South Buffalo Elementary School was expanded and renovated in 2005. The project added more classrooms, a computer lab and gymnasium space.

BUFFALO TWP — One of the lessons officials at the Freeport School District know is continuing residential and business developments means an ever-rising student population.

As a result, the district has renovated several schools in the past five years and is planning for other construction. Work has been done to all of the elementary buildings since 2000.

For example, in Buffalo Township alone, there are three housing developments under way, which will boost student enrollment.

Superintendent Joe Malak said the district tries to anticipate growth to stay ahead of the increasing enrollment.

To address the needs of young students, the district in 2003 converted the former Freeport Elementary School to its new kindergarten center.

Malak said relocating all of the kindergarten students into one school freed up room at the district's two other elementary buildings in Buffalo Township and in South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County.

Also, with just kindergarten students in the new center, everything in the building is geared to their grade level, he said.

South Buffalo Elementary was expanded and renovations were done in 2005. In addition to more classrooms, a computer lab and gymnasium space were added.Work at Buffalo Elementary was completed in 2002. Malak said both buildings now have adequate space, which houses art, music and physical education facilities.Prior to the renovations, none of the elementary buildings had adequate space, he said.Malak said the next priority is dealing with cramped conditions at the junior high school in Freeport.Anticipating an increased population, the district years ago bought land adjacent to the high school in Buffalo Township. Malak said either a new junior high or high school would likely be built on the site.

If a new high school were built, the current high school would become the new home to junior high students.Or a new junior high school could be built behind the high school.A third option is to build an addition to the existing high school for the junior high students.Malak said a feasibility study would be done to help select the best choice.In dealing with enrollment growth, Malak said the biggest problem for the district is not knowing how much or how quickly that growth will develop.School district officials would like to see new businesses spring up to reduce some of the property tax burden for residents. Malak said the ideal situation is for the tax base to balance growth.

<b>Address:</b> P.O. Drawer C, Freeport, PA 16229<b>Telephone:</b> 724-295-5141<b>Web site:</b> www.freeport.k12.pa.us<b>Superintendent:</b> Joseph P. Malak<b>Enrollment:</b> 2,051<b>Municipalities served:</b> Buffalo Township in Butler County and Freeport borough and South Buffalo Township in Armstrong County

South Buffalo Elementary students use the multi-purpose room during a dance class.

Freeport School District officials are considering whether to build a new high school or build a new junior high school. The floor in the current junior high school gymnasium is tile.

The in-school suspension room at the Freeport Junior High School doubles as a supply closet. District officials are still considering their options in dealing with the cramped conditions at the school in Freeport.