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West Perry SD board presses consolidation plan, citing "millions in deferred maintenance"
Summary
Board president and administrators urged consolidation of three elementary schools as a cost-saving, equity-focused Capital Improvement Project; a January town hall and feasibility materials on the district website were announced, and community members urged caution during public comment.
The West Perry School District Board of School Directors advanced a proposal to consolidate the district’s three elementary schools, saying aging systems and rising operational costs make a single, modern facility the most prudent option. Board President Robbyn Metz told the auditorium on Dec. 8 that the district faces “millions in deferred maintenance” and pointed to recent mold remediation projects as costly, temporary fixes.
The board presented schematic designs from engineering firm EI and said Fidivia, a construction consultant, is reviewing the feasibility report. Mrs. Stover said the designs aim to equalize class sizes, create opportunities for specialized classes and shared resources, and reduce long-term building and infrastructure costs. The district will hold a town hall in January and posted the presentation materials on its website for public review.
The proposal drew robust public comment. During the agenda-item public comment period, a list of residents and stakeholders — including Ruth Lightner, Mike Both, David Biezad and Rhonda Brunner — flagged concerns about the feasibility study, staff retention and the direction of the school board. Several speakers urged the board to ensure teacher and community voices are meaningfully captured in further outreach; Mr. Sims, president of the West Perry Education Association, said the association’s internal survey produced 61 responses from 102 members and lacked qualitative follow-up questions and district-wide representation.
In a broad statement, President Metz framed the consolidation as an effort to protect educational equity and fiscal sustainability: “The consolidation is not about closing doors, it is about opening better doors,” she said, and argued that maintaining multiple aging buildings exposes the district to unexpected shutdowns and growing repair costs. Metz also said she has heard concerns expressed to her that students should not be “intermingled” with low-income students from another building; she rejected that stance, saying a child’s economic background should never determine access to education.
The board emphasized that the feasibility report and budget analyses underpinning the recommendation are available to the public and encouraged residents to consult the FAQs on the district website. No final vote to approve consolidation or to select a specific schematic occurred at the Dec. 8 meeting; the board approved routine contracts and personnel items and scheduled further engagement in January.
