Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEED AND THE PROCESS

  • Rose Tree Media School District is a vibrant, growing school district. Addressing space needs as they occur is necessary for districts like ours. The best predictor of future enrollment is what we see happening across our elementary enrollment numbers. Since the 2015-2016 school year, elementary enrollment has grown by 19 percent and is on pace to grow by 27 percent by 2025-2026–from 1,657 students in 2015-2016 to 2,111 students in 2025-2026.

    Over time, as students move from our elementary schools, enrollment in other grades will grow. This increase will cause similar increases in upper grades over the next decade.

    Overall, we are not seeing any decline in enrollment at the elementary level for the rest of the decade. This is why the school board approved a new elementary school – to address current space needs and the need for more space to accommodate an increasing number of students to learn and grow. We will keep watching middle and high school enrollment as it is likely to continue to increase as the recent growth in K-2 enrollment works its way into the secondary grades. If necessary, we will address those space needs in a future plan. Click here to learn more about our needs.

  • Increasing enrollment demand has led to overcrowding in our elementary schools. Two schools — Glenwood Elementary and Rose Tree Elementary— are currently using modular classrooms to accommodate students. Enrollment projections indicate that our elementary schools will not have adequate space to serve our growing student population.

  • Addressing these needs in phases will allow us to make incremental and impactful changes over the course of several years. The district will be fiscally cautious with our taxpayer dollars by waiting for additional investments, a critical priority to our school board.

  • The district considered five different options to address our increased elementary enrollment growth, including building additions to our existing schools and building a school on land already owned by the district. Ultimately, the district decided the best option for the community, our students and our critical facility needs was building a new elementary school. You can learn more about the process here.

  • Yes, our enrollment projections factor in the projected number of families who will send students to private schools. For each type of property in our district (single-family homes, apartments, townhomes, carriage homes, etc.), the district uses the historical proportion of students that attend public school vs. private school to project future student populations. Professional demographers use a calculation based on the type and cost of the new housing to project the number of students who may come from the new housing development. For single-family luxury homes, a factor of .30 (home prices over $1 million) to .50 (home prices $600,000-$900,000) was utilized. For 2-bedroom luxury apartments, a factor of .05 was utilized. For mid-level townhomes priced around $400,000-$500,000, a factor of .25 was utilized.

  • Parity and full-day kindergarten are both long-term goals of Rose Tree Media School District. The district will continue to invest in its other schools to maintain the quality of education for all students. Visit our process page for more information.

  • The district contracted with a professional demographer to assess demographic projects. District-wide demographic projections continue to be evaluated, and annually updated. Enrollment growth among elementary students is now outpacing increases that were initially projected.

  • An architecture selection committee was developed to evaluate architects for the project. Twelve school-focused firms were invited to submit qualifications. Ten of the firms were sent a customized Request for Proposal (RFP) for architectural design services for the new elementary school. Eight of the firms submitted official responses to the district’s RFP. Three firms were selected for interviews with the architecture selection committee. SCHRADERGROUP was selected as the best fit for the new elementary school project.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLAN

  • This plan addresses the most critical need now – space in elementary schools. This will preserve smaller class sizes and our current neighborhood schools. This new elementary school could also absorb future growth unforeseen in the current demographic projections and help our district better prepare for the future with the space available.

    For more about the plan, visit our Plan page.

  • Since 2016, we’ve been preparing for our district’s future, and our objective was to develop a long-range plan that truly prepares us to deliver high-quality education in the future. In response to increasing enrollment needs, our district has continuously monitored our facility needs and we’re focused on spending our resources responsibly to best support our students and staff.

    Visit our process page for more.

  • Since 2016, the Rose Tree Media School District has been evaluating needs, and monitoring enrollment growth, as well as demographic shifts to help prepare and refine the long-range plan. Thoughtful consideration has been put into identifying those needs and the best option to meet those needs.

    For more details on what has been done so far, visit our process timeline.

  • Rose Tree Media School District has been planning a new elementary school for several years. The school board adopted a budget for constructing a new elementary school that falls within the state’s annual budget limits on school districts. To learn updated information about the cost of the project, visit our Plan page.

    Note: The following information was based on the 2020 plan.

    Previously set aside and future funds will pay for the new elementary school.

    • $21 million, or roughly 60 percent of the construction cost, will be paid using bonds already issued by the district in 2018 for capital projects. This amount is already accounted for in the district’s budget.

    • The district will borrow additional funds needed to complete the new elementary school and other capital projects that will be implemented between now and 2026.

    • An estimated $7 per month more of the average residential bill will be shifted from operational expenses and allocated to debt service expenses to help cover the additional financing needed to complete the elementary school.

    • The acquisition of new land is completed.

    • An architectural team, SCHRADER GROUP, was selected in January 2021.

    • The Design Phase took place from January 2021 - September 2021.

    • Land development and required approvals are to be determined based on Edgmont Township’s approval process.

    • Substantial completion is pending approval of land development and required approvals for building an elementary school.

  • One of our key priorities as a district is to remain fiscally strong for the long term. Completing these facility projects through a staged approach, and delaying additions and renovations to our other schools while we build this new elementary school, is the most fiscally responsible and strategic approach for our district and community. Until there is sufficient revenue to support both staffing and additional debt, our district feels that delaying the decision for full-day kindergarten is the best option at this time.

  • Our district plans to continue upgrading and/or replacing critical building systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE NEW SCHOOL

  • Choosing a site for a new school involves balancing a number of important factors. The site for the new school was selected based on a best-fit determination to criteria established by stakeholder input, enrollment patterns, safety, transportation needs, and availability. Edgmont Township is the only township in the Rose Tree Media School District that does not have a neighborhood school.

    Currently, 179 students from Edgmont Township attend Rose Tree Mredia School District schools in Upper Providence and Middletown Townships. With the locations of current and proposed new housing developments, an additional 211 students are projected to attend the new school. Of these 211 students, 121 students are from new housing developments in Edgmont Township. This means over 300 students who currently reside or are projected to reside within Edgmont Township would be able to attend a neighborhood school.

    Visit our site selection page to learn more about why this location was chosen.

  • Twenty-three sites were evaluated based on an extensive list of criteria. A number of sites were eliminated from consideration due to their cost, the lack of willingness of the owner to sell or their proximity to pipelines. The proposed location in Edgmont Township was selected as the site that best met the district’s list of criteria. More information about how the site was selected is located on our website here.

  • The district was unable to divulge the location of the new school due to privacy and confidentiality issues until the land acquisition was finalized. The district is committed to transparent communication throughout the building of the new elementary school and the long-range facilities planning process.

  • The district considered five different options to address our increased elementary enrollment growth. Ultimately, the district decided the best option for the community, our students, and our critical facility needs was building a new elementary school. Visit our challenges page to learn why we need a new elementary school.

  • Yes. The district worked with The Henderson Group, Inc., a local Media, PA office.

  • A majority of the students attending the new school will come from new and existing developments in the Edgmont Township, resulting in a minimal amount of students with attendance boundary changes. Those students who do see their attendance boundaries change will now spend less time on buses as their elementary school will generally be closer to their homes.

    Visit our site selection page to learn more about why this location was chosen.

  • It is highly unlikely that the school will decrease surrounding property values. Research has repeatedly shown that close proximity to schools increases residential home values, especially if nearby schools are ranked highly in education quality. Given that the school will be brand new and Rose Tree Media is consistently ranked as one of the top districts in Pennsylvania, homeowners can reasonably expect their homes to increase in value.

  • Note: The information below was based on the original proposed plan from 2020. Once the district is able to move forward on a plan, an updated cost estimate will be provided.

    Property taxes fund the operational costs of schools, which include the amount needed to pay the debt service on monies borrowed to meet capital costs. The additional debt needed to complete the elementary school requires an estimated $7 per month more of the average residential tax bill to be allocated to debt service. (Note: This estimate was based on the estimated project costs for the original plan.) For clarity, this essentially shifts resources from operational expenses to debt service. This impact would have been the same whether we built new or added on to our existing schools.

    It is not possible to accommodate our rising student population without new investments. New housing developments in our district will provide new tax dollars to the district, which will somewhat offset these costs.

    For updated information on how this project will be paid for, visit the cost section of the Plan page.

  • There were several important reasons to move forward with the plan for a new elementary school, including:

    • Most importantly, all of our elementary schools are overcrowded. The district is proactively addressing space concerns while moving forward with the plan to build a new elementary school by repurposing small-group instructional spaces and previously dedicated lab spaces to be additional classrooms. Two sets of modular units (two classrooms, a hallway and a bathroom) are already being utilized at both Glenwood Elementary and Rose Tree Elementary. Without a new school, three additional units will be needed at Glenwood by 2026. This solution is not ideal, sustainable, or cost effective.

    • As enrollment increases, class sizes will continue to grow. We are already seeing this in our elementary schools, but it will eventually impact the middle school, followed by the high school. If we are going to reduce the need for boundary changes while still preserving class sizes and neighborhood schools, we need to plan for new enrollment now and build a new school in a location that reflects future development.

    • If we wait, it is likely that construction costs will increase, requiring us to pay more for the same building. By delaying a decision for a few years, the cost of land and construction will likely increase. Packing more projects in a short time period will also increase disruption within the district.

    For more information on our district’s challenges, visit our Challenges page.

QUESTIONS ABOUT ROAD CONSTRUCTION, TRAFFIC, LAND, WATER, AND PIPELINES

  • During a typical school day, the estimated traffic would be between 60 and 95 vehicles:

    • 20-25 teachers & teacher aides

    • 10 various administrators and support personnel

    • 20-40 parent drop-offs (this number may be reduced if bus trips are shortened)

    • 6-8 buses depending on capacity

    • 5 daily parent visitors/volunteers

    NOTE: Six buses and approximately 45 parents already use Route 352 daily to travel from Edgmont to Glenwood Elementary to drop off/pick up students who live in Edgmont.

  • Route 352 will need slight modifications to access the new elementary school. Road work will be limited to temporary shoulder work, adding turn lanes, and creating a deceleration lane on Route 352. Modifications will be limited to the ultimate right of way of the existing PennDot easements. A stoplight has been requested by the township, to make left turns and pedestrian crossings easier and safer.

    As of October 2021, permits for planned road work were in the preliminary development and review process. A preliminary traffic impact study of the proposed site was being completed in November 2021 and submitted to PennDOT. All road work will be subject to review and approval by PennDOT in conjunction with Edgmont Township. All work requiring approval from external agencies will occur throughout the process at the appropriate times.

  • This issue will be discussed with the Township as we move forward in the process.

  • No, road construction will not affect septic fields. All road improvements will be subject to review and comment by PennDOT to ensure that construction is safe and does not adversely affect existing infrastructure.

  • Pipelines used to transport various materials exist across Delaware County. Many schools, homes, and businesses have been built near existing pipelines, including the Mariner East 2 pipeline and natural gas pipelines.

    As with any development in this portion of the state, utility infrastructure (specifically pipelines) has been part of the district’s planning to design a new school building. The process included a thorough review of research, regulatory data and studies, and the regulatory approval process during the site selection process for the new school.

    Pipeline mapping indicated that a Texas East pipeline's right-of-way was at the proposed site's outer edge. A detailed encroachment survey showed that the Texas East pipeline crosses the outermost edge of two northeast corners of the new school property. The pipeline exclusively carries compressed natural gas used for heating and cooking.

    After extensive analysis, Rose Tree Media School District concluded that the location chosen for the new elementary school meets modern safety standards for development near pipelines. The district continues working with these experts to ensure the location meets safety standards. District leadership continues to rely on official government studies, data, and independent engineering recommendations to make informed decisions about utility infrastructure throughout the district.

    No school site can ever be characterized as risk-free, as both natural disasters and the unfortunate actions of people can occur. That is why the district will continue to have all-hazard plans in place for each school for various emergencies, including those specific to pipeline hazards.

  • The site will be selectively cleared as needed to create a building pad, parking lots and stormwater basins as shown on preliminary plans. Within the current site plan, approximately 9.5 acres of existing trees will be preserved along the rear and west sides of the combined property. The district, along with our design and construction teams, is dedicated to saving existing trees wherever possible.

  • After construction is completed, the site will feature more green space and less impervious surface than a “typical” commercial or residential development on the same site. Much of the land not built upon will remain untouched and be used as outdoor classroom spaces where students can directly learn from and explore their natural environment.

    Other areas will be turned into green fields for physical education, as well as space for stormwater retention which can double as a rain garden. Our district is making every effort possible to maintain the surrounding natural environment of the site.

  • As with the construction of any home, apartment, or commercial building, wildlife may indeed be temporarily affected. Partial clearing of existing brush will be required to make room for the school’s footprint and parking lot, the intent is to retain as much of the existing vegetation and wooded areas as possible.

  • The need for an additional elementary school is a response to development that has been ongoing in Edgmont Township for several years, which has contributed to our growing enrollment. As the area continues to grow, our district has a responsibility to fulfill our mutual obligation to educate its children.

    Different from how developers would purchase and use the land for new housing developments, the district will make every effort to preserve heavily wooded areas to the north and west of the new site. The design of the school will use materials and colors to complement the existing buildings in Edgmont Township.

  • During construction, there may be temporary noise from machinery and vehicles working on site. Once construction is completed, noise will be limited to student voices from gym classes and recess and intermittent vehicle traffic during student drop-off and pick-up (around 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.)

    Light pollution will be negligible. There will not be any lighting installed at athletic fields, and the building and parking lot lights will be limited to downward-directed fixtures for safety and security during the evenings. Lighting calculations will be completed to ensure that lighting from the selected fixtures at the property boundaries of the school will be minimal to zero. That being said, the lighting source (building and parking lot lights) may be visible from the road or adjacent properties. Screening from natural vegetation on site (existing and planted) will also help obscure visibility.

  • Yes. A barrier will be incorporated into the final plan in conjunction with the Township’s ordinances. The school will be set back from the road, and additional measures will be taken to minimize the visual and acoustic impact of the school, including maintaining a large portion of the wooded area surrounding the site.

  • The district would propose to work within the right of way of the existing easements, but PennDOT has the final say on how the final plan would look.

  • The district is not seeking a change in zoning category from residential to commercial or industrial. The zoning will remain residential. The district is seeking a single-use exception, not a zoning change.

    For more information on the application for the zoning text amendment, visit our legal updates page.

  • The district has designed the new school with an on-site sewer system, as there is currently no public sewer access to the site. Edgmont Township asked that the district also explore the feasibility of tying into the public sewer system, which is currently over three miles from the site. The district and its project team will evaluate the cost of both options and make a decision after further evaluation.

  • No. The planned system will operate on a closed loop, so it should not have any impact on drinking water. All proposed drilling and geothermal work will be done in accordance with federal EPA and PA State Department of Environmental Protection regulations. Water will not be removed or added to the aquifer.

  • If something of historical significance is found underneath the church or in the ground, the district will contact an archaeologist or other expert for assistance. All appropriate parties would be contacted to determine next steps.

  • The district looked carefully at numerous sites for the placement of the new elementary school and worked with engineers and other experts in selecting the site for the new school.

    PIPELINE LOCATION: Similar to other developments in this area, there are several types of pipelines near the school site. The Mariner East II (ME2) is located ¾ of a mile from the proposed school location. Closer, on the outermost northeast corners of the property, there are two Texas East 20-inch-diameter parallel pipelines that exclusively carry compressed natural gas for heating and cooking by homes and businesses. They are not part of the Mariner East II pipeline. Both Texas East pipelines have been operating safely since entering service, one since the 1940s and the other since the 1960s.

    EVALUATING SAFETY AND RISK: The district continues to rely on official government studies, data, and recommendations to make informed decisions related to utility infrastructure throughout the district. To inform site selection of the new elementary school, the district reviewed independent risk studies completed for the Mariner East 2 and natural gas pipelines, such as the Citizen Risk Assessment, the G2 Mariner East and Adelphia Pipeline Risk Assessment, the Purple Book, a report prepared for the Pipeline Safety Trust, and information from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Office of Pipeline Safety.

    These studies and reports indicate that the proposed location of the school is outside the maximum hazard zone (calculated by using the worst-case scenario of an incident occurring) of the Mariner East 2 with a 0% risk probability of a fatal occurrence at this location due to a ME2 pipeline hazard. At the proposed distance of the school from the Texas East pipeline (approximately 270 feet), the probability of a fatal occurrence due to a pipeline hazard related to this natural gas pipeline is less than 3 in 10 million (potential hazardous radius of 391 feet).

    Approved development takes place continually near pipelines in Pennsylvania based on advice and research from experts. As the District continues with its planning and design process, orienting the building with a consideration of preserving safe distances from pipelines is part of this process.

    REGULATION OF PIPELINE SAFETY: The safe transportation of pipeline products is federally regulated by two sets of U.S. Department of Transportation Regulations, 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 190, 191, 192, and 196 for gas pipelines like the Texas East, and 49 CFR Parts 190, 194, 195, and 196 for hazardous liquid pipelines. Separate U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for liquified natural gas (LNG) like the ME2 are found under 49 CFR Part 193. These regulations provide the safety standards for pipelines.

    Specific questions about pipelines within our district should be directed toward the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) here and the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration here. These governmental organizations ensure the safety of our nation's network of pipelines.

    Additionally, the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission requires pipeline operators to monitor the safety and integrity of their pipelines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through an Integrity Management Program. Pipeline operators are also required to participate in school-specific hazard response planning with district personnel and county emergency responders, which has occurred for the district’s existing schools. These collaborative planning sessions will also occur for the new school to inform both shelter-in-place and evacuation procedures for a variety of scenarios, including pipeline-specific hazards.

    LOCAL REQUIREMENTS: Edgmont Township has adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, which has incorporated the 2015 International Building Codes. The Township has adopted some exceptions to the Uniform Construction Code by Township Ordinance #184, #186, and #196. The Township Code can be accessed by clicking here, and the new school is required to meet these requirements.

  • No, the construction operations for building the new school will not disturb the pipeline. The district will be submitting plans and information to the pipeline owner, Enbridge, prior to starting construction and will adhere to all safety guidelines as required. The pipeline right-of-way will be clearly marked out during construction, including a safety barrier, so that its location is identified and access to the right-of-way is not permitted. In coordination with dozens of other evaluation criteria, the district made the conscious decision to select a site that reflects modern safety standards for construction near pipelines.