Central Bucks High School South. Photo by James Short.
Central Bucks School District is pressing ahead with its grade realignment plans at Central Bucks High School South, securing local approvals for a building addition and approving new engineering services to support the multimillion-dollar project.
Vision 2030 launched at CB South
Substitute Superintendent Dr. Charles Malone said at Thursday's board meeting that the district also used CB South last week to launch “Vision 2030: Honor the past, design the future,” its next comprehensive planning process. Nearly 50 teachers, students, parents, administrators, and community members attended the Sept. 16 session, which focused on four priority areas: academic excellence, technology and innovation, health and wellness, and community engagement.
“While PDE requires school districts to undertake this process every three years, we see this opportunity as much more than compliance,” Malone said on Thursday night. “It is a chance to reflect on where we have been, identify what we want to accomplish by 2030, and design a shared vision for the future of our schools.”
Feedback gathered at the session will guide goals and action steps for the plan, which must be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education in March 2026 after board approval. The next planning session is scheduled for Nov. 11, with a follow-up in January before a draft plan is posted for public review in February.
Addition planned at CB South
As part of the district’s three-year realignment plan, sixth graders will shift into middle schools and ninth graders into high schools beginning in 2026–27. To prepare, CB South will be expanded to accommodate more students.
On Sept. 9, Warrington Township Supervisors approved a resolution amending the land development plan for the CB South High School campus at 1100 Folly Road. The resolution authorizes a 13,011-square-foot, three-story addition to the building to handle additional enrollment created by the restructuring of grade levels.
The parcel sits in an R-A Residential Agricultural zoning district. The township’s zoning board had already granted a variance in December 2024 to allow an increase in impervious surface coverage from 33.9% to 34.4%. Supervisors also agreed to grant waivers for certain stormwater and drainage requirements.
Engineering costs increase
On Thursday, the school board approved a motion to expand its contract with Gilmore & Associates, Inc. for professional services related to the CB South Realignment Project.
The change order covers:
The $57,000 change order raises the total contract value from $85,600 to $142,600, according to district documents dated July 29.
Broader facility upgrades
Malone noted that other operations projects tied to the realignment are also moving forward, including synthetic turf replacement at CB East. Together, the capital improvements represent a significant investment in district facilities as Central Bucks prepares for the structural and instructional changes of realignment.
Looking ahead
District officials said the CB South addition and related facility projects remain on track for completion by the 2026–27 school year, when grade realignment is set to take effect. The project is part of a districtwide phased plan to “recommend” in 2023–24, “redefine” through 2025–26, and fully “realign” in 2026–27.
“Our next steps are about ensuring that our schools are ready, both structurally and academically, to support students as we move into this new model,” Malone said.
