Conewago Valley board approves finance package despite public warnings about construction costs and enrollment estimates

The Conewago Valley School District Board of School Directors on June 9 approved a set of finance items tied to a classroom expansion project even as public commenters urged the board to pause and recheck enrollment projections and soft costs.

Jamie Fitzpatrick of Oxford Township told the board during the agenda-related public comment period that district enrollment figures used to justify additional classrooms were inaccurate and that the district’s consultant, Crabtree, “do not expect to see any of these increases for 5 years.” Fitzpatrick said bids reflected higher costs and that the project was “8.5 over the Act 34 estimate,” and urged the board to halt the process, review finances and include contract escape clauses if the board chose to proceed. “Do not lock the district in without taking that into account and building in contingencies that allow an escape clause into these contracts,” Fitzpatrick said.

The board moved and approved finance items 1 through 8 as printed. One board member signaled conditional support, saying, “I will be voting yes on those, but we definitely need to be taking a look at soft costs … we continue to see it increasing,” and asked that the board keep cost control “at the forefront” as the project moves forward.

Fitzpatrick told the board later, after the vote, that he wanted the board to review any planned furniture purchases tied to the project, saying those line items could amount to “multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more.” He reiterated that some consultant line items had been reduced after review — describing a roughly three-quarter-million-dollar reduction in inspection and construction testing estimates — and questioned the need to replace traditional playground surfacing with rubberized material.

Board business that evening included routine approvals and reports: appointment of Dr. Dahlgren as temporary board secretary, acceptance of the treasurer’s report showing $46,279,615.28 across six accounts, approval of minutes from prior meetings, second reading and recommended approval of policy updates reviewed by the policy subcommittee and legal counsel (Saxton & Stump), and acceptance of donations to the district ranging from $100 to $325 from local food vendors and organizations.

Members also approved ways-and-means items, personnel recommendations (items 1–54), property and supplies requests, and a set of curricular unit overviews brought forward by the administration. Superintendent Dr. Perry and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dahlgren both thanked staff and administrators for recent curriculum work and planning for the next school year.

The board did not adopt any new requirement or formal change to the Act 34 review process during the meeting. Several board members noted the public comment and said they would look for ways to reduce soft costs on the project as it proceeds.

The board scheduled a meeting for Monday in July at 7 p.m. at the district office.