The Conewago Valley school board approved a resolution for the maximum building and project costs for the Conewago Township Elementary School (CTE) renovation project during a board meeting on Monday.
The school board first explored the idea of renovating or rebuilding both New Oxford Elementary and Conewago Township Elementary schools in 2021. While pre-construction phases of the project have moved along, some school directors and members of the public have expressed concerns about the price tag for both schools.
On Monday, the board approved a resolution for the maximum building and project costs for CTE, essentially setting a limit for the project budget. By approving the resolution, the board satisfied a requirement of Act 34 of 1973, an important step in the process, but did not approve beginning construction.
Act 34 of 1973 details a process for districts to follow when constructing a new school or adding new sections to a building that total more than 20% of the existing facility.
With proposed renovations and additions to the elementary school buildings exceeding that 20% threshold, the NOE and CTE projects fall under those requirements. The Act 34 resolution and hearing process for each elementary school will be similar but separate.
The Act 34 booklet for CTE (available here) was reviewed by the board during a meeting on Jan. 7. The 28-page document includes the justifications for the project, a list of property and buildings owned by the district along with key information about each property, a recap of the options the board considered since first beginning the process in 2021 and more.
During the time for public comment, feedback was provided both in person and online. Comments submitted online were read aloud by Dr. Sharon Perry, the district’s superintendent.
Some cautioned the board against moving forward with the project, listing concerns with scope creep, enrollment projection accuracy and the project budget.
Others supported the renovations and additions, saying the students and staff face significant issues.
While Monday’s resolution was specific to CTE, the project is closely related to the proposed renovations and additions at NOE, and the budget of both projects has been criticized.
Christopher Cobb, principal of NOE, said space is a significant concern at his school.
Cobb said the problem goes beyond the crowded classrooms.
“It’s very difficult to hold school-wide assemblies due to the current fire code capacity limitations in the cafeteria and the gymnasium,” Cobb said. “Assemblies are now broken up into two different times, thus impacting lunch preparation. Due to increased student needs and accommodations, our conference room has limited availability for its use for IEP meetings, 504 meetings, teacher meetings, etc. As a result, many of our special educators have meetings in their classrooms and this makes it difficult to keep the information shared at those meetings confidential and private.”
Cobb said that with the district bringing back special education classes, space will be even more critical.
He also listed privacy concerns.
“We currently have six therapists sharing a room, which infringes on student confidentiality and privacy,” Cobb said. “The lack of space also makes it difficult, especially for occupational and physical therapists, because a lot of their therapy involves movement needed.”
Additionally, Cobb said NOE has asbestos that could prove to be a problem.
“We understand that while no student or staff member is in immediate danger as long as it is undisturbed or moved, we also understand the removal of asbestos is a very expensive process,” Cobb said. “Also, how can we be assured that students and staff members are not in harm’s way if the board makes a decision to renovate the building and remove the asbestos while we are occupying the building? The new renovation plan would assure the old part of the building would be demolished after our students and staff have safely moved into the newly-renovated building.”
Cobb said some staff work out of closets due to the cramped space.
“We do, indeed, have staff members working out of closets, NOE specifically,” Cobb said. “Our building technician, who is responsible for updating our iPads and tech equipment, in an incredibly small space. The reason computer carts have been visible in this space is simply because that area is the area he has to work on our computers, iPads and technology used by our Colonial learners.”
During the Act 34 booklet review on Jan. 7, board member Lindsay Krug had made a reference to a closet the board was shown during its tour of NOE.
“At NOE we were taken into a closet – which, by the way, is bigger than my bedroom – and it was full of empty roll carts,” Krug said during the Jan. 7 meeting. “Honestly, to me, it kind of seemed like that room had those carts put in it so it would seem cramped when we went in. It had one desk, it had two computer towers. I’m not seeing certain things.”
Anthony Angelini, a social studies teacher at New Oxford Middle School, said he was involved with interviews for staff candidates last year.
“They wanted to know the strengths of our school and the reason that they should join us,” Angelini said. “My answer was the same every time and it aligns with two of the agenda items from tonight: ‘We’re a careful, conservative district that has made the most of every person, instructional minute and dollar by emphasizing long-term thinking combined with a wide-angle perspective.’ The items to approve – the collective bargaining agreement and to advance the renovations at CTE – both live up to those lofty principles.”
Angelini said the electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems all need upgraded, citing needs listed in the Act 34 booklet.
Frances Gallagher, a third-grade teacher at CTE, has taught at the school for 22 years.
Gallagher said conditions are uncomfortable.
“My ESL aide, who is amazing, carries a winter coat and a removable sweater with her as she travels between classrooms because the temperature control on our building is so inconsistent,” Gallagher said. “My students are often wearing winter heat as the heater blows cold air. There is one staff bathroom for all first grade and third grade teachers, making it very difficult to use the bathroom during the day.”
Gallagher listed multiple other concerns, including space issues and roof leaks. On rainy days, the school has buckets set out in the hallway to catch drips but water still leaks onto the floor, according to Gallagher.
“In third grade, when our students are working with an instructional aide they have the pleasure of working in an unheated, uncooled closet with no windows that either houses a computer mainframe or school supplies,” Gallagher said. “My daughter has taught in a maximum security federal prison and the facilities there are better. That’s shameful.”
The teacher said security is another problem as the current school has glass doors that provide little safety.
The board voted 8-1 to approve the resolution for the maximum building and project costs for CTE, with Krug voting against it.
Before voting, Getz clarified comments he made during the previous meeting regarding classroom sizes and concerns that the project was too focused on equity with the individual schools and across both elementary schools.
“What I said was, I didn’t support making classrooms larger than they needed to be simply to match the size of another classroom,” Getz said. “I also said that it’s important that we provide the students and the staff with what they need in order to educate the children and provide the staff with what they need in order to educate the children and provide the staff with a good working environment.”
Kindschuh addressed commenters’ concerns about the rising project budget, recapping the board’s process since initiating the feasibility study in late 2021.
Kindschuh said the budget has increased due to multiple enrollment projections indicating a higher number of future students, necessitating the need to add more classrooms than initially planned. Adding classrooms, as well as adding needed security upgrades and updating the plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems, increased the project scope, directly affecting the dollar amount.
The site work estimate went from from $750,000 to $3 million for CTE as a result of engineering studies, Kindschuh said.
These details, as well as others from the project history, are outlined in the publicly-available Act 34 booklet.
Teacher union, district agreement
The board unanimously approved a collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the school board and the Conewago Valley Education Association. The agreement spans July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.
Angelini, the middle school teacher who spoke to support the elementary school projects, also used his time to express support for the agreement.
“A five-year contract will provide the district and staff with stability after turbulent years,” Angelini said. “An average raise under 3% recognizes the local concerns about rising costs among our tax base, as well as the district’s goals for staffing plans and construction projects. At the same time, the long-term careful development of sustainable benefits and working conditions will allow us to continue to recruit quality candidates in the face of an educator shortage.”
The school board president also acknowledged the negotiations.
“I also want to express my appreciation to all of those who participated in the contract negotiations and just the good discussion and the openness and the commonality of the vision of where we want to take the district,” Kindschuh said.
At Getz’s request, the board voted to talk about the hiring process for positions where the board is involved in the interview process to the agenda for next month’s meeting.
Monday’s meeting was a brief study session followed quickly by the voting board meeting. Both were preceded by a private board tour of New Oxford High School and executive session concerning personnel issues.
The meeting was the first official day for Dr. Wesley Doll, the district’s new assistant superintendent.
The board will hold a regular study session at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3.
On Monday, Feb. 10, the board will hold an executive session. A study session will be held at 7 p.m. and the regular public meeting will follow.
An Act 34 public hearing related to the CTE project will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13.
Imari Scarbrough is a freelance journalist. She was a staff newspaper reporter for five years before becoming a freelancer in 2017. She has written on crime, environmental issues, severe weather events, local and regional government and more.
You can visit her website at ImariJournal.com.