City Councilman Mike Driscoll recalls seeing the initial plans for the newly constructed Thomas Holme Elementary School, and last week was wowed as he attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new building.
Driscoll credited teamwork among many for producing a building that he said will soon be filled with students whose futures have no ceiling.
“This has exceeded my expectations,” he said.
Driscoll reminded guests at the ceremony that the school is named in memory of the first surveyor general of Pennsylvania (appointed by William Penn) who laid out the original plan for Philadelphia.
The councilman was joined by, among others, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington; Reginald Streater, President, Board of Education; Micah Winterstein, in his third year as principal; Mike Greco, president of the Penn Academy Athletic Association; Troy Hill, Principal/Architect, Blackney Hayes; Chuck Calvanese, Partner, BSI; Deb Carrera, the city’s chief education officer; and Teresa Fleming, the school district’s chief operating officer.
Holme students and staff moved to the former Austin Meehan Middle School for the 2023-24 academic year and have remained there as construction was ongoing.
The new U-shaped building, at 9125 Academy Road (at Willits Road), is 3 stories and 130,000 square feet, and can accommodate up to 1,295 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
The construction cost was about $90 million, and students participated in the design process.
The property includes trees, a parking lot and a play yard. The building features a gym/auditorium, library, dance studio, keyboard lab, vocal music room, autistic support classes, a science lab, cafeteria and elevator.
Teachers will report on Jan. 2, with students following on Jan. 5. Winterstein said the building will help Holme continue its three core values of access, belonging and inspiration.
The Northeast High School marching band performed during the ceremony, and Holme’s dragon mascot was on hand, along with members of the Holme Circle and Upper Holmesburg civic associations. Guests were treated to lunch and Tastykakes.
School district officials were proud that this was the second ribbon cutting in a week, following the one at AMY at James Martin in Port Richmond.
Watlington, the superintendent, said he’s happy the Holme project was finished on time and on budget. He described it as a “wonderful edifice” and believes the flexible classroom setups will keep students “actively engaged in rigorous learning.”
Streater, the school board president, said the new Holme building will help move the needle for academic achievement.
“What an incredible day for our community,” he said.
Carrera, the city chief education officer, recalls being principal at Kensington High School when it received a new building. She said the building helped lift math and reading scores, leading to higher college acceptance rates. She’s looking forward to seeing Holme students move into their new school.
“I know the kids are going to love it,” she said. ••
