Community Involvement Continues with New Phila School Facility Plan

Mary Alice Reporting –

The Master Planning Facility Committee held a fourth meeting to discuss the future for the City of New Philadelphia school district.

The need for this committee is better understanding of long-term facility needs. This is needed as the structures continuing to age, with the seven buildings built between 1913 and 1957. Repairs are costly and mechanical systems are reaching their end of life which will require a replacement.

During the November meeting, eight developer plans were reviewed, and some preferences included moving 6^th grade to the elementary school level, keeping all pre-kindergarten in one facility instead of divided, and keeping the Quaker Dome for sports only.

District Superintendent Amy Wentworth started the latest meeting by emphasizing that the planning was going to be community driven.

“And that’s why you’re here tonight. To provide input and to really help craft what is our master facilities plan for the district. TDA is the pre-bond architect that we have hired to really walk us through this process and help us to get ready to put this plan in place if we get to that point.”

In attendance was City Mayor Joel Day, who was part of the community tables, and following a breakout session, groups presented locations they were in favor of or additional potential sites. Day noted his table was in favor of a middle/high school building at the 16^th Street site.

“I think it’s time to go back to the University branch trustees and see if they would be interested in selling land right across from the KSU Tusc campus. Tech Park was another one we talked about that’s a possibility.”

TDA also presented different site challenges and advantages.

More details, including slides from the previous meetings, can be found at www.npschools.org, under Facility Master Planning Project.