Quaker Valley School District holds public hearing for proposed $105 million high school project

A proposed Quaker Valley High School project has moved one step closer to fruition.

School district officials hosted an Act 34 hearing at the current school, 625 Beaver St. on Oct. 26.

The hearing is a state requirement on any major construction plans such as new buildings or significant renovations.

The proposed 167,000-square-foot school is on about 158 acres off Camp Meeting Road. It straddles Leet Township, Edgeworth and Leetsdale.

Officials such as Superintendent Tammy Andreyko and Assistant Superintendent Andrew Surloff talked about the project’s history and need for development.

“This project is a response to a thorough evaluation of the existing high school’s facility, academic and technical programming needs (for) the student population,” Andreyko said.

Surloff said the district considered a variety of options, including renovating the existing high school and building a new one on the current site before ultimately deciding on new construction off the existing site.

The current high school was built in 1926 and went through several renovations through the years.

The hearing lasted less than two hours.

Nine out of 11 registered speakers went to the microphone with four voicing their support for the new school.

Five expressed their concerns about the project, with a few of those folks requesting it be placed on the ballot as a voter referendum.

Attendees also heard from architects and members of the district’s design team, as well as financial advisors.

Maximum building construction costs for the proposed high school was listed at $72.1 million and total maximum project cost at $105 million.

William Jasper, Leetsdale resident and Quaker Valley school board candidate, said the district’s figures were understated. He said the validity of the financial estimates will be “tested” when the project goes out for bid.

He questioned the buildability of the land acquired by the district for the school, and that retaining walls would be needed.

Resident Barbara Bower lives below the proposed site. She raised concerns about the land’s slope and if funds would be set aside to cover any damages to properties in case of a landslide.

“The hill has been very stable for the 30-plus years I’ve lived there,” Bower said, “so I think if something does collapse, it’s probably going to be because of the construction.”

School district officials did not immediately respond to the questions raised during the public comment portion of the hearing.

Resident Wendy Quattlebaum said she supported the project ever since a public discussion with other parents and a consulting group at Osborne Elementary in 2016.

She lauded the administration’s project transparency.

“Since that time, I have closely followed the district’s slow but steady progress to provide our students with a much-needed new high school facility,” she said. “I’ve attended board meetings, sat through zoning hearings, read numerous reports from engineers, environmental experts, traffic experts and architects. All of which have been made publicly available by the district.

“It’s this thorough approach that gives me confidence in supporting the new school.”

Matthew Provenzano said he and his family owns multiple properties in the Quaker Valley area and paid millions to the district.

“We’ve always believed in investment here and being part of this community,” Provenzano said. “The premium is no longer justified with the performance of the school.”

He said the project should be on a voter referendum.

“They want a new school, but they just don’t want an overpriced one on a hill,” Provenzano said.

Former school board member Joan Murdoch said she was impressed with the various professionals hired by the district to work on the project, and that it is much needed.

A booklet with information on the history of the project, why the district says it is needed, its floor plans and financial analysis was also provided as part of the hearing.

It was posted to the district’s website under the Blueprint QV section of the “District” tab.

Resident Janet Innamorato said there were several inaccuracies in the booklet. They included the omission of the $9.4 million for site acquisition and $10 million borrowed to purchase the land.

The section of the booklet that was labeled “site acquisition costs” had a bunch of Xs where numbers would be inserted.

The other section Innamorato cited for financing costs did not list the 2017 bond.

Innamorato also claimed the district is building a school for 1,000 students when a population study more than five years ago indicated less than 700 would be enrolled.

District Solicitor Donald Palmer, after the hearing, said he disagreed with Innamorato’s assertions and called the booklet “appropriate” for the hearing.

Written public comments about the project are being accepted until noon Nov. 28.

A comment submission form can be found at qvsd.org/Act34.