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Delays in the Montgomery Junior/Senior High School building project have driven up its estimated costs by nearly $5 million.
Officials with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, the project's architectural firm, recently offered up the sobering news to the Montgomery Area School Board.
Land development plans rejected by local government have prevented plans from moving forward, increasing the construction's price tag from $33 million to $37.9 million, according to Scott Cousin, senior project manager.
Overall, costs are going up for construction, modifications in the building design and equipment.
Cousin said it's unknown when the land development plan will be approved.
"With every month delayed, you can expect $137,000 in increased costs," he said.
The Clinton Township supervisors gave conditional use approval to the plan in late August with the provision that 13 conditions be met after hearing comments from residents concerned about matters including increased traffic, stormwater and parking.
However, supervisors rejected the revised land development plan in December.
"The township said we didn't meet the conditions," Cousin said.
In the meantime, the plans have also been submitted to the Lycoming County Planning Commission and the Lycoming County Conservation District.
School Director Jon DeSantis blasted local government officials for holding up the project.
"We are going to continue going down this road," he said. "It's not going to stop."
Plans call for relocating junior high and high school students from the aging building at 120 Penn St. in the borough to the Montgomery Area Community Center in Clinton Township.
The community center is to be expanded to accommodate classrooms and various student needs and services.
In other business, the board approved Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grants of $111,228 and $30,000 toward mental health services.
Montgomery Superintendent Daphne Bowers said Effective School Solutions will partner with the district in the next school year to provide evidence-based mental health and behavioral support programs for students at a one-year cost of $155,000.
She noted the dramatic rise in recent years of students in need of emotional and mental health support.
Teachers and staff are to receive program training.
Junior High/Senior High School Principal Dr. Joseph Stoudt reported that additional courses will be offered to students in the coming school year.
Among the new courses are Personal Finance for Students which is being required for students in the state.
Previously, a similar course was offered as an elective, he noted.
Other new courses will be Principles of Computer Science and History of Film and Filmmaking.
In personnel matters, the board approved the hiring of Caleb Petrin as a special education teacher at a salary of $51,600.
The board approved the retirement of eighth-grade teacher Penny Becher.
Stoudt thanked Becher for her years of service and noted she will be hard to replace.
Her retirement is effective Aug. 5.
In other matters, the board approved the school district calendar for the 2024-2025 school year.
The next board meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 at the high school.