By Erin Thompson
LEWISBURG — School directors Tuesday night presented to 150 attendees a dozen options on a proposed construction project that addresses needs for more space in the district.
Tuesday night's was the fourth and final public session on master facilities plan.
Proposed projects range in cost from $27.8 million to $56.9 million.
On the low end, options include major renovations to Lewisburg Area High School and using it for grades 10-12, converting Donald H. Eichhorn Middle School to a junior high and expanding it for growth; changing Linntown Elementary into grades 5 and 6 and Kelly Elementary into pre-kindergarten through fourth grade with a 25,000-square-foot addition.
One of the more expensive options would require Lewisburg to build a high school, perhaps on the BZ Motors and trailer park property in East Buffalo Township and sell the 201-acre Newman property in Kelly Township that the district owns; keep the middle school grades 6-8 with a 15,000-square-foot addition; convert the high school into the intermediate school for grades 4-5 with moderate renovations and keep Kelly Elementary pre-kindergarten through third grade and add 10,00 square feet.
During Tuesday night's meeting, visitors were given a list of pros and cons of each of the 12 options and the opportunity to submit their opinion on which they would like to see the district chose. However, the school board has the final say in developing the long-term plan.
Superintendent Mark DiRocco said the district has never had a long-term facilities plan "which is why we are in the position we are in today."
The school board does not favor any particular plan, DiRocco said.
"We're still in the idea stage," he said.
Because program needs, as well as district and state enrollment trends show that they need more space, "Doing nothing is not an option," DiRocco said.
During the session, school principals discussed what construction would be necessary in their buildings.
Kelly Elementary Principal Dustin Dalton said if the district gets four more students in their first grade program, they will have to open another section, which would use the last room available that could be a classroom.
High school Principal David Himes said he would like to see additional programs "” such as science and math "” added to their curriculum, which will not be possible without expansion.
Security concerned middle school Principal Tracy Krum.
"When you come in the building, you can't right away come into a secure environment," she said.
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