Unionville High School renovation project wraps up ahead of schedule and under budget, officials say
Much like the entire Unionville High School renovation project, the school’s new auditorium represented a vast upgrade in facilities, but sparked controversy.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — Although to be sure controversial, the much debated project to renovate Unionville High School is complete, ahead of schedule and under budget — and officials from the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will gather Tuesday night to formally dedicate the renovated building.
Current and former Board of Education members, current and former district administrators and other dignitaries from the area are expected to gather for the formal ceremony, slated to start at 6 p.m., in the lobby of the auditorium.
The $71 million project added classrooms, built new a gymnasium, a new auditorium and renovated large amounts of the building, the oldest part of which date to 1959. The renovations allowed for the end of the use of trailers for classrooms, added state of the art science labs, a renovated cafeteria and new front office. The renovation also added new administration offices — and meeting rooms for the district.
A new plaque — along the one from the 1991 building renovation as well as the original building construction plaque — will be unveiled during a ceremony Tuesday night before the regular Board of Education meeting.
While the reviews for the reworked building have been almost universally good, the project was rooted in controversy, including a pair of failed voter referendums. The Board of Education decided to go ahead with the project, ultimately, prompting more controversy. Another bump in the construction road: a dispute — ultimately worked out — with East Marborough over the height of the school’s new auditorium.
In other district news, local Congressman Joe Pitts (R-16) will be speaking at Unionville High School, Feb. 22 in the Presidential Library about two of his passions, where art intersects with politics. The congressman is a prolific artist, noted for his depictions of Abraham Lincoln among others.
The talk starts at 6:30 p.m.
The school district also plans a community conversation on school safety, March 4, in the high school cafeteria, from 7 to 9 p.m. Click here to RSVP for the event.
The district will also be holding registration for new kindergarten students on March 6 at Unionville High School’s cafeteria, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The school district is also asking music lovers to save the date — April 10 — for a free concert by the Air Force band. Specific details about the event, including the starting time and how to reserve free tickets, should be announced in the coming weeks, but district officials wanted local residents to get the date on their calendars.
