New School Project

Bear Creek Community Charter School, in cooperation with the Bear Creek Foundation, is in the process of constructing a new 64,000 square foot public school facility on a new 97 acre campus adjoining Ten Mile Run in Bear Creek Township. Twenty six acres have been developed for the school building, outdoor learning stations, recreation and parking. The new school facility will serve up to 468 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, and is conveniently located two miles south of the existing school along State Route 115, just beyond the Forest park neighborhood in Bear Creek Township. Location Map

Funding

Unlike traditional public school districts, Bear Creek Community Charter School receives no additional funding for school construction projects; therefore the cost of this project must fall within the School's annual operating budget. To ensure Bear Creek Community Charter School exists for future generations and our students are provided with adequate facilities to support our rigorous academic program, the Bear Creek Community Charter School Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of the Bear Creek Foundation partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture to pursue an appealing financing plan to allow the project cost to be spread out over an extended term.

The Design Process

Bear Creek Community Charter School coordinated an extensive search and selection process for an architect and other design professionals to participate in the design and construction of the new public charter school campus. A total of 30 design professionals submitted prequalification packages as part of this process. A committee independently reviewed each submission, and six firms were invited to participate in the second phase of the selection process, which included a one-hour presentation followed by a question and answer period. Four finalists were invited to provide cost proposals. The Board of Trustees selected the team headed by Hemmler + Camayd Architects of Scranton, Pennsylvania as the firm to coordinate the design of the new Bear Creek Community Charter School campus. Hemmler + Camayd Architects.

Hemmler+Camayd Architects worked diligently with the Board of Trustees, Board of Directors, staff, students, parents and the community to prepare a design that will support the school’s mission and core values. The scope of the project was guided by the overall Project Statement, which outlines the school's mission and core values as well as other criteria that is important to consider in the design process. A Preliminary Site Plan as well as a high-level Concept Plan was developed to foster creative thinking. As the design process progressed, Hemmler+Camayd crafted various renderings of what the new school facility may look like, including the Overall Site Plan, Main Driveway, Commons Area, and Cafeteria.

Permitting and Construction

The design team completed a plethora of studies and testing including environmental impact studies, archeological investigations, soil analysis and water quality monitoring. Over the course of eighteen months, the project received land development approval from Bear Creek Township and Luzerne County. The United States Department of Agriculture approved the design package, and all the appropriate approvals were received from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Luzerne Conservation District.

Construction Partners

The Bear Creek Foundation and Bear Creek Community Charter Schools awarded four prime contracts following an aggressive competitive public bid process. Our construction partners on this project are Skepton Construction of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania (General Contractor); Walsh Electrical of Scranton, Pennsylvania (Electrical Contractor); A.J. Demor & Sons of Sugar Notch, Pennsylvania (HVAC and Plumbing Contractor).

Breaking Ground

A ceremony was held on July 30, 2014 where Bear Creek Community Charter School students joined the design team, Trustees and community leaders to officially break ground on the construction process. The official first day of construction was July 21, 2014. Substantial completion is expected in early November 2015, with students and staff transitioning to the new facility on Monday, January 4, 2016.

Watch the Project Develop

A Facebook group has been created to share information regarding this project with parents and the community. The name of the Facebook group is The New Bear Creek Community Charter School.

The latest time-lapsed video of construction progress is available online, photos, or watch what is happening live.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Bear Creek Community Charter School is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S. W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.