Published: June 14, 2009 11:31 pm      

Township board weighing best way to spend $25M

DAVIDSVILLE — By July, the Conemaugh Township Area school board is expected to approve a plan that calls for closing its early grades elementary school in Jerome and paves the way for $25 million in capital spending.

Under the proposal, the grades 3-6 intermediate school would expand to kindergarten through sixth grade. Also, additions and renovations would be made to the junior/senior high. The work could be completed within three to four years of the board giving the go-ahead.

Problem is, the district-wide facility study by Kimball & Associates has identified more than $40 million in “wants,’’ but the budget is just $25 million. Much of the cost would be covered by bond issuance, Superintendent Joseph DiBartola said.

Board President Susan Saylor-Stahl said the spending is due, with the last major renovations coming in 1988.

“When you’re looking at $25 million and looking at creating efficiencies and keeping the quality of education for the next 20 years, a tax hike is a possibility,’’ she said Friday.

Saylor-Stahl said of the closing of the Jerome school: “The absolute decision hasn’t been made, but we’re heading in that direction.’’

The board has a lot to pick from

– and eliminate – from the wants list in reaching its spending limit.

It surveyed teachers and administrators, students and residents in selecting a master wish list. Among the items receiving consideration:

• Construction and expansion of the intermediate school in Tire Hill. Costs would range anywhere from $10.3 million to $18.3 million. Air conditioning would be included.

• Building a large-group instruction room at the high school in Davidsville, similar to the tiered rooms on some college campuses, for about $650,000.

• Erecting a new recreation center incorporating a track, weight room and gym at the high school for about $6.5 million.

• Air conditioning the high school for about $1.1 million.

• Creating a food court at the high school in place of the cafeteria, about $1.35 million.

• Building four larger science labs at the high school for about $925,000.

• Reworking the performing arts area, $550,000.

DiBartola said the process is deliberate and not rushed.

“We’re still in the phase where we’ll taking in the top issues for the students, teachers, administration and our community,’’ he said.

Saylor-Stahl said the cost of operating the Jerome school is twice that of running the high school, which is four times larger.

That’s because Conemaugh Township Area Primary School is forced to heat with more costly coal and oil.

The town’s reaction to the likely shutdown, she said, has been muted. “We’ve been very inclusive’’ in getting local feedback, she said.

And the last thing Saylor-Stahl wants is to leave an empty building.

“We are very aware that that school is at the center of town,’’ she said. “We’re trying to include township supervisors and county commissioners to find out what the possibilities are for that building.

“We could move our administrative offices there. It could turn into a community center. What we don’t want to do is leave that building empty there and we will work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.’’