York County outlines major capital projects and a six-year CIP; Bethel Manor gets $3.2M federal seed
Summary
The superintendent's proposed six-year Capital Improvements Program for 2027-2032 includes a Bethel Manor addition funded in part by $3.2M in federal money, Tab High renovations with a push for cost-saving design and geothermal systems, Derry Elementary parking expansion, systemwide safety upgrades and an operations consolidation.
David Kilburn, the division's new associate director of capital plans and projects, and CFO Bill Bowen presented an updated capital projects report and the superintendent's proposed six-year CIP (FY2027-2032) at the Dec. 15 work session.
Kilburn said secondary school auditorium sound booths are nearly complete at Bruton and Tab High and that Tab High has reached 65% drawings with hazmat testing underway. He described a reconfigured Tab High design that creates a two-story learning commons and Kiva, repurposes interior spaces into six net new classrooms and trims exterior additions to reduce cost and enable a geothermal mechanical system.
Bowen identified a new Bethel Manor Elementary project: a 4-to-6-classroom addition, a full-size gym, cafeteria/auditorium renovations and an HVAC replacement. "We don't want to lose that $3,200,000 of federal funding," Bowen said, thanking Congressman Whitman and staff for help securing the grant. He said the FY28 second-year funding has not been fully identified and staff will pursue additional federal or local funds to fill the gap.
Other projects include Derry Elementary's parking and bus-loop expansion (87 additional spaces, separation of bus and parent traffic to improve safety), replacement phases for life-cycle fire-alarm systems across schools, and completion of the Valcom intercom/lockdown system divisionwide aided by two state security grants totaling $392,000. Bowen also described plans to demolish and consolidate operations buildings at the York High campus to create an efficiency-focused operations complex.
Bowen said the six-year CIP totals roughly $116.8 million, with about $16.5 million expected from cash (federal or local) and approximately $100.3 million supported by borrowing. He noted the board will consider a resolution requesting the Board of Supervisors transfer $350,000 from the revenue stabilization fund to pay for a division-wide facilities and space study.
Board members asked about design aesthetics, parking circulation, and whether sound equipment will be moved as planned; Kilburn confirmed the equipment transfer plan remains in place but lights and other scope items did not fit current budgets.
Next steps include continued design optimization for Tab High, coordination on federal grants for Bethel Manor, and the county's review of the $350,000 transfer request at its next meeting.
