The Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit (BVIU) Board of Directors on Wednesday, Jan. 28 approved borrowing up to $15 million to ensure New Horizon School reopens in time for the 2026-2027 school year. This follows approval of the financing by the required majority of school boards that jointly own New Horizon.
“This is a landmark development for the students, families, and staff of New Horizon,” said BVIU Executive Director Dr. Eric Rosendale. “We are excited to move forward with the rehabilitation of the school and look forward to bringing the New Horizon family home.”
Wednesday’s vote follows a public meeting held by BVIU on Tuesday, Jan. 6 to further relay details on the project’s scope, financing, and timeline. BVIU board members and superintendents from the school districts that jointly own New Horizon attended the meeting, along with project management and financial teams, New Horizon families and staff, and the general public.
“This has been a complex and evolving process from the moment we found mold over the summer,” said Dr. Rosendale. “I want to thank the member districts who worked with us throughout this process. It was a hard road. There were some tough conversations and details were often changing. But I’m glad that, through it all, their support for our students did not waver.”
BVIU and its Board of Directors pursued rehabilitation of New Horizon following the discovery of mold and asbestos in August 2025. Further investigation determined the mold resulted from failing ventilation systems, deteriorated window casings, and other problems, requiring comprehensive system replacements. BVIU closed New Horizon following these discoveries and secured a lease of the Charles J. Betters Innovation Center in Midland. The lease ends on June 30, 2026 with no option to renew.
“To be in a situation where the staff is in a facility that wasn’t quite home to them or their students, they’ve done an excellent job down there,” said Board President Ronald Miller, of Big Beaver Falls School District. “Their dedication does not go unnoticed, especially by this board.” Miller also thanked New Horizon staff and BVIU Board Members for their dedication.
SitelogIQ is managing the rehabilitation project through the Guaranteed Energy Services Agreement (GESA) process at a projected cost of $14.75 million. Their operations follow initial remediation work by Intertek PSI Solutions.New Horizon School serves more than 170 students who have complex special needs and is jointly owned by Beaver County’s 14 public school districts. For more facts and information about the New Horizon School project, please visit this link on the BVIU website. For media inquiries, please contact Spokesperson Dan Rinkus at 412-738-5213 or marketing@bviu.org.