Last tour of Hempfield high school before renovations scheduled

Hempfield Area School District residents can check out the inside of the high school one last time before renovations begin by attending an alumni tour on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The tour will be led by administrators, teachers and retired faculty who will guide visitors around the building and discuss its history, along with details of future plans for the high school’s revitalization.

The $132 million renovation aims to keep the majority of the building’s exterior intact while redoing the inside in phases. Construction on part of the high school is expected to begin later in August and early September, with the first bids for the project scheduled to be selected at the end of July.

The Saturday tour date, which is the last in a series, has garnered interest from residents, said superintendent Tammy Wolicki. At least 50 alumni have already signed up to attend, but reservations are still open until Saturday.

“We get a lot who want to come in and see the high school in its current state, prior to the renovation,” she said. “They enjoy reliving their memories as they walk through the hallways and talk about teachers that they’ve had.”

During the tours, she said, administrators discuss how school education has changed throughout the years and then split the group up to show them around the building.

Those interested in the tour can sign up using a form on the Hempfield Area School District website or email Jenn Krivus at krivusj@hasdpa.net.

Tours begin in the high school auditorium and will last an hour and a half.