Architects Recommend Closing Schools and Building New

L.R. Kimball Project Manager Brian Hayes and his team recommended Armstrong School District board directors close five schools to save cost and plan for the future. Those schools include: Kittanning Junior High, Ford City Junior-Senior High, Kittanning Senior High, Shannock Valley Elementary and Kittanning Township Elementary.by Jonathan WeaverThe future of many Armstrong School District schools is uncertain after school directors reviewed their options with architects last night.In a special non-voting meeting, board directors heard various scenarios – including building a new junior-senior high - as to how the school district could be mapped out.Some of those in poor shape that architects recommended closing include: Kittanning Senior High, Kittanning Junior High, Ford City Junior-Senior High and Shannock Valley and Kittanning Township elementary schools.Architects recommended Shannock Valley and Kittanning Township students move to a renovated Elderton K-6 facility and high school students be split between West Shamokin and a new junior-senior high.L.R. Kimball Project Manager Brian Hayes explained why they recommended a new Elderton layout, one which would include adequate work spaces and close to 39 classrooms.“It’s really not on-par with the other high schools in the District,” Hayes said. “It lacks adequate outdoor high school athletic facilities – with no real room to add them – (and) houses the fewest number of students in grades 7-12. We believe this building should either be fully utilized or fully closed.“This program fits well in the Elderton building without any additions,” Hayes said.District Superintendent Dr. Stan Chapp endorsed the 7-12th grade school model (which he says is similar at the Freeport Area School District) by saying students have shown maturity and academic-success with the layout.

District Superintendent Stan Chapp said the building layout currently separates 7^th and 8^th graders from the senior high students, and has worked academically.

“We think the 7-8 combination has worked very well for us in this District,” Chapp said. “If we had a 7-12^th building, we could still separate the 7-8^th graders out in some term of design. I think it meets our students’ maturation levels and we are able to work with their individual needs at that level and I think our students have done well transitioning from a 7-8^th grade level into 9^th grade.”

School directors also have the option to close the K-12 complex altogether and build a new K-6 school.

Students from both elementary schools would feed into West Shamokin Jr. – Sr. High.

Board Vice-President Chris Choncek questioned whether to send all Elderton area students to West Shamokin due to possible future concerns over low capacity and unfair educational opportunities compared to a new facility at the other end of the County.

A proposed solution would be to break up students who now attend Kittanning Township depending on their location, with School Director D. Royce Smeltzer saying that some might be closer to the newer high school compared to West Shamokin.

Hayes recommended building the new junior-senior high after the 2010 renovation plans to renovate the three facilities fell through and to save building expense.

The cost to renovate Elderton and build this new school would cost approximately $69 million between construction and architect fees. Costs jump about $15 million if school directors choose to build a new K-6 school instead of renovating Elderton.

Before attending a proposed new junior-senior high school, students would continue to attend Lenape and West Hills Elementary and West Hills Intermediate.

Architects also considered consolidating the District into one 9-12 senior high school for upwards of $80 million.  Options considering K-8^th grade schools were eliminated.

No options take into effect cost of acquiring land for any new school.

School directors are to receive more options from architects regarding district administration office sites and schools for special-needs students at Kittanning Township Elementary at this Thursday’s regular caucus session.

State Policeman Victim of Hit-and-Run

Pennsylvania State policeman Sgt. Kenneth Markilinski is in a Pittsburgh hospital after sustaining injuries during a hit-and-run Thursday morning.

A Pennsylvania State Policeman was flown to a regional hospital yesterday morning after being struck by a vehicle.

State Police Sgt. Kenneth Markilinski, 50 of Ford City was stopped on the southbound ramp of Route 28 off Route 422 at 6:45AM to remove debris when a southbound vehicle struck him and his police cruiser.

Markilinski was initially taken to ACMH, but then was flown to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Presbyterian Hospital. According to the State Police, his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

The suspected vehicle may appear dark-in-color and have driver-side damage. No other description is available.

The  ramp  was re-opened to traffic shortly after 10:45AM.

State Trooper Keston was unavailable for media inquiry yesterday evening.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the state police barracks in Kittanning at 724-543-2011.