The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will have a busy start to the New Year.

On Jan. 6, the results of a feasibility study report regarding Charles F. Patton Middle School, including recommendations, will be presented at a special public meeting at the school.

The school district hosted the final community conversation regarding the feasibility study report in early December. These community conversations gave stakeholders the opportunity to review the report compiled by architectural firm Marotta/Main and, based on the findings, share their feedback on whether to maintain, renovate or replace the district’s current middle school building.

The Charles F. Patton Middle School celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, and it has the shortcomings of any school building that is more than five decades old. Approximately 38 percent of the building’s square footage has not been renovated since the original construction. If the school district opts to renovate the building, the bathrooms, electrical systems, HVAC systems, and roofing will need to be upgraded or replaced sooner rather than later. There are other issues or concerns that need to be addressed. The building has air-quality issues, and it was built at a time when asbestos-containing materials were used. The existing school building lacks natural light—about 70 percent of the classrooms do not have windows.

To renovate or to build new—it’s never an easy decision for a school district. While the costs of a renovation can be less than building new in the short term, it can often be more costly in the long term to renovate.

Whether the school district decides to renovate the school building or build a new middle school, residents can be assured that any tax increases that result from the project will be within the Act 1 Index limit set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education each year. The Act 1 Index factors in things like inflation to set the maximum amount that a school district can raise taxes without seeking approval from voters via a referendum.

The school district has made it clear that it will not repeat what happened when the Unionville High School was renovated in 2009—the district twice placed a referendum on the ballot to get approval from residents exceed the Act 1 Index limit to pay for a large renovation. Voters rejected the referendum both times. The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will not go to referendum or increase taxes above the Act 1 Index to support a renovation or replacement of the middle school.

Once the Jan. 6 presentation of the results of the feasibility study report takes place, the next step is for the school board to make a decision. The board is scheduled to vote on whether to maintain, renovate or replace the current middle school at the Feb. 18 regular board meeting.

Details about the feasibility study are available on the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District

website or by contacting [email protected].