The New Lower Moreland High School

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On September 2nd 2018, the Lower Moreland Township School District welcomed Dr. Scott Davidheiser as the new Superintendent of Lower Moreland Schools.  Early in his tenure, Dr. Davidheiser realized that it was important to begin discussions with the school board, administrators, faculty, township officials, and students about the impact of growing enrollment on the capacity of each of the District’s school buildings. The pressing concern was that two of the three school buildings were rapidly approaching 100% capacity.  Serious safety concerns had also emerged, in and around the parking areas of the high school.  Moreover, collective sentiment was rapidly mounting that it was time to address and revamp the “education visioning for the School District.” It was time for a major change.

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In response to these concerning developments, Dr. Davidheiser, in conjunction with the school board and administrators, set out to arrange for a thorough and impartial district-wide feasibility study. The goal of the feasibility study as Dr. Davidheiser explained, was to take a serious look at the District’s “strengths and weakness” through both, rational and objective lenses. The study was also expected to assess future enrollment projections, essential and evolving program requirements, as well as, the baseline conditions and structures of the District’s existing facilities.  In late 2018, the Board hired KCBA Architects and the PFM Company to execute the feasibility study and to prepare projected financial impact statements for each of the proposed solutions on the District’s budget. 

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In an effort to provide the District with a rational and objective 10-year enrollment projection, KCBA Architects analyzed a variety of raw and trend data to include: Live Birth Data, Historical Enrollment, Charter School Enrollment, Non-Public School Enrollment, Community Demographics and Housing Information. The results of the study concluded that: (1) Enrollment had increased over the past decade; (2) The District was strongly projected to welcome an additional 350 students over the next decade; (3) Future residential expansion and new housing developments would only continue to drive enrollment upwards; and, (4) All of the District’s grade levels and buildings would be impacted by increased student enrollment. 

 

While some essential aspects of education remain constant and firmly engrained, others are subject to and benefit greatly from change. The workforce, teaching platforms and learning environments have changed significantly over the past decade.  Further adaptation and evolution are expected across the board.  Online teaching, learning, knowledge sharing and collaboration are just the tip of the iceberg.  Virtual classes and breakout rooms across time zones and continents are no longer mere glimpses of science fiction, but rather a genuine part of an exciting and essential new reality.  Moreover, various aspects of advanced technology, computer programing, scientific research, biological studies, visual design, performing arts, and engineering are rapidly seeping down to high school level curriculums.  These essential and evolving requirements impacted KCBA’s designs and proposals for the LMTSD.  Also part of KCBA’s calculations was the fact that the District had seen a significant increase in ESL enrollment, and in the demand for pre- and after-school student care options to assist working parents.  Moreover, consideration had to be given to the fact that the District had significantly expanded its special education and special needs programs.  These specific factors and considerations would too require more adaptable buildings, flexible classrooms, up-to-code accommodations, multiple state-of –the-art learning centers, and a variety of easily accessible and open activity spaces.   All of these requirements fed into the solution options KCBA Architects prepared for the District’s review.  

  

KCBA’s inspections and analyses of the District’s existing conditions and building structures focused on the following: Overall Functionality, General Condition, Building Systems, Code Compliance, Energy Efficiency, Security Protocols and Safety Assessments.  Between January 2019 and April 2019, KCBA Architects were given an opportunity to look inside each of the district’s three public school buildings: Pine Road Elementary, Murray Avenue School and Lower Moreland High School.  They took into account the construction and renovation history, structure size, building capacity, current enrollment figures and educational responsibility (i.e. K-5, 6-8, 9-12) of each school asset.  They also surveyed the property grounds and assessed the surrounding area at each site. 

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On September 24th 2019, representative from KCBA Architects and the PFM Company met privately with the District’s Facilities Committee to share the results of the feasibility and enrollment studies. They were also set to discuss several proposed project options as well as the impact of each option on the District’s budget. This meeting took place “in the Pine Road Boardroom located in the Pine Road School Library.” (Dr. Davidheiser email 9/19/2019).  On October 1, 2019, Dr. Davidheiser announced that a Public Forum would be held at the Lower Moreland High School Auditorium at 7pm, on October 10th 2019. The purpose of this Public Forum was to share the results of the various studies and impact statements with the entire Lower Moreland community.  The Public Forum would also feature KCBA Architect’s presentation of the various options developed for the LMTSD, as well as an in-depth discussion of each option’s pros and cons’ and projected costs. (Dr. Davidheiser email 10/3/2019).  It was made clear in Dr. Davidheiser’s announcement that the studies and options being presented that evening had taken into account the results of the many surveys and opinions that had been gathered from both the Lower Moreland schools and surrounding residential communities.  He wrote, “Over the past ten months, the District has engaged our school and Township communities in seeking their opinions regarding educational visioning and facilities.” (Davidheiser email 10/03/19) The Lower Moreland High School auditorium was packed that evening for the historic Public Form. 

 

First and foremost, it was made clear that further construction at Pine Road Elementary School was not legally or logistically possible.  Second, it was revealed that further maintenance of, or investment into the old Murray Avenue School building would not be in the best interest of either the District or Township community.  As Davidheiser later explained in a September 8th 2021 interview, the costs involved with running old structures and buildings can be very high.  While there is much sentiment and history associated with Murray Avenue School the Board would agree with KCBA’s recommendation that it was in everyone’s best interest to demolish the old building.  This option would then make room for additional green space on the property and allow for the expansion of an athletic field complex.  It was further recommended that upon some minimal renovations, the District’s middle school students be eventually relocated to the existing high school building.  At this location, the District would be in a position to realign fifth grade students within the confines of the future Lower Moreland Middle School.  Pine Road Elementary School would subsequently benefit tremendously from the additional space provided by a reduced K-4th educational responsibility.  Finally, KCBA Architects and the PFM Company unanimously recommended that the construction of a new Lower Moreland High School building just down the hill on Red Lion Road would serve as the most economically responsible option before the District and residents of Lower Moreland Township.  

   

The projected costs involved with the demolition of the Murray Avenue building, renovations within the existing high school building and the construction of a new Lower Moreland High School building would require the District to pursue an estimate $70 million dollar borrowing option. This was cited as the highest cost option during the Public Forum and reaffirmed as such in a Public Forum Written Statement released a few days later.  The released Statement highlighted the fact that “the only real option for school districts to borrow funds for a large construction/renovation project would be to issue public school bonds. In order to pay for these bonds, school districts work with a paying agent bank to pay back the bond issue costs over the course of anywhere between 20-30 years.” Whereas homeowners take out and repay what’s called a mortgage, school districts take out and repay “what’s called a ‘debt service payment.’” Mr. McGuinn later clarified that since the LMTSD had previously built in nearly $4.1M for debt service into its AOB, the annual debt service payments for a $70M dollar loan would be roughly $4,650,000.00.  Mr. McGuinn also explained that the District would take all necessary steps to insure minimum impact to Lower Moreland tax-paying families. The District’s overall objective, Mr. McGuinn reaffirmed, was to keep school tax  “at or below the state-mandated Act 1 index” each and every year.  The Board moved to proceed to the next stage of this exciting and historic process – the Design Phase of the New Lower Moreland High School (aka the New High School Project). 

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In December 2019, the now dubbed ‘New High School Project’ moved into the design phase.  The Board indicated its preference for a contemporary and state-of the arts educational space for the District’s students.  As Dr. Davidheiser explained, the Board was looking for a design that would help place the District’s students at a more competitive level nationally; one that would help launch Lower Moreland graduates to the cutting edge of their educational and professional careers.  The design phase calculation had to thus account for innovative and contemporary space for instruction in, and application of, various fields of technology, systems, computer programming, visual arts and design, engineering, the scientific and laboratory studies and the performing arts. Furthermore, the design was expected to create a campus-like feel and environment that would benefit both the high school and its neighboring middle school community. Equally important were features that would render the building and it’s various spaces easily accessible and most beneficial for all of Lower Moreland’s students including those with special needs. Finally, the Board was committed to ensure that the design and all associated costs would reflect the most responsible, efficient, effective and productive use of public funds and taxpayer monies possible. 

 

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On March 3, 2020, KCBA Architects presented preliminary architectural designs to the school board and Lower Moreland Township Community.  The School Board reviewed the designs and approved the motion to move forward with the next phase of the project at their April 1, 2020 meeting. This next phase was referred to as schematic design. With this motion, the district was authorized to begin reviewing and closely examining land development options.   This motion also permitted the district to begin the process of assessing the best HVAC systems for the new build.   

       

  Written by Sophia Zalipsky