By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

Parkland School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson provided the administration’s final feasibility study recommendation to the board at the Sept. 26 meeting.

“This is my final update,” Madson said. “We’ve been doing this for six to nine months.

“We wanted to see what’s on the horizon as we move forward over the next 10 years and study our capacity concerns.

“We want to be fiscally responsible to the community and take care of the buildings we have.”

After thoroughly considering numerous options outlined by the RLPS architects feasibility study team, Madson said the final decision is to add space to the high school and renovate and build on to Orefield Middle School.

Recalling the options presented by RLPS, such as construction of a new high school, a new middle school, a ninth grade center, or a grades eight and nine building, Madson concluded the proposal to add on to the high school and OMS is appropriate at this time.

Advantages will be a quicker timeline to begin and to provide space for increased enrollment sooner than a lengthy process requiring land acquisition, permits and construction of a new building.

Also, the additions and improvements at the high school and OMS will not cost as much as new construction.

Cost estimates given by the superintendent at the Sept. 26 meeting are $42 million to $50 million for the high school addition and $123 million to $139 million for the work at OMS.

“We are a growing community,” Madson said. “There’s not a one-size fits all that solves all our problems.

“Education is the priority. The critical aspect that has driven us from day one is education.”

Madson said some factors which will be addressed at the high school include traffic flow, the cafeteria and additional space for storage.

The project will also enable expansion of higher level courses in the curriculum and increased space for labs, according to Dr. Jason Henry, director of secondary teaching and learning.

Madson reported the district will maintain the grade six to eight program at OMS.

He said the building was originally designed as Parkland High School.

“We want to see how we can make it feel more like a middle school,” Madson noted, adding the site will need preparation before moving forward and will depend partially on financing.

The superintendent stated the next action will be to hire an architect to design the high school addition.

Madson said by approving the architect the board will be voting to proceed with the project.