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A firm hired by Montoursville Area School District to assess its two elementary school buildings has recommended all those students be consolidated into a single building.
That recommendation by SiteLogIQ would mean closing Loyalsock Valley Elementary School.
Melissa Colestock, of SiteLogIQ, presented the firm's study to the school board at its recent meeting revealing that the district would face costs of $19.5 million over the next 10 years to address needed repairs and renovations at Loyalsock Valley.
Lyter Elementary School upgrade costs over that same time frame would amount to just over $17 million.
Loyalsock Valley is the larger of the two elementary school buildings and costs to address repair and replacement needs would exceed that of constructing a new school for those students, according to Colestock.
"The cost to maintain the building is beginning to outpace the need for building a new one," she said.
With Lyter, it would be much easier to keep up with repairs and improvements that are needed, she said.
Moreover, Loyalsock Valley's problems require more immediate attention.
The study noted the high heating costs at Loyalsock Valley tied to the use of fuel oil.
"We recommend switching to natural gas and replacing the boilers," Colestock said, while noting that fuel costs comprise 73% of operating the facility.
Water usage, she said, is also an issue at Loyalsock Valley tied in part to older plumbing fixtures.
Both school buildings require upgrades to some facilities and equipment.
However, regarding Lyter, she said, "Equipment repair and replacement are less urgent here."
Overall, Colestock said the district has done a good job of maintaining both school buildings through the years.
"Unfortunately, they are starting to exceed their life," she said.
Ron Snell, a former school board member, questioned SiteLogIQ's figure of just over $17 million for upgrades to Lyter and spoke out against having all elementary students there.
"It's closer to $30 million," he said. "A school without green space isn't for the kids."