Montoursville Area SD hears design and schedule update for Leiter Elementary; project estimated at $23.8 million

Crabtree Warbucks & Associates presented a schematic-design update and site plan for the proposed consolidation and expansion of Leiter Elementary, telling the Montoursville Area School District board the project is intended to combine Leiter and Loyalsock Valley elementary schools into one building and to improve on-site safety by separating the bus loop from parent drop-off. “We—re gonna present to you an update on the Leiter Elementary School project,” the presenter said.

The presenters said they obtained zoning variances without conditions and are moving from schematic design into design development. They described regular biweekly meetings with district administrators and consultants (civil, structural, mechanical/electrical/plumbing) and an upcoming existing-building survey once school is out. Renderings shown to the board signal additions wrapping around the existing building, a new entrance off Tool Street, and a separated bus pull-off intended to reduce on-site vehicle conflicts.

The architects outlined the planned schedule: interior review meetings with teachers over the summer, a second round of staff review in early September, public bidding in the October–November window, and contract awards by year-end so contractors can mobilize for two summers of construction and limit classroom disruption. An Act 34 hearing on the project is planned in 2025; the board will later adopt maximum building-construction costs required by that process.

Presenters gave a snapshot financial picture: the existing building renovation (about 66,000 sq ft) was estimated near $10,000,000; additions (just shy of 19,000 sq ft) carried an estimated construction cost of about $6,800,000; the architect cited a combined contractor estimate near $19,700,000 and a total project figure of $23,800,000 when soft costs, fixtures and escalation contingencies are included. Presenters flagged escalation and tariff pressures as an uncertainty, noting they were currently modeling a roughly 3% annual escalation assumption and a tariff-related contingency in the estimate.

Board members reacted to the estimate and emphasized continued value-engineering. “I was a bit stunned at that number today when it when it came through,” a trustee said, urging continued work to trim costs while reiterating that the district does not plan to raise taxes to fund the project. The board and presenters agreed the next steps include the summer teacher reviews, the existing-building survey, the Act 34 hearing, and publication of the maximum cost prior to final approvals.

The next public update is expected to focus on the Act 34 process and the adoption of the maximum building-construction costs required for advertising the project for bids.