More costs on the horizon

By Karen Blackledge
The Danville News

May 14, 2008 07:50 am

— DANVILLE -- While continuing to discuss elementary options, Danville school board is keeping one eye focused ahead to expected renovations at the middle and high schools that could cost $60 million to $70 million.
Board member Steve Schooley suggested reconsidering consolidation because of the costs looming on the horizon.
The middle school needs air conditioning estimated at a cost of $500,000 and other work that includes bringing stairwells up to code. The high school needs more classroom space with students being taught in closets, Schooley said.
"The cafeteria isn't safe with multiple elevations. The band room needs more space," he said, suggesting that administration be moved out of the high school to make space.
Schooley said it would be another 10 years before the district would be eligible for building project reimbursements from Harrisburg.
"We are going to have to increase taxes," he said.
Schooley said elementary consolidation will cost less in the long run because the district will have to maintain one building compared with three: Riverside, Mahoning-Cooper and Danville elementaries. He also questioned what the district would do with students for two years while schools would be renovated if that option were chosen and asked if the board would be sacrificing the needs of the middle and high schools.
In presenting updated financial figures on the elementary issue to the board, Business Administrator Richard Snodgrass said a consolidated elementary not at the high school would cost an estimated $28 million with $2 million included for site development.
Options for renovating Riverside and Mahoning-Cooper elementaries range from $26 million with no expansion at Danville Elementary up to $41 million in a case where Riverside Elementary would be replaced with a new building instead of being renovated.
"These are scary numbers but it's been years since anything has been done to the buildings," board member Kellie Krum said, referring to Riverside and Mahoning-Cooper elementary schools. Modular units have been housing students for years at the schools.
Snodgrass said taxpayers wouldn't see an extra burden over the building project until the cost exceeds $30 million.
If the board chooses to keep neighborhood schools, the facilities could cost $300,000 to $500,000 more per year to operate, Snodgrass said. He added operational savings from building a consolidated elementary school could allow the district to finance projects at the secondary schools.
Schooley said the board needs to look at acquiring property now. "As Danville grows, a lot of this property will never come back," he said.
The board did decide to look into some land aquisition, in particular a tract along Route 11 near Sheetz at the intersection with Woodbine Lane. That land could be used for a consolidated elementary. A proposed elementary near the high school has not received a lot of support, Snodgrass said.
Attorney George Wagner suggested the board should consider its power of eminent domain in Danville to acquire land for a school.
Retired Danville teacher Joan Kessler suggested an option for expansion at Danville Elementary. She said Danville borough may give the district parts of Iron and Cedar streets so the school could be expanded. The board asked Superintendent Susan Bickford to check with the borough.
"At least five on borough council solidly agree that if they give the district the property, it might make a difference in saving the school," she said.
Kessler said Students from Riverside and Mahoning-Cooper elementaries could attend a consolidated Danville Elementary.
"Mahoning Township is never going to let you put in sidewalks and Riverside has few sidewalks. The borough has sidewalks for the kids to walk to school," she said.
Whether deciding on consolidation or renovation, Danville businessman Greg Cole said the board needs to have clear goals and objectives and to know how each alternative measures up to those objectives.
"The board needs to look at finances all at one time. The public is being asked to finance an elementary school over 20 years but something needs to be done with the middle school in the next 20 years," Cole said. "This decision may affect my grandkids and the board can't be swayed today by students, parents and grandparents. The key is to eliminate emotion from the decision.
"There has been way too much emotion in some of the process so far."
Resident Edward A'Zary said the board should choose "the best school for all students in the district."
While saying Danville has always been a leader in education, Snodgrass told board members they "need to build what the district can afford and make sure you don't shortchange the taxpayers or kids in this whole process."
E-mail comments to kblackledge@thedanvillenews.com.

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