Methacton School District

Please know that I am extremely proud of our progress on the Methacton High School Field renovation project!

While our scheduled completion dates have lagged behind, our diligence in getting this project done correctly has been of the utmost importance. As of this writing, our auxiliary field is substantially complete with the stadium field, track improvements, and rest room building planned to be turned over to the High School Principal and Athletic Director by October 10, 2015. The two softball fields and several storm water management items remain to be completed. However, as we approach completion of these items, we do so without one of the most substantial and important aspects - lights.

Methacton used to be among the few public high schools in Montgomery County without a turf field. This is no longer the case. Upon final completion, we will have two beautiful synthetic turf fields. We broke ground on the field’s renovation project in April of 2015 and we raised over $1.4 million in private contributions to offset the costs of these improvements while at the same time reaching another milestone in passing a no tax increase budget for 2015-2016.

The energy surrounding this project is contagious. The Board’s commitment, combined with our private funding commitments, provide increased aesthetic value to our high school campus and places Methacton in a new category of consideration by families looking for a new home.

While the turf fields address some of our field shortages, safely lit fields provide us with the added value of additional practice and play access and allows for events to occur when our working families can better attend them. Furthermore; lit fields for football, lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, and marching band events, among others; allows parents, students, and the community to not only participate, but establishes a new social foundation currently absent in a community like ours without a downtown.

It remains troublesome that we are this far along with the construction project without a final answer on lighting. Today, the future of Methacton High School field lighting lies with the Court of Common Pleas. There are three parties to this matter. The District, several neighbors, and Worcester Township. There is a meeting scheduled with all three parties on October 7, 2015 before the judge.

It is important to know that my recommendation to appeal the township’s decision laid primarily with my duty as Superintendent to ensure the district provides field lighting that meets with the safety recommendations of national experts on outdoor field lighting. These recommendations were included in testimony that now lies before the court.

I simply ask that you remain patient and allow me this additional time to get safe lighting approved and installed for the benefit of our students, our community, and our future; removing the limitations that were the norm for nearly the past 20 years, and bringing the benefits that students in our neighboring districts have enjoyed for some time. In the meantime, we’re preparing for practice and play on our fields while we look forward to Homecoming on October 24, 2015!

October 24, 2015

Methacton High School Fields Project Ribbon Cutting and Community Day

This event will begin immediately after the Methacton High School Inaugural Homecoming parade, and will be followed by the 2 p.m. MHS Warriors varsity football game vs. Owen J. Roberts in the newly renovated high school stadium. An itinerary is below, click here for more details...

Itinerary

9:30 a.m. Homecoming Parade Starts at Eagleville Elementary School

11-11:30 a.m. – Parade Arrives on Campus

11:30-11:40 a.m. – Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting

11:45 a.m. – Remarks on Auxiliary Field

12 – 1:30 p.m. – Community Events on Auxiliary Field

2 p.m. – MHS Homecoming Football Game