Conewago Valley school board approves consent packages amid public concerns about classroom-construction costs

The Conewago Valley School District Board of School Directors on June 9 approved a slate of finance, ways-and-means, personnel and property items, while a resident urged the board to halt or amend the classroom-construction contracts amid concerns about enrollment estimates and rising soft costs.

Jamie Fitzpatrick of Oxford Township told the board the district’s enrollment projections used to justify additional classrooms were inaccurate and that outside estimates for construction testing and inspection were “wildly overestimated.” Fitzpatrick said those corrections trimmed roughly $750,000 from the estimate but that the project was already “4 and a half percent over budget” and could exceed the 8.5% threshold referenced under Act 34, requiring further review. “I implore the board, dig into the finances and the enrollment,” Fitzpatrick said. “Please include escape clauses in your contracts with vendors.”

The board approved…