Board mulls moving sixth graders to Independence Middle School

Administrators in the Bethel Park School District are recommending that sixth grade be moved from its current location at Neil Armstrong Middle School to Independence Middle School for the 2022-23 school year. The matter was discussed in detail at a Sept. 30 special school board meeting.

“A year ago, the board engaged Hayes [Design Group Architects] to conduct a feasibility study of our kindergarten through eighth grade facilities to analyze the needs, the facility options and address the enrollment and capacity of the buildings in a very comprehensive way,” Superintendent James Walsh said.

Mr. Walsh said a major takeaway in the study was the district’s buildings are aging and have mechanical systems at the end of their useful lives. Additionally, the study found some of the buildings are at capacity while others are not being used to their full potential.

The study also estimated that $70 million to $100 million in renovations would be needed at the district’s elementary and middle schools in the next five years.

Mr. Walsh said Hayes Design Group came up with 11 options on how the district should move forward with any type of renovations or reconfigurations.

“In all of the relevant and realistic findings and results, all of those pointed to the Independence Middle School being under capacity and the opportunity to return IMS to a true middle school with sixth grade through eighth grade,” Mr. Walsh said.

Currently, Independence Middle School houses seventh and eighth grades and Neil Armstrong Middle School houses fifth and sixth grades.

Mr. Walsh stressed the board was not taking a vote on the matter at the Sept. 30 meeting.

“This is information for the board and your consideration, because sometime in the near future you have to decide what options you want to take from that list of 11,” Mr. Walsh said. “It is not an option to do nothing.”

Outgoing Intermediate School Principal David Meunch, who was recently appointed director of student support services, said bringing sixth grade back to Independence Middle School would not mean the building would have to be entirely reconfigured.

“It would be rehabilitating the building due to the age of the

facility, but the actual makeup of the building is quite conducive to this,” Mr. Meunch said.

Mr. Walsh reiterated, “This is just your first big step in to what’s coming down the road.”

Representatives from Hayes Design Group presented a summary of how things could look at Independence Middle School once sixth grade moves there.

In its design, sixth grade would be confined to the first floor of the building and the classrooms would be arranged in groupings of four to support a team of four teachers. The building would have 13 renovated sixth grade classrooms, a teacher resource room, and a new large group instruction room.

Additionally, the existing accessibility ramp would be demolished and new stairs and an elevator would be installed. The maker space classrooms would be renovated and expanded and two new learning support classrooms added. The restrooms also would be renovated, and the administrative offices reconfigured to create a secure vestibule entrance.

If the board moves forward with moving sixth grade, the renovations — which are estimated to cost between $9.3 million and $11.8 million — could start during the spring of 2022.

The board also discussed refinancing or taking out a new bond to offset the costs.

The district did not comment on what would happen with fifth grade, which is currently housed at Neil Armstrong Middle School.

Bethel Park spokesperson James Cromie said, “For the past year, the district has conducted a comprehensive feasibility study on the state of its facilities. That process has included feedback from architectural firms, our administration, our staff, our students, the facilities subcommittee of the strategic plan committee and other members of our community. We are still in the process of digesting all of the information we continue to gather as we assess our options moving forward.

“All of the remaining solutions involve moving the sixth grade to Independence Middle School, which is why we discussed it during the special meeting. Still, it is important to note that no firm timelines have been established for any potential decisions the school board may ultimately make.”