Wanted: Ideas for district’s new high school

Hands-on public sessions scheduled

Quaker Valley School District wants to build a new high school, but before it comes up with a design, it wants to hear ideas from as many people as possible — all with an eye to the future.

Working with educational consultants BrainSpaces and Pittsburgh-based Maya Design, the district has scheduled four community input sessions for students, parents, teachers, alumni, community leaders, residents and administrators to help envision what learning might look like in the future.

The three-hour sessions are designed to be handson and interactive and to consider what the future might mean for class schedules, learning opportunities, pathways to college and careers, and more.

The current high school was built in 1926. The district does not yet have property for a new high school and is looking for a location.

Based on the high school enrollment of about 630, the Pennsylvania Department of Education recommends the site be about 42 acres.

The school board agreed last month that the site of the current high school on Beaver Street in Leetsdale is not ideal for a new school. Most of the property is in a 100-year flood zone, and permits to rebuild or renovate could take years to process and are not guaranteed. In addition, having students attend school during construction at the site is not desirable, and temporarily relocating them is not feasible.

The district plans to sell two properties on Beaver Street that were purchased in 2012 as part of an original plan to enlarge the school.

The community input sessions are 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Osborne Elementary School; 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 10 at Edgeworth Elementary School; 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Osborne Elementary School; and 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 at Quaker Valley Middle School.

The district plans to make child care available as needed. For more information on the sessions: communications@qvsd.org or 412-749-3623.