The UPSD's official explanation under the
"Need For The Project"
Page 5-8 of the UPSD’s ACT 34 booklet (pdf)
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UPSD: "Enrollment data strongly support the need for the creation of a new Upper Perkiomen Middle School..." Enrollment data does NOT strongly support the need to build a new middle school!
The district conveniently neglects to mention that the birth rate declines immediately after the current 3rd grade class born in 2007/8 as illustrated on the right in red.
See 'Enrollment Data' page for more details.
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UPSD: "Additionally, the District has additional space issues at Marlborough Elementary School which must be addressed." By the time a new middle school could be ready to use, the elementary schools will no longer be over-crowded.
The small bubble of current 3rd graders will be out of elementary schools for the 2019/20 school year. This alone will alleviate over-crowding issues the elementary schools have now. A new middle school will not help this current problem.
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UPSD: "The facility is currently in fair condition and overall renovation is necessary to allow this building to properly function as a 21st century middle school ." Renovate!
Design professionals can help school boards meet educational and community needs
This is a much better option. See the 'Renovate' page.
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UPSD: "...aging building." "All renovated school buildings must be brought up to code and will have the same life expectancy of a new school."
See http://saveourlandsaveourtowns.org/neighborhoodschools.html
Page 7 of the
UPSD’s ACT 34 booklet
Building a New Middle School is Unnecessary
There's not one good reason to rationalize
building a new middle school.
In fact, there are significant reasons not to build a new school.
See 'Reasons NOT to Build' page.
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