Frankford High School has finally reopened after almost $30 million in environmental repairs and building improvements.
The School District of Philadelphia held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 18, one week before school was scheduled to start.
Among those on hand were Tony Watlington, Superintendent; Reginald Streater, president, Philadelphia Board of Education; and state Rep. Joe Hohenstein, a 1985 Frankford graduate.
The main part of Frankford, at 5000 Oxford Ave., had been closed due to asbestos since April 2023. Sophomores through seniors were in another part of the building, while freshmen were at Roberto Clemente Middle School.
Principal Michael Calderone, on the job for 11 years, said the reopening was perhaps the most exciting day of career in education.
“It’s really amazing to see the transformation,” he said.
Asbestos-containing materials have been removed, and additional protections are in place to manage that which remains.
The school district’s asbestos program inspects Frankford and all buildings with asbestos every six months to check the condition of asbestos materials so they can be managed, in accordance with federal regulations. Results are at www.philasd.org/environmental.
Frankford, which opened in 1910, will celebrate its 115th anniversary during the 2025-26 school year. Enrollment is about 1,000.
“It’s hard to believe today is actually here,” Calderone said.
The changes are many and include:
• More than 6,000 panels of durable, protective paneling have been installed on walls of all classrooms, hallways, bathrooms and offices to protect the plaster beneath, which in some locations contains asbestos, from being disturbed.
• 83 new window AC units have been installed in classrooms.
• More than 75,000 square feet of refinished wood floors and newly installed vinyl tile flooring were completed.
• More than 1,300 LED lights have been installed throughout the building, in classrooms, cafeteria, hallways and third-floor gymnasium.
• New ceiling grids and panels – more than 85,000 square feet – have been installed in classrooms, hallways and the cafeteria and a new hard ceiling in the third-floor gym. Asbestos materials that were above ceiling tiles have been removed.
• A total of 551 new shatter-resistant window panes have been installed in all classrooms and some hallways, providing a brighter, clearer view of the neighborhood. (The new view is so clear Center City is visible through several windows).
• New painting throughout with school colors gold, blue and red on the first, second and third floors, respectively, brightening main classroom levels.
• The trim in all rooms, restrooms, locker rooms and stairwells also has been painted.
• All lockers have been repainted in school colors.
• Refurbished the auditorium’s wooden stage, floors and seating.
• Third-floor gymnasium has been repaired and improved, with refinished flooring, paint and bright lighting and 12 AC window units.
• Cafeteria has new flooring, food line set-up, new lighting, ceiling and new furniture
• 10 additional hydration stations have been installed
• Radiators have been repaired and repainted and 400 have been fitted with thermostatic control valves for more individual temperature control.
• 31 new Smartboards have been added, so they are now in all instructional classrooms.
• All chalkboards have been converted to dust-free dry erase boards.
• Assistant principals now have offices on each floor.
• Most of the murals and historic artwork on the walls in the hallways have been preserved.
In addition, spaces throughout the building that had been used for storage have been refurbished to open more usable space. An area just outside the cafeteria entrance will house student services such as a technology center, college readiness/career office, pantry and resource center and the school store.
“Words really can’t do it justice,” Calderone said of the overhaul. ••
