District plans new 7–8 school and wide facility upgrades; high school study flagged for deeper review

Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates presented a facilities overview to the Carlisle Area School District board, describing programmatic renovations, site changes and building maintenance needs across the district and a recommended prioritization of projects.

The most immediate priority on the consultant’s list is construction of a new grade-7–8 building and conversion of the district’s two existing middle schools (Lamberton and Wilson) to intermediate (grades 4–6) schools. The consultant and district staff said the new 7–8 building is scheduled to be online by fall 2028, with the conversion work at existing buildings planned for the summer of 2028. The presentation noted the conversion requires selective interior renovations and age-appropriate playgrounds at each intermediate site.

The consultant reviewed each elementary and secondary campus with three lenses: programmatic needs (classroom and program layout), site circulation and building maintenance (roofing, HVAC and other systems). Examples included: - Moreland: recommended cafeteria/kitchen addition to provide a separate cafeteria and eliminate existing trailers; estimated capacity increase to about 475 students if additional classrooms are added to help balance enrollment districtwide. - Bel Air and North Dickinson: both lack separate gyms and cafeterias for full program separation; the study broke maintenance costs and optional future addition costs into separate ranges and flagged playground relocation and parking improvements where site constraints exist. - Crestview: no programmatic renovations proposed but parent drop-off and reconfigured circulation were recommended. - Hamilton: selectively renovated in 2018, programmatic needs were addressed then though some building systems were not replaced and courtyard usability could be improved. - High school complex: described as the district’s largest facility (three buildings, more than 380,000 square feet) with the last renovation 25–35 years ago; presenters said the site and building are complex and require a comprehensive study to assess whether to pursue a full renovation or phase work over time. Conceptual cost ranges presented for high-school-level solutions were wide (presenter cited roughly $80 million to $110 million) because the presentation was preliminary and schematic.

District administration outlined priorities: complete the new 7–8 building and conversions, finish Moreland renovations, ensure kindergarten and preschool classrooms have restroom access, upgrade playgrounds at primary buildings, study the high school comprehensively and consider future additions at Bel Air and North Dickinson if separate cafeterias and gyms are pursued. The board and consultants discussed phasing projects, potential cost-savings from combining similar prime contracts across sites, and staging work to match projected enrollment and funding.

No formal votes were taken during the presentation. Board members asked for additional detail on capacity assumptions, special-education placements, playground locations and timing; administration and the consultants said further study and design phases would refine the conceptual costs into more precise budgets.

The study materials and room-by-room test fits presented were described by the consultant as conceptual “order of magnitude” exercises to guide prioritization and budgeting rather than final design documents. District staff said maintenance costs presented came from the facilities department’s tracking spreadsheet and an HVAC/plumbing review conducted with Barton Associates. Staff also noted that the cost numbers are presented in today’s dollars and will require escalation adjustments depending on timing of construction.