Colonial School District breaks ground on William Penn athletic complex

The Colonial School District held a ceremonial groundbreaking at William Penn High School to mark the start of construction on a new athletic complex, district officials said. Gabriel Phillips, the district's strategic communications officer, told the assembled crowd the project is "a truly a new era for Colonial" and said the complex will provide lights for games and space for the marching band and student athletes.

Chris Piqueux, president of the Colonial School District Board of Education, described the work as "an investment in our students and our entire future," thanking community members and past board leaders who helped secure state approval for the project. Organizers staged a formal shovel-turning, counted down and released celebratory poppers to conclude the ceremony; district leaders said construction will proceed now that the referendum passed, while specific timelines and contract details were not specified in the remarks.