After a closure extending beyond two years, Frankford High School resumed operations this week following extensive renovations, which amounted to a hefty $30 million price tag due effectively to asbestos abatement. The major refurbishments at the Philadelphia institution, aimed at eradicating hazardous materials, have culminated in substantive upgrades to various facilities, including new air conditioning systems and revamping the look of the school's interior, as informed by NBC Philadelphia.
The asbestos issue, a bane that had caused the institution’s shuttering back in April of 2023, has been resolved, with officials of the School District of Philadelphia eagerly cutting ribbons to herald the building's fresh start; a plethora of improvements such as smartboards, refinished floors, and new windows grace the classrooms which were once part of the affected areas, these upgrades were attentively documented by 6ABC. Frankford’s principal, Michael Calderone, relayed his elation, "When I walked in, I literally didn't recognize it," as he told 6ABC.
Despite these visually palpable enhancements, it's the unseen improvements that carry substantial importance. This includes the meticulous removal and covering of asbestos by dedicated teams, which has been characterised as fostering a clean and safe environment for both students and staff. The School District of Philadelphia remains committed to carrying out biannual asbestos checks and projecting transparency with scheduled inspections, maintaining ongoing efforts to ensure safety across all district buildings, as reported by NBC Philadelphia.
The school’s reopening marks not just a return to familiar corridors but a step into an environment boasting 1,300 LED lights, over 85,000 square feet of new ceiling grids and panels, and a suite of refurbished facilities including the auditorium's wooden stage, with roof repairs also on the horizon. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. has extended an open invitation to "check out this new jawn," an expression of pride in the revamped space, he highlighted the school’s compliance with federally mandated inspections, this particular statement was covered by FOX 29. Despite renovation-related disruptions, nearly 1,000 students are set to begin a new academic chapter within upgraded facilities.
