HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Hollidaysburg Area School District could close one of its elementary schools and shift some grades to other buildings or it could simply maintain its buildings and make upgrades, according to a districtwide facilities study presented at a recent board meeting.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recommends that districts do feasibility studies every three to five years as a way of planning ahead so districts aren’t stuck with having to make last-minute renovations, architect Jeff Straub said.

The closing of a school building is included in three of the seven options presented by Straub to board members during the

Jan. 12 board meeting.

Straub, principal architect with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates of Mechanicsburg, outlined other options the district could consider based on enrollment trends, including making additions to one of the elementary schools or building an entirely new elementary school.

What the district decides will depend on enrollment figures and ultimately, the costs involved to make changes.

Superintendent Robert Gildea said the district experienced a 3.6% decrease in enrollment from 2010-19.

From 2019-20 to 2020-21, enrollment decreased again from 3,247 to 3,036 students in all grades.

Gildea said the current enrollment breakdown includes 1,561 students in the elementary schools and 802 in the high school, which indicates growth in the high school population in the years ahead as those elementary students move up in grade levels.

“As with all districts, we saw a drop in enrollment in 2020-21, largely (attributable) to COVID,” Gildea said, adding that most of those students have returned.

Still, the drop in enrollment could be a troubling sign, Straub said.

According to Straub, the district’s elementary population was 1,782 seven years ago, so it has decreased substantially.

“The potential identified population could continue to drop,” Straub said. “It’s something the district needs to watch closely.”

Still, Straub said, it’s hard to predict whether the trend will ultimately continue or reverse.

“Enrollment potentially may continue to drop substantially, but it’s difficult to determine,” Straub said. “It’s just as likely their population may stabilize.”

Gildea said it’s unclear as of now how the district will proceed.

“There has been no discussion of the options at this time,” Gildea said. “The purpose of the study is simply to look at all options so that we can make an informed decision on our facilities plan for the short- and long-term.”

As for when that discussion will take place, Gildea said there is “no timetable.”

Straub said it’s “more than likely” the district will simply begin to renovate its existing facilities in the next five years and that four of its buildings — the three elementary schools and the middle school — will need to be renovated within the next decade.

Foot of Ten and Frankstown elementary schools are both about 30 years old, Straub said, and have yet to undergo any significant renovations.

Charles W. Longer Elementary was built nearly 40 years ago, he said, and also hasn’t had any significant renovations made in that time.

The middle school was last renovated 25 years ago, but to only a certain extent, Straub added.

According to Straub, some sections of the middle school, including various mechanical systems, are in need of renovation.

Because all three elementary schools are in need of renovation, Straub said, it “may be economically feasible to close a building.”

Board member Ronald Sommer disagrees.

“I don’t think it’s a viable option to close a building,” Sommer said. “I think the cost of closing would be more than refurbishing. I just don’t see us closing any buildings; I really don’t.”

Like Gildea, Sommer is unsure how the district will proceed and thinks it’s best to take the process slowly and proceed carefully.

“I don’t see us pulling the trigger anytime soon,” Sommer said. “We’re trying to be prudent and look at options moving forward, but nothing timetable-wise is set up at all. We need to look at all options.”

Sommer added the district’s budget, which he described as “very tight right now,” will be a factor that influences how the board will decide. There was a deficit going into this year, he said, as well as a deficit projected for next year.

According to Straub, it’s not as simple as just picking one option, as there are many possibilities that could transpire.

“You could go down a rabbit hole and have 20 options,” Straub said. “I’m assuming they’ll start renovating and might evaluate from there.”

“What we’re trying to do is to try to make all viable options to move forward,” Straub said. “Then they can master-plan for the future.”

The options provided at the meeting include:

* Current enrollment: Maintain and upgrade all existing facilities.

* Reduced enrollment: Move 9th grade to senior high and 6th grade to junior high; add pre-K at all elementary schools; create an addition at Foot of Ten.

* Current enrollment: Move 9th grade to senior high and 6th grade to junior high; move district office to C.W. Longer and close existing administration building.

* Move 9th grade to senior high and 6th grade to junior high; additions at Foot of Ten and Frankstown; close C.W. Longer.

* Move 9th grade to senior high and 6th grade to junior high; additions at C.W. Longer and Frankstown; close Foot of Ten.

* Move 9th grade to senior high and 6th grade to junior high; addition at Foot of Ten; new replacement elementary school on C.W. Longer site; close Frankstown.

* Keep existing grade configuration; move district office to C.W. Longer with addition and close existing administration building; create an addition at Foot of Ten.

Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.