Hempfield school leaders take first steps toward feasibility study to rebuild or renovate high school

Hempfield school officials are moving forward with a feasibility study that will look into renovating or rebuilding the high school.

Board members voted unanimously this week to advertise for requests for proposal to find a company to complete the study, which will determine what kind of project is possible at the high school based on the number and type of projects that may come up at other district buildings. Board member Sonya Brajdic was not present at the meeting.

The study was first presented by Superintendent Tammy Wolicki and Business Manager Wayne Wismar last month.

“Just the fact that we are requesting proposals doesn’t mean we are accepting,” said Wismar. “We have language in there that we have the right to reject any and all.”

The study, which was last completed several years ago, will take about a year to complete, costing around $200,000, Wolicki said.

If the study is completed by January 2022, the board would then move to select an architect for the project design, which could take about 18 months. Projected construction would begin between fall of 2023 and spring of 2024. A renovation could take between two and three years to complete and a rebuild would take about two years.

During last month’s meeting, Wismar also presented possible projects and costs going into the next few years, including resurfacing the track, which would cost between $350,000 and $460,000; replacing the turf, $450,000; asphalt sealing, $125,000; new curriculum adoption, $750,000 and projector replacements, $500,000.

“It is the first step if we were to engage in a building project, be it renovation or build new,” Wismar said of the study. “It is a right step in making sure that the district considers the entire district, all the facilities as opposed to one particular project.”