Feb 22, 2005 By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – School district directors appear to be united concerning the need to upgrade the high school and vocational-technical school, but do not agree if the improvements can be afforded at the present time. With the current feasibility study slated to expire within the next few months, the Connellsville Area School District is faced with the decision to move forward in carrying out the recommendations laid out by P.J. Dick Inc. to renovate the high school and construct a technology wing to accommodate vocational students or delaying any action until a new study has been completed.

As the board discussed the hiring of an architect during Monday’s planning session, board member Kevin Lape asked whether the panel should proceed without first asking how the project would be funded.

“How are we going to pay for this?” he asked, noting estimates of $50 million. “We got taken to the cleaners for building a new school in the mountains and (installing) the new turf.”

In August, the Springfield Township Elementary School opened its doors to the $8.5 million building for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The district football stadium was also upgraded from a grass surface to an artificial turf at a cost of $386,000.

District Superintendent Gerald Browell said that to fund the current project a bond issue would have to be secured by the district.

Lape, meanwhile, said a bond issue would translate into another tax increase for district homeowners.

Last year, the district levied a 32 percent tax increase.

Lape, meanwhile, said he favored moving forward with the renovation plan and would vote for a tax increase, if necessary, but also advised his fellow board members that if they chose to make the improvements, they must also be ready to stand at his side when it came time to fund the project.

“If they vote to build, they better vote to raise the taxes,” he said.

Board member Francis Mongell, however, said the project can move ahead without burdening the taxpayer.

“Give me five votes on this board and I’ll show you how (the district can afford the renovation costs),” he said. “There are other ways of balancing budgets without raising taxes.”

According to the feasibility study, if the board were to maintain the current status, high school renovation costs would total an estimated $28 million.

Should the board agree to construct an auxiliary gymnasium, as suggested in the study, the total would increase by $1 million.

The cost would rise to approximately $38 million if all vo-tech students and related curriculum were included in the high school setting with a new gymnasium.

Board members agreed to meet March 9 to further discuss the options.