DUBOIS – Members of the DuBois Area School Board have announced plans for considering the proposed closures of three elementary schools, which are located in Sykesville, Luthersburg and Penfield.
The board has heard a presentation on the viability and benefits to the school district. It has scheduled the first public hearing on the proposed school closures for 6 p.m. Jan. 3 at the DuBois Middle School.
Superintendent Dr. Luke Lansberry, accompanied by other school officials, presented proposed “elementary school reconfigurations” at Tuesday night’s building and maintenance committee meeting.
Lansberry said the district’s number of schools is contributing to its budget troubles. While he admired the dedication to a quality education, schools have stayed open by “cutting corners.”
According to a KTH Architects district-wide feasibility study from 2015, it would cost $5,337,700 to renovate the three elementary schools, located in Sykesville, Penfield and Luthersburg. This, Lansberry emphasized, was the cost for “bare minimum renovations.”
If the three buildings remained open, renovation costs for Luthersburg Elementary School would be: $1,874,350; Penfield Elementary School: $1,484,300; and Sykesville Elementary School: $1,979,050.
The district’s other school buildings are also in need of repairs. Roof replacements – alone, excluding these three elementary schools – would be $3,129,490.
The cost savings for items specifically-budgeted to the three schools proposed for closure would be nearly $46,000. Another cost savings would potentially be $1-$1.5 million for reduction in personnel, and the district would prefer that this occurs through retirements and resignations.
Additionally, the district projects student enrollment to decline in the future. If the district would proceed with the three elementary school closures, Penfield students would be split between Oklahoma and Juniata.
Sykesville students would be sent to C.G. Johnson Elementary School and Luthersburg students to Wasson Elementary School.
