Pages 6 and 7

Planning for a BOLD Future

Construction of a New Intermediate School
Estimated Cost as of September 2024 - $46.3 Million
Currently, the District’s two intermediate schools (East York Elementary, constructed in 1957, and Indian Rock Elementary, constructed in 1972) need significant renovations and will require costly maintenance in the coming years. In the long term, it is more fiscally responsible to close these buildings and consolidate them into one more operationally efficient new school. A new building also allows us to improve our programming and maintain small class sizes. It will save costs because special area (music, art, etc.) teachers and students receiving special education services will no longer have to travel between the two buildings. Construction of a new intermediate school is a choice that is both financially responsible and educationally sound.

Renovations to the High School and Pool
Estimated Cost - $63.3 Million
Our high school, built in 1958, needs renovations to provide optimal learning environments that meet each student’s individualized needs; contemporary classrooms and facilities to foster students’ creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking; spaces for modern science and technical programs that align to changing student and workforce needs; efficient and effective use of staffing and resources; and improved building safety/security. Renovations to the high school pool, built in the late 1950s, would also be included. A structural investigation completed in September 2024 identified several deficiencies in the pool structure which need to be addressed. Once updated, the pool would also be available for use by community members.

Updated Programming
As we plan for the future, it’s clear that our schools, including the curriculum and instruction, must evolve. Our students need more than traditional or classical instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics. They need contemporary opportunities for experiential learning to develop essential “21st century skills” such as critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. But it’s not just about these skills. Students also need specific practical knowledge such as financial literacy and basic home management skills. These are not just additional skills, but crucial tools that will empower them to navigate the complexities of adult life with confidence.

York Suburban has taken steps to move our written curriculum in this direction. Now, the District must also move our schools forward in this same direction by providing physical learning environments that can best facilitate these experiences.

Benefits of making changes to the current educational spaces and launching new programs include:

• Retaining students and funding.
• Increasing student engagement with more equitable offerings.
• Producing graduates with real-world skills who can immediately transition into community-supporting jobs after graduation.

Examining Our Options
It is more fiscally responsible to close the two aging schools and build one new, more operationally efficient building. 

The facility study process involved analyzing many factors related to the District’s facilities. These included projected enrollments; planned programs; building capacities; physical conditions; mechanical, engineering, and plumbing systems; and school safety/security.

In August 2023, the Board reviewed the facility study and cost estimates for renovating East York and Indian Rock Elementary Schools and building one intermediate school. The difference at that time was less than $65,000. Based on those estimates and other criteria used to evaluate the options, the Board authorized the Administration to proceed with planning and design for an intermediate school and renovations to the existing high school.