[ad_1]
E-newspaper: Just like a newspaper, only paperless.
Get a copy of the newspaper at your digital door via e-Newspaper.
lebanon daily news
The Palmyra Area School Board voted Thursday to approve two contracts with Lancaster construction firm RLPS, marking an important step toward improving facilities in the district.
The contract entrusts RLPS to provide construction and engineering services for the renovation of the current district office, which will provide additional classroom and office space at the high school, relocate the district office and renovate Buck Swank Stadium
Based on current forecasts, Supt. Bernie Kepler said the district will have to open two special education classrooms, one in 2025 and one in 2026, to meet special education needs.
The meeting also discussed the relocation of the district office. The move would allow the district to consolidate administrative departments into one building, such as the special education department occupying one classroom at Pine Street Elementary and the technology department occupying one classroom at the high school.
At a subsequent Building and Grounds Committee meeting, Kepler offered potential clues as to where the district offices might be relocated.
WEAVER SPORTS LIMITED. Kepler said it has reached an agreement to purchase about 19 acres of land near the In The Net Sports Center near Airport Road and Route 117 and has approached the district with a proposal to work with the district to build a building for the district office.
The land will remain in the hands of Weaver Sports LLC, with which the school district has a lease agreement and the possibility of purchasing the building at a later date.
In public comments to the Building and Grounds Commission, Ralph Duquette alleged that a registered sex offender lives near the property in question.
Based on current timeline projections, district office renovation work will begin in January 2025.
Construction of the stadium is scheduled to begin in May 2025 or May 2026.
The estimated cost of 4A is between $14.5 million and $21 million.
On May 9, the school board will vote on a bond parameters resolution that would set a threshold for the district and bond committee to take action on 4A’s $20 million in borrowing. Bond pricing and lock-in will take place the week of May 27 and end on June 27.
Kepler said during the meeting that one difficulty the architect may eventually encounter is whether Buck Swank’s bathroom accommodations meet code requirements, which could ultimately increase the cost of the project. The area won’t know until architects begin the project.
At a subsequent Finance Committee meeting, Director of Business Affairs Mike Frentz presented a review of the proposed 2024-2025 budget.
The proposed budget currently balances with total expenditures of $67,788,831 and total revenues of $67,646,336. Ferentz did note, however, that Medicare and special education spending can and likely will change.
The proposed budget also includes a 2.3 percent property tax increase, which the district was recommended to include at a previous committee meeting, with funds tied to borrowing for the feasibility study project.
Daniel Larlham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Contact him: DLarlham@LDNews.com Or on X @djlarlham.
[ad_2]
Source link