The Reading School District’s Innovation Academy is on track to receive a certificate of occupancy in early February, officials say.
Most of the construction work has been completed and final inspections are scheduled, district administrators told the school board during an update Wednesday night at the board’s regular monthly meeting.
“We are aiming at an inspection date, final inspection date, of February 2, 2026, next week,” Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, superintendent, told the board. “So we’re very excited about this.”
The four-story Innovation Academy at 801 N. Ninth St. is designed as a stand-alone high school campus serving grades 10 through 12, focused on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, programs.
Officials said it will operate as part of Reading High School, with students earning a Reading High diploma while attending classes at the new site.
The Innovation Academy at 801 N. Ninth St. is designed as a stand-alone Reading High School campus serving grades 10 through 12, focused on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, programs. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
James “Jamie” Lynch of CHA Consulting, the district’s partner on the project, said the work has reached the final stretch.
“Final inspection is scheduled and we’re ready to move on to the next phase,” Lynch told the board. “It truly is a beautiful building.”
Most major systems, including fire alarm and life-safety components, have already passed testing, he noted.
Lynch said only a small amount of specialty work remains, including installation of an emergency responder radio repeater system to eliminate dead spots for first responders’ radios, a step he said is typical of large projects.
Classroom and other spaces throughout the building are largely finished, said Wayne Gehris, district chief financial officer. These include the gymnasium, dining commons, kitchen, media center, science labs, administrative offices and security vestibule.
Furniture deliveries for the first and second floors are underway, officials said, and exterior features such as lighting, security cameras, bike racks and site work are in place or nearing completion.
Dr. Portia Slaughter, assistant superintendent for operations, said the 144,000-square-foot building sits on about 2.6 acres and can support 750 to 1,000 students.
It includes about 50 classrooms, science and tech labs, a full gym and fitness room, a library/media center with small collaboration rooms and a third-floor outdoor learning area, she noted.
Plans also include a secure entrance area, Safe Schools staffing and weapons-detection systems consistent with other district buildings, she said.
Gehris said the project remains on solid financial footing and on schedule.
“Certainly an exciting time for us to wrap this up and pass the ball over to the curriculum team,” Gehris told the board.
JuliAnne Kline, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said the academy will offer four primary program pathways: engineering and design, computer science and information technology, health and biomedical science, and STEM in human services.
Many courses will be offered through Project Lead The Way, a national STEM curriculum provider, alongside existing district courses, she said.
Students will be able to shuttle between the two high school buildings, official said. A separate application will not be needed to participate in academy offerings. Instead, students will simply select STEM study pathways during the regular course selection process with school counselors.
The district is targeting broad access to the academy, said Wanda Gonzalez-Crespo, assistant superintendent for school improvement.
“We want this program to be open and available to all students,” she said, stressing admissions will not limited to top-performing students and will include appropriate supports for English learners and students with disabilities.
Staffing is also progressing, said Dr. April Halligan-Rostek, director of human resources.
The board previously approved an associate principal for the academy, she said, and the district has begun internal transfer and hiring processes for teachers, support staff, custodians and security personnel.
A head custodian has already been assigned, and additional security and clerical positions are expected to come before the board in the coming months, she said.
Board members expressed enthusiasm for the nearly completed project with some reacting emotionally to the presentation.
“I am completely blown away,” said Melissa Eggert, a school board member and retired education professional. “It’s amazing. So kudos to everyone who worked on it. I might even come out of retirement to work there.”