Election 2025 Preview: Bensalem Middle School Future Up For Debate

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — School Director Stephanie Gonzalez Ferrandez calls Bensalem Middle School's future "a significant election issue."

While building a new middle school or renovating the current one won't go before voters, Ferrandez said the May 20 primary election of Bensalem Township School Board candidates may decide which option will be taken.

"This will be a rather significant election issue, depending on how this plays out," she told Patch recently. "It’s not on our ballot, because we don’t require a referendum, but it will be an issue."

Seven candidates are running for four, four-year terms on the Bensalem Township School Board.

They include cross-filing Democrat and Republican candidates Marc Cohen, Rachel Fingles, Leann Hart, Abby Koss, Kate Pascucci, Sheldon Per, Lee Schum, and Democrat Rodger Allen.

"There are plans to do something," School Director Marc Cohen said. "We're still meeting with an architect."

Cohen said that the school board will decide whether to renovate the current school or build a new one. He said that price tag is around $150 million.

Ferrandez said the school board was supposed to receive updated prices. She said the architect is expected to appear at the school board's May 14 meeting.

"My gut tells me that the Republicans are trying to postpone this past November," said Ferrandez, who is running in the primary as a Democrat for mayor. "I don’t have any proof of this, but I strongly suspect it."