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James Lewis of Lewis & Associates Architects presented six options to board members, administrators and about 25 residents at a special feasibility study meeting held Sept. 28 at Solanco High School.
The options, which range in cost from about $54 million to $80 million, had some board members questioning the need for renovations, expansions and new buildings.
"It's absolutely breathtaking," said Leon Ressler, who recommended that Lewis come up with a seventh option that would allow for a $10 million to $20 million project that would add classrooms and auditorium areas where needed.
Ressler added that tax increases to build new buildings would be a huge burden on families who are already strapped in tough economic times.
President Craig Chubb said the feasibility study, which was started about a year ago, is being done so that the people who use the schools every day can add their input.
Steve Risk added, "We need to decide on a direction we're going to go in. This could be a 10-year process."
Resident Aldus Martin, who served many years on the school board, cautioned the present board to take a close look at the options.
"I just hope the board has the guts to say, 'This can come out; this can come out.' We do have to pay the taxes."
The following options can be reviewed on the district Web site at www.solanco.org and the public is encouraged to speak with board members.
• Option 1, which would cost $64,743,250, calls for maintaining the high school and Providence, Bart-Colerain and Quarryville elementary schools. Clermont Elementary and Smith and Swift middle schools would be renovated and expanded.
"Both Smith and Swift would have a new assembly area," Lewis said.
Among the option's benefits: it maintains the current grade-level configuration, addresses security issues and does not call for the purchase of land.
Lewis said down side of this option is it doesn't leave much choice for future expansion of the middle schools and does not simplify the management of Clermont and Swift, which are connected.
• Option 2, which would cost $79,124,138, calls for maintaining Quarryville Elementary and building a new school, possibly on the Little Britain site owned by the district, to house primary students in kindergarten and first grade. Bart-Colerain, Clermont and Providence elementary schools would be maintained to hold students in grades two through five. The two middle schools would be renovated and expanded.
Lewis said the benefits of this option are that it addresses security issues, administrative and assembly spaces and maintains the middle school grade levels.
"Your middle schools run like Swiss clocks," he said.
The downside, according to Lewis, is that students will make more transitions between buildings, and Swift and Clermont would remain hard to manage.
• Option 3, which would cost $53,909,075, calls for Clermont to be used for kindergarten through second grades and Swift to be used for grades three through five. Bart-Colerain and Providence would house students in grades kindergarten through five.
Quarryville Elementary would be maintained to house students in grade six, as well as a portion of the district office. Smith Middle School would house students in grades seven and eight.
Lewis said the benefits are that Swift and Clermont would take no expansion and it would become easier to supervise.
The disadvantages are that Solanco's only middle school would not be centrally located in the district. Transportation costs would rise and students would spend more time on the bus. Also, there is the issue of changing grade levels.
• Option 4, which would cost $78,828,375, calls for making Bart-Colerain, Clermont, Providence and Quarryville elementary schools primary centers for students in grades kindergarten through three. The middle schools would be used as an intermediate center for those in grades four to six. A new middle school for students in grades seven and eight would need to be built.
"One middle school works as well as one high school does," Lewis said.
He said the benefits are that the middle school would be built on a central site and security issues would be addressed.
Lewis said he believes this option would underutilize Quarryville Elementary and does not address the need for an assembly area at Smith. There is also the downside of reconfiguring grade levels.
• Option 5, which would cost $77,078,438, calls for using Quarryville Elementary as a primary site for those in kindergarten and first grade. Those in grades two to five would attend intermediate centers at Bart-Colerain, Clermont and Providence elementary schools.
Swift would be renovated, and the entire district office would be moved there. Smith would be expanded and a new smaller middle school would have to be built.
Lewis said this would mean no expansion at Clermont and Swift, but it would mean buying land.
• Option 6, which would cost $68,408,625, calls for maintaining Bart-Colerain, Providence and Quarryville as primary centers for those in grades kindergarten through four. Smith would be renovated for students in grades seven and eight, and a new addition would be required to house those in grades five and six.
Swift would be renovated for grades seven and eight, and Clermont would be renovated to house students in grades five to six.
Lewis said the advantages of this option are that no additional building transitions would be needed, security issues are addressed and it allows flexibility for future growth.
Lewis said he favors Option 6.
"There are two nuts to crack," he said. "How important are two middle schools? Do you believe Clermont and Swift (which are connected) should continue to be an elementary and middle school?"
Lewis said it was impossible to project the impact on transportation costs until the options are narrowed down.
The board will continue to review the options and make suggestions to Lewis, who will go back to the drawing board.
Board members and administrators agree that they want to hear from residents.
