READING, Pa. –The Reading School District provided an opportunity Wednesday night for the public to weigh in on the proposed $41 million 12th and Marion Elementary School building renovation and addition.

The school board held the required Act 34 hearing, which is a public hearing mandated by the state whenever a school district embarks upon a major building construction project.

No members of the public made any comments at the time allowed at the end of the hearing, but the district announced it will accept written comments concerning the project until Feb. 20.

Superintendent Khalid Mumin said the 12th and Marion school building has a great need for renovation.

“When we look at our building projects, it is to make sure that our buildings are future focused for our learners in the school district, and 12th and Marion is one of those buildings,” Mumin said. “When we talk about aging schools here in the district, this is a building that has great need, and it has emerged on our facility sustainability plan that it’s time to get to work in this building and get it up to speed for our learners for 21st century learning opportunities.”

District Chief Financial Officer Wayne Gehris said the 12th and Marion building is in the Northeast section of the city which is an area, because of population growth, where the district is seeing the need for additional space.

However, Gehris said the project is not just a matter of adding classrooms but also addresses the need to eliminate four deteriorating modular classrooms at the site, which he said have outlasted the intended life.

Jennifer Grafton, associate principal and senior project manager with Schrader Group, outlined the scope of the work.

The renovations of the existing classrooms and spaces represent 51,539 square feet, and the additions represent 37,242 square feet. The campus is located on 2.43 acres at 1200 N. 12th St.

“We’re looking to do some nice improvements at the site,” Grafton said. “We’ll be replacing the existing hard surface and providing new hard and soft surface play areas. We are also providing a soft surface play area next to the pre-K classroom. We will be providing secure and partially covered administration and staff parking for 43 vehicles on site.”

With the new building addition, a second internal courtyard will be created

“The building will have a total of 32 classrooms to house 775 students, including general instruction classrooms, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), art and music classrooms,” Grafton said.  “We will have small and large group instruction rooms available. The library/media center will be refreshed, and we will be adding a new large addition that houses a dining commons as well as a full-service cooking kitchen.”

The current gymnasium, which is also used as a cafeteria, will become a dedicated gymnasium.

David Schrader, managing principal at the Schrader Group, said all the design, construction and project costs are estimated to be $41,000,805.

Gehris said financing that amount would allow the district to manage and maintain its same level of debt service as some existing debts are retired.

That would mean there should be no need to raise taxes because of taking on the new debt.

Gehris said the district currently budgets for about $25 million annually in all its debt service costs.

After the comment period has closed, the district will be able to begin the process of going out for bids on the project.