The Gettysburg Area School District Board of Education nixed a proposal to renovate the Gettysburg Area School District Administration Building and greenlit another to allow Littlestown students to play on the Warrior lacrosse teams during its meeting on Monday.
The idea to renovate the District Administration Building on Biglerville Road was first examined in 2019 in response to ongoing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning issues. The system’s chiller failed a year later and was replaced, but the administration felt that was a temporary fix.
The board approved moving forward with the project in January—which also included a 2,600 square-foot, two-story addition—at a cost of $7.5 million but delays increased that estimate to $8.29 million, forcing it back to the board’s agenda.
Business Manager Belinda Wallen told the board before their vote that the building is used for student enrollments, Warrior Winter Wishes program, polling place for local elections, school board meetings, district operations, and staff meetings.
Board members Tim Seigman and Kathleen Pratt questioned whether the board should move forward with a project when it is in the midst of a district-wide feasibility study that will examine all properties and buildings.
Josh Reynolds, director of facilities/school safety, reminded the board that inflation has already affected the project once.
“I would not recommend holding off on it,” Reynolds said.
Despite the administration’s efforts, the proposal failed with Justine Sieg, Al Moyer, Keith Bruck, and Tim Seigman in opposition. Alice Broadway and Ryan Kerney voted in favor and David Sites was absent.
Lacrosse Cooperative
The board voted unanimously to welcome Littlestown Area School District students onto the boys and girls lacrosse teams.
Athletic Director Kody Godsey said accepting Littlestown students into the Gettysburg program will expand junior varsity and varsity opportunities for students at both schools. Gettysburg has not had enough students to field a junior varsity boys lacrosse team two of the last three seasons and the girls team has often had to play with fewer players or cancel games.
The cooperative agreement would move the teams from a AA to AAA classification and bar them from participating in playoffs the next two seasons. Godsey said he does not see this as a hindrance since Gettysburg has not qualified for playoffs in recent years.
