Line Mountain board members talk elementary school renovations; potential tax increases

TREVORTON - The topic of renovations at Dalmatia and Leck Kill elementary schools dominated Tuesday's Line Mountain Board of Directors meeting.

The board also discussed potential upcoming tax increases.

In June, the board members narrowly approved a preliminary plan to use state funds to address the aging schools. However, when projected reimbursement figures from the state for Leck Kill were too low for the board to accept, the general consensus Tuesday was to use capital reserve funds to address the needs of Leck Kill and to continue with a state program, PlanCon, to help fund renovations at Dalmatia. A vote on that plan of action will take place at a regular board meeting Nov. 17.

In the past, directors have been at odds regarding the need to renovate the elementary schools. Some board members have brought up the issue of consolidating the schools on several occasions.

The district is in the middle of a $17 million building project at Line Mountain Junior-Senior High School and Trevorton Elementary School. Because of that, director Dennis Erdman said he needs to know the exact price tag for proposed additional renovations.

Erdman said taxpayers might not sustain another tax increase, citing a high unemployment rate, struggling economy and the weakening value of the dollar. Board members at the district have voted to increase taxes for the past five years, and plan to do so again for at least two more years in light of current renovation projects.

Projected costs to address issues at Dalmatia are a minimum $3.8 million, and the Leck Kill project would cost around $1.8 million, said Josh Bower, of architectural firm Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates, Mechanicsburg.

Superintendent David Campbell said he thought the board would be able to accomplish the renovations with another 2.5 mill tax increase.

"I think you will be surprised by the numbers," Campbell said, adding that the district's financial advisor was working on some figures to be presented to the board.

Projected costs include the price of replacing electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Other renovations could include the addition of six classrooms at Dalmatia, new windows, carpet, ceiling tiles and doors and added security measures at both schools.

The minimum possible cost at Dalmatia, which includes all state-mandated improvements, is $3.8 million. An alternate cost of $4.7 million includes the cost of building four more classrooms at the school. The additional classrooms would prepare for a projected increase in enrollment at the school, as well as the need for a pre-kindergarten program and separate music and art rooms.

The administrative offices at both schools are slated to be moved to a more central location for security reasons, Campbell said.

Through the PlanCon process, the district will submit plans to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

State reimbursement is dependent upon the number of students enrolled and the square footage of the building that is being addressed, Bower said. Since Leck Kill has a lower number of students enrolled, the amount of its reimbursement will be significantly less than Dalmatia's, Bower added. By working with the state, the district will have to make certain mechanical fixes to get the buildings in compliance with the latest codes.

Erdman said the projected reimbursement for Leck Kill was only 8.5 percent of the total cost to renovate, or $180,298. The projected reimbursement for Dalmatia is $841,926, or 22 percent of the total renovation cost, Erdman said.

Bower told directors that the projected reimbursement figures were "conservative" and could increase as the PlanCon process progresses.

The board's property committee, Erdman and Jeffrey Blasius, recommended the district use capital reserve funds to make necessary changes at Leck Kill. The district currently has $2.9 million in capital reserve funds, said Business Manager Phil Rapant.

Since the district will have three completely renovated buildings, the need to have a large sum in the capital reserve fund is not as necessary, the board maintains.

While the school board instructed Bower to discontinue PlanCon work for Leck Kill, Campbell said a renovation plan for the small school must be addressed at the next meeting. Priorities include roof replacement, office move and a kitchen upgrade, Campbell said.

"We are ready to move forward to get these projects moving ... to take advantage of the market ... with lower construction costs and competitiveness," Bower said.

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