ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Despite current financial challenges due to the state budget impasse, Allentown School District’s board heard an overview of $230 million in potential district projects during Thursday’s building committee meeting.
Board member Phoebe Harris said the highlighted project was the William Allen natatorium. The pool project would take 36 months to complete and would cost $18.4 million.
Board member Lisa Conover questioned the rationale of investing in such an old structure.
“It doesn’t make sense. If the school is no good, it doesn’t make sense to put $18 million in it,” Conover said.
Other projects included improvements to Dieruff High School’s practice field, which would cost between $7.5 million and $15 million, and take about 21 months to complete.
Improvements to J. Birney Crum Stadium are estimated at $7.5 million, with an additional $1.5 million for track and turf. Smaller projects include a play area at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School, field reconditioning at Harrison-Morton Middle School, and new play equipment at Washington Elementary School.
The board also heard a presentation on the new Family Engagement and Resource Center planned for the Bridgeview Academy site. The Center would offer a variety of programs, including enrollment and registration, a family and community hub for mental and physical health, workforce development, ESL classes and family and social services as well as flexible programming through multiple meeting spaces.
The 13,750-square-foot building is estimated to cost roughly $12 million and will be partially funded by a $522,205 PBDA Multipurpose Community Competitive Grant Program.
The presentation was informational only, Chief Operations Officer Robert Whartenby said.
Plans include surveys to better understand community, student and administrator needs.
Of the presentation, no action was required of the board, as it was informational only.
“These are just ideas — what bubbled up to the surface,” Whartenby said.