SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Progress is building with the Parkland School District’s high school expansion project.
South Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Thursday unanimously granted the project preliminary final approval.
The $68 million, five-building expansion to the existing high school at 2700 N. Cedar Creek Blvd. is scheduled to be voted on for final approval by the township board of commissioners in January.
Construction bids are expected to be received by the school district this month.
“We’re undergoing this expansion to address a student enrollment increase."Arthur Oakes, Parkland School District director of operations
“We’re undergoing this expansion to address a student enrollment increase,” District Director of Operations Arthur Oakes said.
“The high school currently has 3,300 students, grades nine through 12, and is expected to increase to about 4,000 over the next eight years.”
The district plans to add 26 classrooms, 12 new science labs, staff planning offices and other resources in two new buildings connecting the high school’s existing wings.
Plans also call for an expanded cafeteria, a new athletics lobby, an upgraded library, expanded space for counselors, new administrative offices and a bus loop with space for 11 more school buses than the school now can accommodate.
A new parking lot will be constructed to the southeast of the existing parking lot in front of the school, which will add 111 parking spaces to the site for a total of 1,489.
Opening eyed for August 2028
The planning commission approved a series of waiver and deferral requests by the school district, including sidewalk and curbing unless a land development project is built near the site.
“We’ve seen this plan a bunch of times,” said Erinn Bet, township engineer with The Pidcock Co. “We’ve had meetings with the school district and the design team, so we’re recommending engineering approval.”
If all goes according to plan, Parkland’s contractors will begin setting up the construction site in early 2026, and will break ground in March.Parkland School District building plans
If all goes according to plan, Parkland’s contractors will begin setting up the construction site in early 2026, and will break ground in March.
Officials hope to begin foundation work on the new structures as soon as possible.
By the end of Summer 2026, the district hopes to finish structural steel work, utility relocation and work on the cafeteria.
The following summer, contractors would begin work on the library renovation and athletics lobby, administrative offices and lab space in the existing high school building.
Parkland hopes to wrap up construction by the end of 2027, and open the new addition to students by August 2028.
Other agenda items
The district’s transportation center/lot consolidation item was removed from the agenda.
The application proposes to further develop properties at 4434 Orefield Road, 4362 Orefield Road, 2675 PA Route 309 and 2619 Stadium Drive.
The plan is proposing to consolidate four tracts totaling 64 acres owned and operated by the school district.
Also removed from the agenda was discussion on an application to consolidate two lots for the purpose of installing a solar array along Applewood Drive in Orefield.
St. Joseph the Worker Parish Trust, which owns the property, is proposing to consolidate the lots, which measure 12.09 acres at 1879 and 1915 Applewood Drive.
A solar array is a collection of solar panels wired together to generate electricity. The electricity produced would be solely for the church property’s use and would not connect to the public electrical distribution system.
Lot 1 is served by existing public water and public sewer and zoned R-3 Low Density Residential.
