Frequently Asked Questions

The district buildings are aging. Original construction of current buildings range from 1891 to 1995. The older buildings have become quite expensive to maintain. The District’s Buildings and Grounds budget has gone from $3,000,000 in 2019-20, to over $6,000,000 in 2023-24. The budget has been significantly impacted by the need to repair and, in some cases, replace outdated systems. Doing these projects piecemeal can result in a much higher cost. The purpose of the study is to examine the conditions of all District buildings and propose options with projected costs to address the needs of the buildings which could range from continued maintenance, to renovation, to possible consolidation and closure.

RLPS Architects out of Lancaster.

Not at this time. The initial overview of the study was presented to the board at the September 9, 2024, board meeting. A more detailed report will be presented at the October 21, 2024, meeting. At that time the full board will begin to discuss the various options. This deliberation may take multiple months before arriving at a plan. 

Although the board has not chosen a plan of action, when they do it is likely that the plan will address multiple buildings/projects and be done in phases over a ten- to fifteen-year period.

No. The Facility Plan was presented by RLPS with four levels that vary in scope of work and cost. Level 0 is strictly maintenance and repair while Level 3 includes new construction (consolidation) and significant building renovation options. The board may choose all, some, or none of the projects listed under each level (Levels 0-3) when developing their final plan.

It really depends on the extent of the project. If the board decides to simply maintain a building, chosen projects can be started relatively quickly. If more involved options are chosen such as renovation and/or new construction, it would require multiple levels of approval and bidding that will take time before starting.

As the school board works through the decision-making process, they will look at funding options to determine what effect, if any, the chosen plan will have on school taxes. This information will be discussed at the public board meetings.

The consolidation of elementary schools is listed for consideration in Levels 2 and 3 of the study.

Yes, although all levels of the presented plan include projected costs, many plan options could also realize annual, operational cost savings.

Yes, enrollment patterns and projections have been included in the study. Enrollment has shown a gradual decline over the past ten years. That decline is predicted to continue in future years.

Feedback was received from all townships and Hummelstown Borough regarding new construction. This data, along with children-per-household calculations, factored into enrollment projections.

Feedback was received from all townships and Hummelstown Borough regarding new construction. This data, along with children-per-household calculations, factored into enrollment projections.