Linden Elementary potentially on chopping block again with Central Bucks elementary renovation plans

The time has come for Central Bucks School District to look at the future of its eight elementary schools, which may include the closure of Linden Elementary School in Doylestown and the consolidation of students via construction of brand new buildings.

Proposals on the future of the schools were presented by district Head of Operations Tara Houser last week at the committee level. 

District architects KCBA in Hatfield Borough recommended against the renovation of two elementary schools: Linden and Doyle, per the committee report.

According to the Bucks County Courier Times, Linden Elementary was recommended for closure two years ago in a two-year demographic study that found that declining enrollment in the district, the higher cost of renovating Linden, and the high property value of the school made it a prime candidate for closure.

Here is a breakdown of the proposals from the committee session:

Renovation/Replacement Plans:

• Central Bucks School District plans to renovate or replace eight elementary schools.
• Proposal involves closing Linden Elementary School in Doylestown.

Student Transfers:

• Linden students will be moved to Doyle (West-tracked) or Cold Spring (East-tracked) schools.

Architectural Recommendations:

• Current architects advise against renovating Linden and Doyle due to cost inefficiency.

Previous Studies:

• A 2022 study highlighted declining enrollment and high renovation costs as reasons for considering Linden's closure.
• The district decided against closing any schools in 2023.

Proposals Overview:

• Cheapest Option: Close Linden and Kutz, build new Doyle; total cost $218.66 million.
• Mid-range Option: Close Linden, renovate Kutz, and build new Doyle; total cost $249.75 million.
• Most Expensive Option: Build new Doyle and Warwick; total cost $271.57 million, with expansions for population growth.

HVAC Improvements:

• All schools in the renovation plan will receive new or upgraded HVAC systems.

Funding:

• Future renovations likely to require tax increases due to rising construction costs.
• The district recently implemented a significant tax hike to fund these projects.

Future Timeline:

• Construction for new schools anticipated to start in 2028, with openings by 2031.
• Discussions on renovations will continue on Oct. 23 at the next committee meeting at 7 p.m.