updates on the process through community forums that will allow for input.
As the district envisions, the steering committee will include individuals from the following groups or areas of interest:
● The district — board members, middle level principals, elementary principals, high school principals, district administrators
● Municipalities — State College Borough; Patton, Ferguson, Halfmoon, and Benner Independent townships
● District-related organizations — PTO/PTA/PTSO, booster groups, SCASD Education Foundation, Citizens Advisory Committees, SCASD disability workgroup
● Community experience — finance and banking, real estate, insurance
Steering committee meetings have been scheduled for Feb. 20 and April 8, both at 6 p.m. at PFMS.
Community forums have been scheduled for:
● Feb. 27, 6 p.m., PFMS
● Feb. 29, 6 p.m., Radio Park Elementary School
● April 24, 6 p.m., Gray’s Woods Elementary School
● April 29, 6 p.m., PFMS
In addition to the DWFMP update, the board received an update about the Mount Nittany Elementary expansion that included three-dimensional renderings of the proposed new wing. MNE’s increased enrollment has led to fifth-grade classrooms being located in the neighboring Panorama Village Administrative Center in recent years. To alleviate MNE’s capacity issue, the project will add six classrooms in the wing, as well as a large group instruction room, special education rooms and a cafeteria. Plans also call for a bus drop-off loop and parking lot accessible from the existing parking area shared with Mount Nittany Middle School, a new entrance, and playing fields, all on the building’s east side.
While narrating the presentation of the renderings, John Beddia, of Crabtree Rohrbaugh and Associates, said the priority for the wing’s design will be to maintain continuity with the existing architecture. “It’s exciting to start picturing it,” Board President Amy Bader said.
Rounding out the information part of the meeting were two more updates: about the Solar Power Purchase Agreement contracts being negotiated and about districtwide building-level assessment data.
