Fort LeBoeuf weighs renovating 3 elementary schools or building a single unified school

WATERFORD — Fort LeBoeuf School District is considering building a single, unified elementary school on its Waterford campus.

It's also considering renovating its three existing elementary schools, Mill Village, Robison and Waterford, instead.

A feasibility study on the academic, financial and community implications of both options is underway and could be completed as early as July.

"We may need to adjust that timeline," schools Superintendent Rick Emerick said. "We're going to do this right, to do everything we can to present all of the factual information we can to the public before any decisions are made. If we need to take more time, we will."

Factors to consider include how the district would pay renovation or new construction costs, as well as staffing, transportation, traffic and community implications.

Why the study?

The look at renovating or consolidating elementary schools is rooted in the district's aim to cut expenses without cutting its teaching staff or academic programs.

"That would be going backward," Emerick said.

District elementary schools are aging and need major repairs and renovations, including new roofs and HVAC systems and plumbing, lighting and security improvements, in coming years.

Estimated renovation costs are $15 million to $16.5 million for Waterford Elementary, $13.5 million to $16 million for Mill Village Elementary, and $22.5 million to $24 million for Robison Elementary. The total estimated cost to renovate the three schools over the next decade is $51 million to $56.5 million, based on current construction costs.

The cost to build a single, 115,000-square-foot Fort LeBoeuf Elementary Center from 2027 to 2029 is estimated at $43.5 million to $49 million, plus $2.5 million to $4.25 million to relocate district baseball and softball fields to accommodate construction. The fields would be moved to the area now used as soccer practice fields. Cost includes new grass or artificial turf fields and concession, restroom and storage facilities.

Advantages of a single elementary school

The unified school, according to early concepts, would accommodate about 800 students with 56 classrooms, two gyms, a library, large-group instructional area, and separate playgrounds and eating areas for K-2 and 3-5 students.

Advantages of a single elementary school include a single school administration and support staff; improved security measures, training and response plans; maintenance of a single building rather than three with different operating systems and parts and large grounds to maintain; and single testing and reporting procedures.

For staff, a single school would provide more face-to-face interactions, grade-level meetings, better idea and resource sharing, and coordinated professional development.

Varied support services and extracurricular activities dependent on individual school resources and priorities could be standardized and expanded.

Having the elementary school on the same campus as Fort LeBoeuf Middle School and Fort LeBoeuf High School would make it easier for eligible fifth-graders to take middle school courses and increase reading programs and other interactions between elementary and secondary students.

And a new school would provide a single elementary-level community and be a hub for community events, meetings and recreation.

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Disadvantages

The district will close and sell its three neighborhood elementary schools if a new school is built.

K-5 students, like older students, would be bused to the district's main Waterford campus, which includes Fort LeBoeuf Middle School and Fort LeBoeuf High School. And that would mean longer rides to and from school for most.

Mill Village Elementary School has 113 students, Waterford Elementary 356 students, and Robison Elementary, in Summit Township, 381, according to state Department of Education data.

Currently, students aren't always guaranteed that they will attend their neighborhood schools. School boundaries are shifted as needed depending on grade-level enrollments and available space.

Some employees, mostly non-instructional staff and aides, would lose their jobs if a single elementary school is built. All of the administrative, health, guidance, custodial, cafeteria and secretarial staff from three buildings wouldn't be needed at one.

And an additional school will increase traffic to and from the district's main Waterford campus.

More considerations

Fort LeBoeuf Middle School also needs renovations, though some work, including window replacement, has been done. Yet to come are roof and HVAC replacement and electrical, plumbing, lighting and security upgrades.

Work at the school is tentatively scheduled for spring/summer 2025 and 2026.

Cost is estimated at $10.5 million to $12 million.

The district's bus garage and maintenance facility also need attention.

Financing construction

Construction funding — including funding to renovate or replace district elementary schools — will come from real estate tax increases and a portion of the district's almost $17 million in reserve funds, district officials said.

The district also could borrow money through bond issues.

If a new, unified elementary school is built, the district will save an estimated $2.3 million annually in staff costs and other operating expenses.

Proceeds from the sale of the district's three existing elementary schools would generate additional revenue. And the properties could become taxable, further increasing district funding.

An independent financial analysis will provide detailed strategies to minimize the cost burden for the district and its taxpayers.

The process

The district expects to complete its campus unification feasibility study this year.

Transparency and community involvement, including input from a 12-member community advisory team, will be vital in determining whether the district builds a consolidated Fort LeBoeuf Elementary Center or renovates the schools it has, Emerick said.

Faculty and staff also will provide input. Teachers will visit large unified elementary schools in other districts this spring.

School officials emphasized that no decision has been made.

"It's quite possible that we will never move forward with the unification plan," Emerick said in a video on the district website detailing renovation and construction options.

The district also has posted responses to a list of frequently asked questions about those options.

"We will continue to update information for the public as it becomes available to us," Emerick said.

Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fort LeBoeuf: Renovate 3 elementary schools or build one new school?