LEWISBURG — Overwhelmingly, a new high school for Lewisburg was the ticket for a gathering of about 130 residents Tuesday.
And they unanimously agreed they would support a property tax increase of 1.5 to 2 mills to pay for it.
It was the second facilities-planning community discussion held by the school board at the high school. Consultant William DeJong, of Ohio, presented 11 options, each taking all four schools in the district into consideration. The options were derived from his firm’s study of the schools and results of the first community discussion in September.
Grouped at tables seating seven or eight, attendees Tuesday poured over the possibilities DeJong detailed, then posted their high/low, approval/disapproval by table. A tally showed all tables but one favored the new high school option.
“That’s a big major statement, no question about it,” DeJong said.
Most tables also favored additions to the Kelly and Linntown elementary schools, either with grades as they are or with a grade reconfiguration to move all third-graders to Linntown. Options that involved building a new elementary school or converting the Donald H. Eichhorn Middle School or the high school into an elementary school got little support.
The favored scenario for all schools, which includes additions to the elementary schools and the middle school as well as a new high school, would cost an estimated $47.3 million. DeJong said construction prices are 10 percent to 30 percent lower than in 2008, but he warned there are “huge variables.” Possibly offsetting the financial impact of a new bond issue would be the sale of current bonds, generally increasing property values and a widening tax base as new taxable property is built. In considering a tax hike, one mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
A new 160,000-square-foot high school would cost about $40 million. Possible add-ons to the basic school could include a pool at $6 million and a stadium with four to six additional playing fields at a combined cost of $5 million to $7 million.
“The right answer is here,” DeJong said. “It’s in Lewisburg. It’s not where I live. It’s not in my head.”
He noted that his firm does not do architectural planning or construction. “We’re not here as the hired gun to figure out how to create the biggest project,” he said.
Superintendent Mark DiRocco said he was pleased the community gave a direction and pleased by the direction it gave. “It’s about our kids,” he said.
“It shouldn’t even be a question,” said Lewisburg resident Freddi Carlip, who was there on behalf of her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren ages 2 and 6. “It should be a given. It needed to be built years ago.”
DeJong and his staff will analyze Tuesday’s input and bring refined recommendations to the school board Dec. 3. After public hearings in January, the board is expected to adopt a master facilities plan in February. DiRocco said residents can follow the facilities planning process online at www.lasd.us.
DeJong said it would take at least a year to plan and design a new school, and construction would take about two years. Although additions to the other schools are part of the overall planning, the group agreed the high school is the priority. Not all projects could be done at the same time, or need to be, DeJong said.
The school district owns 250 acres, known as the Newman property, that could accommodate a new school and playing fields, but its proximity to the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary is an issue for some, DeJong said. The land is in Kelly Township.
Attendees also asked how the existing high school property would be redeveloped if a new school is built.
“This is the beginning, not the end,” he said.
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