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ACTI expansion would add programs but districts question how to pay for $56–63M build
Summary
An ACTI representative told the Fairfield Area SD board that a feasibility study recommends seven new programs and a roughly 142,000-square-foot facility, but estimated construction costs ($56–63 million, excluding land) exceed what participating districts currently expect to afford.
Sean, an ACTI representative, told the Fairfield Area School District board that a recent feasibility study recommends adding seven programs and building about 142,000 square feet to expand career and technical education in Adams County. "We can't afford that much," he said of the $56 million to $63 million cost estimate, which excludes land.
The study, Sean said, presented phasing options — build all at once, build in phases, or build new labs and retain the current Gettysburg-hosted facility — and concluded that expanding to 13–14 programs could roughly double ACTI’s student capacity from about 275 current seats to roughly 600 students. Sean said Fairfield’s current share of a bond issue would be "just below 10%" under the district-share formula discussed, and illustrated how district annual costs would rise if the group issued bonds in the tens of millions.
Why it matters: board members noted that the proposed facility would substantially affect district budgets and classroom offerings. "If we did a $70,000,000 project, that would be Fairfield's share," Sean said, noting the figure would increase the district's annual debt service and operating costs. Several board members pressed how program expansion might shift electives in home high schools and whether students now turned away could take seats in an expanded ACTI.
Support from local employers featured prominently in the discussion. Sean described anecdotes from employers who said they cannot find local technicians: "He can't find folks who work on motorcycles" in Adams County and has to hire from Maryland, and other employers have created internal apprenticeship paths because local training capacity is limited. Board members discussed adult education and revenue options — Sean suggested adult-ed and partnerships (truck-driving training, evening classes) could generate some revenue but cautioned those programs must be tuition-sustaining.
On timing and site selection, Sean said his team has been searching for a suitable site for about two years and hoped to finish by next summer or fall. Construction, he estimated (with consultants), could take roughly two to three years once a site and approvals are in place. Board members were reminded that any regional admission of nonparticipating students would typically require the students’ resident district to pay tuition under school code.
The board asked for further detail and follow-up as the group moves from feasibility to site selection, funding scenarios and program-level enrollment planning. The ACTI presentation concluded with Sean offering to return with more specifics as land and financing options develop.
