Hempfield School Board decides to tear down existing high school to its bare bones, building up from there

Hempfield leaders are moving forward with a multimillion-dollar project that will involve tearing down the high school to its structural system and replacing everything as new.

School board members voted 8-0 Tuesday night to overhaul the 66-year-old building rather than renovate the existing structure or build a new school. Board member Scott Learn was absent.

The project could cost between $97.4 million and $109.9 million, although those costs could fluctuate based on inflation.

“I think the team we’ve assembled of experts is just wonderful,” board president Tony Bompiani said. “I think this is going to be a really good project.”

Board members have been considering a possible high school project since December 2020, when they moved forward with a feasibility study.

The study, completed by Bellevue-­based Core Architects and SitelogIQ of Minnesota, presented board members with three options for the high school: renovate, revitalize or rebuild. It also looked at other improvements needed across the district.

Board members held a workshop Monday to discuss which project they would move forward with, and they quickly ruled out simply renovating the school.

“I’m not as excited about a new building as I would be basically gutting this building, making the halls larger, getting everything that we need,” said board member Diane Ciabattoni. “I think the middle one is, it’s not extreme one way or another, and I like the price better. But I want what’s best. I’m willing to decide on the best possible thing for this school.”

Several school directors expressed concerns about how a new building would be positioned on the property. Conceptual drawings show a new building would take the place of a current parking lot and tennis courts located on the right side of the existing high school. The back of a new structure would face Spartan Lane.

“That’s sort of why I’ve kind of leaned toward option two because where it sits. … That’s sort of the ideal place,” said board member Paul Ward.

New athletic wing

In addition to rebuilding everything as new, conceptual drawings for revitalization show an addition for the athletic wing near the field house. The science wing could be relocated and additions could be made to the cafeteria and arts wing.

The main entrance would be moved and the exterior upgraded.

“We all want to see a big brand new school and have the best of the best and everything else. But for all intents and purposes, it’s going to be a brand new school,” said school director Mike Alfery. “We’re just kind of using the skeleton. It, in my opinion, can’t be replaced dollar for dollar at this point.”

Risks associated with revitalization center around conditions of sub-surfaces within the building.

“We feel those risks are minimal, but that is always a risk,” said Ryan Pierce, managing principal for Core Architects. “When you build new, you know exactly what you’re building.”

He noted, however, that revitalization “gives you more flexibility to manage your costs than the new building does. Once you go down the road to the new building, … you’ve got to build the new building. And it’s going to cost whatever it costs in the market. There’s no opportunity to pare back and maybe do it a little less.”

The board is now working with PNC Capital Markets LLC to secure project bonds. They will cover costs associated with construction at the high school as well as any additional costs needed to make upgrades at other district buildings.

As things currently stand, the district budgets $8.5 million annually for debt service. Final payments for existing debt will be made in 2026.

Officials said that positions the district to begin a project with little impact to taxpayers.

But Bompiani expressed concerns as interest rates continue to climb as a result of the Russian war on Ukraine. Alisha Henry, managing director at PNC, said the war has added a layer of concern to interest rates, which are climbing daily.

School board members could vote on debt resolution this month.

The project will now move into a design phase.

“To me, that’s where it really matters is when we start talking about what is the actual space going to look like, how is it going to be used, how is it going to be designed today to fit the needs of our students 20, 25, 30 years or more from now,” said Superintendent Tammy Wolicki.

Construction on the project’s first phase could begin next summer.

Phasing of the project will allow other parts of the school to be utilized for instruction, Wolicki said. Summer months will also be used to complete as much work as possible.