The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is just about a month-and-a-half away from deciding what to do about C.F. Patton Middle School. A vote is scheduled for the school board’s Feb. 18 meeting, but a special meeting with a presentation is also scheduled for Monday, Jan. 6.
The options on the table for the school are to either build a new one, renovate the current building, or to just maintain the present structure as needed, according to Superintendent of Schools John Sanville.
He said in a meeting a few months ago, “There is no cheap option. Whether we maintain the building, whether we build a new building, or renovate, it’s going to cost the district millions of dollars. That’s just a reality.”
But, he added, the district is in good financial shape to do what’s necessary. And, as he has said from the beginning of the conversation, “No decision has been reached.”
During next week’s meeting, Sanville is expected to deliver a report on a feasibility study conducted by the architectural firm Marotta/Main. U-CF retained Marotta/Main in June to perform the study.
At issue with the Patton — built in 1972 and considered state of the art for that period — is that various renovations made to the school over the years left many rooms with a lack of light. It was full of light at the time it was built, but those renovations and expansions were built around the original rectangle, leaving many classrooms — about 70 percent, according to Assistant Superintendent Tom Hoffman — without any natural light. The plumbing and electrical systems are also original.
By contrast, the school with the next lowest amount of natural light is Chadds Ford Elementary with 20 percent of the rooms lacking the light. Pocopson, the most recent school building, only lacks natural light in 1 percent of the rooms.
A FAQ page on the district website says that schools lacking proper daylight have a negative impact on health and scholastic achievements.
That FAQ page, found here, also addresses various aspects of construction and costs. When it comes to costs and potential tax increases, the page says “If we choose to renovate or replace the middle school, tax increases will continue to remain below the Act I Index and Consumer Price Index (CPI). These two measures keep us in step with inflation and wage growth.”
There were several informational-gathering meetings during the last three months, giving the public a chance to tour the school and hear the concerns.
The special meeting will be held this Monday, Jan. 6, from 7-10 p.m. at Patton Middle School, 760 Unionville Road.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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