February 21, 2024

I wanted to update all of you on the progress of our Feasibility Study and phased project that the Board has approved and started moving forward with. There have been several public meetings with CORE and a lot of information has been shared and discussed. It’s now time to start moving forward with a 3-phase project.

At last night’s Board meeting the Board approved two resolutions to ensure that Phase 1 of the project starts immediately after the last student/faculty day this school year. Last night the Board approved the borrowing of approximately $10 million dollars and appointed SitelogIQ as our GESA/ESCO provider.

Phase 1 of this project will focus on boiler replacement and HVAC work at PCHS and PCMS both of which are deemed energy savings projects. This work will start the last week of May first week of June this year. Work may continue once students return to school this August but that would be mostly 2nd/3rd shift work.

In phase 1, there are no changes to our grade/school structure which includes the 24-25 school year.

Early this fall, the Board in collaboration with the new Superintendent, Mr. Hartline, will begin scheduling knowledge-based workshops and forums for faculty/staff, parents, and community members. This would begin the preparation for phase 2 which would start the summer of 2025 and impact the 25-26 school year.

The Board will be making decisions related to building consolidation, facility/grounds renovations, and grade structures as they move into phase 2. Again, all of those discussions and decisions would most likely be made in January/February of 2025, (a year from now).

Phase 3 planning and discussions will be ongoing throughout phase 1 and phase 2 and most likely involve work for the 26-27 school year.

Just to summarize:

  • Phase 1 – Summer of 2024 into Fall of 2024
  • Phase 2 – Summer of 2025
  • Phase 3 – Summer of 2026

Our leadership team is meeting this morning to discuss sites for summer school, extracurricular activities, etc.  We are working with CORE to determine the availability of PCHS and PCMS this summer. We anticipate those building will be closed for any facility use requests for the entire summer.

Thank you and please let me know if you have any questions.

William W. Marshall
Superintendent
Penn Cambria School District