Board OKs first step of school expansion

ROYERSFORD >> The Spring-Ford Area School Board has approved the first step toward a $10million high school expansion.

In an 8-1 decision, the board authorized the administration, with the assistance of the solici- tor’s office, to negotiate an architect’s agreement with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates regarding the health and wellness facility expansion and the performing arts facility expansion proposals.

Board member Mark Dehnert dissented.

Board approval will be needed for each successive phase of the agreement, including final ap- proval of the architect’s agreement. The board reserves the right to stop the project at any point.

Expanding the 17-year-old school by 24,000 square feet is estimated to cost as much as $10 million. Included would be a 14,000-square-foot fitness center and a 9,800-square-foot performing arts center attached on the eastern side of the nearly 400,000-square-foot building. Estimated construction costs for the work range froma low of $7.8 million to a high of $9.3 million.

Yet that didn’t stop 47 community members from approaching the podium to show their support for the project during Monday night’s meeting.

Mike Engro, an Upper Providence resident, asked Dehnert why he chose not to support he project.

“Help us understand your position,” he said. “Is it only political or is it more?” Dehnert said when he campaigned for re-election last year, many residents expressed their disapproval with the school expansion proposal. He further campaigned on being a fiscally responsible board member and felt spending should be limited to what’s going on in the classroom.

“Money needs to be in academics,” he said. “Extracurriculars are great but we need to stick to core academics.”

Those supporting the project balked at his assertion that the music program and fitness classes weren’t included as core academic programs. The music program features Advanced Placement music classes, for example, they said. Dehnert clarified that the music and fitness classes weren’t part of core subjects like math, science, social studies and English.

High school senior Jarod Moyer touted the recent achievements of the music department, specifically the band program, including performances at the state competition, in Nashville’s and the famous Carnegie Hall, before calling on the board to continue to lend its support.

“One thing to note, about everyone who spoke before me, whether they’re athletic or a music student, or take their core courses more seriously, everyone has come together and said something in support of the group,” he said. “Come together as a community to support the group. We’ve come together to ask your group to approve your expansion. If it’s your kid’s passion, what would you choose?”