New High School > Project History > SASD Meets with Local Legislators and Officials

Municipal officials, tax collectors and local legislators were given a thorough overview of the new high school project at a Key Communicator meeting on February 23rd, 2005 at the SASD Administrative Offices. Jack Silva, Director of Secondary Education, and Steve Pollack, Supervisor of Planning and Operations, described the schematic design of the new high school, and reviewed the twelve design principles that facilitate the design and development of this 430,000 square foot building.

The design of the school is driven by design principles ranging from school safety and “maintaining a small school feel within a large school,” to distance learning and community accessibility. Mr. Silva noted that the high school administration and staff are in the process of working with the project architect to develop the interior spaces of the new building to accommodate the learning needs of the 21st century classroom.

Mr. Pollack addressed the many ongoing discussions with Franconia Township related to sewer and water lines, reconfiguration of Lower Road, placement of the athletic fields, parking, and traffic flow. In addition, Mr. Pollack noted the discussions now underway between the township and the school district concerning a 60-acre tract of township open space off Halteman Road. The school district hopes to develop this acreage into soccer and baseball/softball fields and a cross-country course for high school and community use.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has approved both the purchase of the 103-acre site, and the school’s schematic design. These approvals will make the school district eligible for partial reimbursement of the cost of the land purchase.

Representatives of five of the six municipalities in the SASD, along with tax collectors, a representative of the Montgomery County Planning Commission, the Indian Valley Public Library, and the Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce attended the meeting. Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, Rep. Robert Godshall, and representatives from Sen. Rob Wondering’s and Sen. Joe Conti’s offices also attended the informative meeting.

In March, the school district will be holding an information session for neighbors of the new school that is bordered by Lower, Moyer and Halteman Roads in Franconia Township. That meeting is designed to help neighbors understand the scope and timeline of the project. It will also be a time to gather information and neighborhood concerns.