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 the agenda, appointed Dr. Dahlgren as temporary board secretary and accepted the treasurer’s report. The treasurer reported a total of $46,279,615.28 across six accounts.

In remarks before the votes, a board member said they would vote to approve finance items but urged the board to focus on reducing soft costs, noting those expenses have continued to rise. After the votes, Fitzpatrick returned during the public-comment period and asked the board to require review and approval of any planned furniture purchases tied to the construction, saying such items could add “multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars” to soft costs.

On policy and donations, the board heard that two policies (identified on the agenda as 006.1207 and 219–254) had been reviewed by administration, the district’s legal advisers Saxton and Stump, and the policy subcommittee, which recommended approval. The board also received donations to the district ranging from $100 to $325 from local vendors, listed on the agenda as Dairy Dam food truck, Food Adventures food truck, Shorty’s food truck, a Mexican food truck, and the Altman House.

Board members discussed making sure recurring events — such as a listed cheer camp — appear on future agendas well in advance with accurate cost information so the board can vet financials before students participate. Several consent packages were approved by roll call, including finance, ways-and-means, personnel and property items. The motions to approve were made from the board’s finance, ways-and-means, personnel and property representatives; the motions carried.

The board noted curriculum-related items also on the agenda for approval, including standards-aligned unit overviews for social studies, arts, health and physical education, world language and family and consumer sciences, and the district said these begin a four-year curriculum cycle.

The board set its next regular meeting for Monday in July at 7 p.m. in the district office and adjourned at 7:26 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Finance items (1–3): Approved by roll call. Several board members indicated unanimous support for items 1–3 during the roll call. - Finance items (4–8): Approved by roll call; transcript records several members casting individual no votes on some items but the items ultimately carried. - Ways and Means items (1–13): Approved by roll call. - Personnel items (1–54): Approved by roll call. - Property and supplies / use of facilities items (1–5): Approved by roll call.

The board took no new formal action to halt the construction contract or to require contract escape clauses during the meeting; residents’ requests were entered during public comment and not acted on immediately. The superintendent and district staff indicated they would follow up on matters raised during public comment as needed.