SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Approval of Parkland School District’s proposed $68 million, five-building, high school expansion project has moved closer to the finish line.
By a 4-0 vote, with one abstention, the project received preliminary final approval from the South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners on Wednesday night.
Construction is expected to be completed late in 2027, with the new addition open to students by August 2028.Parkland School Board
Upon final approval, work on the expansion to the existing high school at 2700 N. Cedar Creek Blvd. is scheduled to begin in early 2026.
Construction is expected to be completed late in 2027, with the new addition open to students by August 2028.
The project first was proposed in 2023 and has been vetted through the township planning commission several times, township Assistant Engineer Anthony Tallarida said.
The planning commission recommended approval in November.
Expansion details
The major expansion is part of the district’s “Vision 2023” to combat overcrowding, school district Director of Operations Arthur Oaks said.
The high school currently has 3,300 students in grades 9-12. Enrollment is expected to increase to about 4,000 by 2033, Oaks has said.
The expansion across a 112.5-acre parcel consists of adding 26 classrooms, 12 science labs, staff planning offices and other resources in two new buildings connecting the high school’s existing wings.
Plans also include an expanded cafeteria, new athletics lobby, upgraded library, expanded space for counselors, new administrative offices and a bus loop with space for 11 more school buses than the school can now 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.
The current high school building was constructed in 1999 and has undergone various expansions and renovations to address increasing student enrollment.
Historic Resources plan, honoring leaving commissioners
Also Wednesday, commissioners passed a resolution adopting the township’s Historic Resources Inventory and Guidance Document.
The Historic Resources plan is integrated within the broader South Whitehall Landscapes initiative, a component of the township’s updated comprehensive plan.
The plan identifies existing resources, including historic buildings, sites and landscapes, with recommendations for their protection and enhancement.
Actionable steps include an action plan with high-priority items, such as evaluating municipal boards, updating maps and encouraging adaptive reuse of historic structures.
Also, outgoing commissioner Monica Hodges and commissions Vice President Chris Peischl were recognized with distinguished service awards.
The awards were presented by board President Diane Kelly.
Fellow commissioners, police and fire department representatives, EMS representatives, Lehigh County Coroner and South Whitehall resident Daniel Buglio and several residents also praised the distinguished service of Hodges and Peischl.
New commissioners who won seats in November are Democrats Sharon Fehlinger Ricker and Glenn Guanowsky.
