It's about our community,
our schools
and our money!
The middle school project is in the design phase, after a lengthy process of study, input from the community and professional research. Click here to access the latest reports, including the geotechnical study.
A 2008 Feasbility Study by Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates found that Philipsburg-Osceola's schools are in dire need of repair, especially the junior high school (1937) and North Lincoln Hill Elementary (1969).
Major renovation to electrical, mechanical and HVAC systems is necessary to keep schools running and save money by upgrading to more efficient systems.
On April 13 2010, after much community input, the school board approved consolidating its 5 schools into 4. This includes closing the Junior High, converting North Lincoln Hill Elementary into a middle school and making necessary upgrades to the high school and Osceola Mills Elementary. {Junior High}
There is no economy of scale within the district. To run the high school at the same efficiency as the Junior High, for example, the district would need to add multiple positions, costing an additional $1.5 million per year. Conducting a building project also allows the district to get reimbursed from the state, saving local taxpayers money.
Ingraham Dancu Associates developed Education Specifications for the middle school, with the input of teachers and staff and the help of a volunteer committee. The company also completed an elementary capacity study. It determined that if the middle school is grades 6-8, an addition would need to be built to Philipsburg Elementary. If the middle school is grades 5-8, no addition is necessary.
After public architect interviews were held on March 1, 2011, the school board hired Stantec architects (formerly Burt Hill) for the project. Reynolds Construction Management is the construction managment firm for the project.
Long before recommending a 4-building plan to the school board, a 23-member building committee, comprised of board members, parents, business leaders and other community members examined all options in the feasiblity study, as well as some additional plans. The study presented nine different renovation and consolidation options. The committee held two public forums, conducted a community survey, held open meetings and listened to public comments at board meetings.
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This website will be continuously updated, so be sure to check back for updates.
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