Design team gives Methacton High School renovation update, schedules May 5 zoning hearing

Design consultants for the Methacton High School renovation told the school board on April 21 that the project is in the design‑development phase and moving toward engineering and permitting milestones.

Devin, a presenter from the Schrader Group/ICS design team, said the team has held end‑user meetings with department chairs, teaching staff and service groups and plans additional student and parent engagement sessions this spring and fall. “We are in a design development phase, which was the next one we were approved to move into,” the presenter said, and added the team has been “about two months into that process.”

The team walked board members through an updated site plan showing an extended parent drop‑off loop to reduce queuing on Bridal Mill, a separate bus loop that feeds the transportation center, staff and overflow parking locations, and a raised walkway where buses will not stop to keep pedestrians separate from bus traffic. The designers said staff will be present to manage student crossings in areas without raised platforms.

On regulatory timing, the consultants said a zoning hearing is scheduled for May 5. The Montgomery County Conservation District is reviewing stormwater plans, and the team expects continued rounds of technical comment through the year. The schedule the presenters outlined calls for construction documents later in 2026, an Act 34 review in October, bidding in February 2027 and construction starting in June 2027.

Board members pressed the team on phasing, the district draw schedule and cash‑flow timing for fees and estimated payments. The designers said phasing remains under refinement with civil‑engineer input on stormwater and access and that they meet with the district every two to three weeks to update logistics. One board member requested the refined phasing and draw schedule be routed to the finance committee so members could confirm cash‑flow assumptions tied to the budget timeline.

The design team also said they will attempt an informational briefing for township supervisors if the township requests it, to reduce misunderstandings about the project’s scope. Presenters reiterated that engineered plans due in June will generate more technical comments from township staff and the county review bodies.

Next steps: the design team will pursue the May 5 zoning hearing, continue county conservation district review and provide the board with a refined phasing/draw schedule and community feedback dates ahead of the full‑board June presentation. The board did not take any formal votes at the work session.