HOLLIDAYSBURG — Amid a mounting budgetary deficit, the Hollidaysburg Area School Board heard proposals for a reduced-scope renovation project during a Wednesday meeting.

Physical Plant Director Jonathan Nihart offered three options ranging from $11.6 million to $12.4 million in total cost, which were paired down from a $24.2 million project that was presented in an April committee meeting by the McClure Company.

All three options laid out by Nihart included the second phase of an ongoing replacement of the Senior High roof for $6.4 million, a new boiler for the Junior High at $2.7 million, a new coat on existing sections of senior high TPO roofing for $756,109, a partial roof replacement for the junior high at $716,311, new boiler fittings at the junior high for $687,392, a repair for sections of junior high parapet walls at $180,907 and a fire alarm control panel replacement at the junior high for $101,432.

The second option adds a comprehensive security upgrade to the junior high main entrance for $315,907 and the third includes the vestibule project plus a number of new interior doors throughout the building at a cost of $462,604.

Nihart removed bell tower refurbishment, new corridor ceilings, a replaced emergency generator, a new gym ceiling and a complete HVAC system upgrade all at the junior high from the original McClure proposal, to focus on the “most urgent” needs while remaining budget conscious.

According to Superintendent Curtis Whitesel, the priority projects selected by Nihart are “not a want, it’s a need.”

In the second meeting of the day, business manager Autumn Fiscus introduced the 2025-25 district budget, which included a $3.4 million deficit that presumed unchanged state and federal funding and a full Act 1 Index tax hike of 4.9%.

This represents an almost $1 million increase in deficit from the district’s 2024-25 budget, signaling a looming fiscal “cliff” for the district, Whitesel said.

The full HVAC system upgrade outlined in McClure’s plan is currently “out of reach” with the district’s present financial situation, Nihart said, which prompted the revised scope of the renovation project.

Other portions of the proposal, such as the ceiling replacement, would make more financial sense to do in conjunction with another project such as the HVAC replacement since it would require the removal of the current drop tile ceiling if approved.

The board is currently considering a district-wide renovation project that would see some degree of consolidation among the three elementary schools, grade realignment and subsequent building upgrades to accommodate the rehomed students at a cost upwards of $100 million to address ongoing financial difficulties.

This larger plan, which was presented in an updated facility feasibility study in October 2024, is being considered separately from the smaller proposal Nihart made on Wednesday, he said.

All projects included in Nihart’s three options would begin summer 2026, he said.

To finance the work outlined in Nihart’s presentation, the district may have to raise the Act 1 millage rate for the upcoming budget and potentially in the upcoming budget, Fiscus said.

A bond issue of approximately $12.4 million is also under consideration by the board as a potential source of new funding for the renovation project.

Hollidaysburg is currently servicing three prior rounds of bonds previously issued by the district to finance other capital-intensive projects.

Board member John Wells advocated for the second option, saying that the secure vestibule wouldn’t add much to the overall cost of the project while giving a noticeable improvement to building security.

Board member Michelle Luther agreed with Wells’ assessment while opting for the inclusion of the interior door replacement as well.

“For the safety of our students and staff, I would prefer the third option,” Luther said.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.