PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Construction is underway to build a new Thomas Holme Elementary School in Northeast Philadelphia.
Dignitaries and students tossed dirt with their ceremonial shovels Friday in front of the construction that has already begun to replace the century-old Holme Elementary School building on Academy Road.
Principal Micah Winterstein says his K-8 students are looking forward to the new three-story, $90 million building scheduled to open in January 2026
“With new state-of-the-art buildings, you don’t have to worry about things like asbestos or mold,” Winterstein said, “and that’s really important that our students and our staff shouldn’t have to think about that when they go to school.”
Holme students are temporarily attending classes at the old Meehan Middle School in Mayfair.
The district will open a series of two dozen meetings next week for the public to weigh in on a long-term facilities plan, says district Deputy Superintendent of Operations Oz Hill.
“We will do nothing for you without you. Everything that we do will incorporate the voice of the community,” Oz said.
That plan could result in closings, consolidations and more new construction.