About the Study |
Solanco is currently conducting its first-ever feasibility study, which is being led by architect Jim Lewis. A feasibility study is an assessment of present and future needs that the district will have to address. Before any important decisions are made, and before any work begins, the district is seeking public input on a broad range of topics that pertain to our schools and education in Solanco. They include anticipated enrollment changes (Solanco had slightly more than 3,800 students in its seven schools during the 2007-2008 school year), and any type of potential construction or renovation that may be needed in Solanco schools in the next 20 years. Other topics include, but are not limited to, security issues and energy efficiency in our schools. Solanco Superintendent Dr. Martin J. Hudacs said all topics are "on the table" and open for discussion and consideration. Public ideas, questions and concerns are very important in the feasibility study process.
One concern the district has identified is diminishing classroom space in its elementary schools. Tax increases are not expected to be necessary if renovation of an existing school(s) or the construction of a new school(s) is required in the future. That is because the district has retired much of the debt incurred for past projects. Architect Jim Lewis has already met with Solanco administrators, teachers and staff to receive their input. A public meeting was also held June 12 at Smith Middle School. A critical component of the feasibility study will be predicting the district's future population growth, which has the potential to be significant in the southern end of the district, primarily because of the expansion at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
To handle the demographic component of the study, we are working with Dr. Shelby Stewman from Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Demographics and Statistics. He has been hard at work sifting through the years of data and trending that the school district has been able to supply. In addition, he has come to the district several times to meet with township and borough officials and review records. This will provide us with a rich insight into enrollment and growth trends likely to affect our district. Our original date for a presentation to the board was to be in December or January. While the architect, Jim Lewis, has completed his portion of the study to meet that deadline, we are waiting for some demographic details. We are anticipating that the demographer and the architect will get together in the near future so that we can schedule the public presentation of their findings.
As a reminder, the process will have first a presentation on the issues that need to be addressed through construction, renovation, or other development of district facilities. The second presentation, which would probably occur about a month later, would address possible options that meet the needs identified in the first meeting. After the presentation of options, the board will be able to examine the options, look for any variations they might feel would meet our needs, and then develop a plan. We would encourage residents to go to our website www.solanco.org and subscribe to eSolanco, which provides weekly updates and features on the school district. We will provide information on the Feasibility Study reports and progress through eSolanco, as well as our website.
Feasibility Study Report-Out on August 17, 2009
On Monday, August 17, at George A. Smith Middle School, fifty people heard an architect and demographer present information concerning the future of the Solanco School District. Architect Jim Lewis of Lewis and Associates Architects and Dr. Shelby Stewman from Carnegie Mellon University reported the results of their year-long study on the needs and demographic trends of the district as part of the Solanco School District Feasibility Study. The feasibility study is an on-going assessment of present and future issues and needs the district will have to address
During the past year, Lewis conducted a building analysis on each Solanco school and other district facilities (administrative office, district warehouse, former Little Britain Elementary School). Each analysis carefully examined the space, equipment, staff, and time affecting education in Solanco's four elementary schools, two middle schools, and the high school.
Lewis framed the needs he saw in the district by using the Solanco School District Mission Statement, which emphasizes educating all students, and developing responsible citizens and life-long learners by providing a safe and secure educational environment.
At Monday's meeting, Lewis identified current physical and educational problems that he felt needed to be addressed by the district as it planned its development for the next 10 to 20 years. An important concern, both now and in the future, is the need to meet the academic requirement of No Child Left Behind while providing quality education for all students. Lewis cited the need for additional classroom space, especially in the elementary schools, to address the necessary flexibility and demands of education. Lewis made the case for as many as 22 classrooms to be needed to better serve all students, particularly special education students and students with disabilities.
Lewis listed additional classroom space as an important need at Swift Middle School and Clermont and Quarryville elementary schools. Smith and Swift middle schools, and Quarryville and Clermont elementary schools require improved security. The district must also address the poor energy efficiency at Smith Middle School, while Lewis commended the district for excellent energy efficiency at Bart-Colerain Elementary, Providence Elementary, and Solanco High School.
During the past year demographer Dr. Shelby Stewman contacted local township officials, zoning officers, and the school district to compile information and data needed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the district and its population trends. His studies included the migration of students in and out of the Solanco School District, recent housing construction and projected future development, the economic downturn and potential economic recovery, and the projected impact to Solanco of the planned expansion at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.
Dr. Stewman presented four growth scenarios that forecast increases of 27, 145, 199, and 456 students over the next 10 years. Most of the increases are expected at the elementary and middle school levels. Three of the projections showed a decrease in the number of students at the high school. Dr. Stewman believes the most accurate projection is a growth of 27 students in Solanco by 2018.
Dr. Stewman said none of his projections support a growth of 800 students in the Solanco School District as predicted by the Pennsylvania State Department of Education.
An important follow-up meeting will be held Monday, September 28, when architect Jim Lewis will lead a discussion among Solanco School Board members about possible school renovation, construction and other solutions to the issues the district will need to address in the next 10 to 20 years. The time and location of this meeting will be announced at a future time.
Below are a couple links with information about the the study:
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Solanco Feasibility Study 2008 |
