Octorara Area SD presents facilities study and proposes grade realignment to reduce costly repairs

Octorara Area School District officials presented a facilities feasibility study at a public forum, recommending a grade realignment that would repurpose the district's oldest elementary building, move grades 3–5 into the intermediate school and bring sixth grade into the middle school to create three-year grade spans.

The proposal, presented by Superintendent Steve Lever and district administrators, is aimed at reducing deferred maintenance, addressing failing HVAC and roofing systems and concentrating staff and student supports. Lever said the plan is intended to “do more with what we have” and to avoid repeated, costly short-term fixes.

District leaders said the recommendation is driven by three analyses — facilities condition, enrollment and the educational program — and by projected repair costs for aging systems. The feasibility study, conducted by consulting firms including EI Associates and McClure, rated building systems on a 1-to-4 scale (4 indicating immediate, high-priority replacement). Presenters said several systems at the oldest elementary school rank at the highest levels and that a permanent HVAC solution could be 18 to 36 months away unless a larger renovation is scheduled.

Superintendent Steve Lever, speaking at the forum, said the district is focusing on sequencing major repairs rather than…