CTC reviews four construction plans ranging from $80 million to $123 million

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

The joint operating committee for the Lebanon County Career & Technology Center (CTC) reviewed four concept plans for significant changes to the facility during its monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Options A, B, E, and F would be expected to cost $79,828,658, $94,867,373, $100,583,821, and $123,260,195, respectively, according to the presentation. However, plans A, B, and E would be most disruptive to student education, with A in particular likely requiring additional funds be spent on temporary swing spaces for classes.

Option A

Option A includes the renovation of existing spaces and the addition of some new buildings to center grounds.

Though this plan would be the cheapest to implement on paper (around $79,828,658 according to provided stats), it may incur additional opportunity costs.

Estimated to take over 39 months (four summers), this plan would be the “most disruptive to education,” according to the Beers + Hoffman cost analysis. The center may also have difficulty finding bidders able to work within stated timeframe, and may need to rent swing spaces.

Dave Laudermilch, representing Palmyra’s school board, called Option A “a terrible option,” saying that it would have high opportunity-cost for students and the center may even need to pause some programs to allow for construction.

Option B

Revised from a previous version that sketched new construction on top of wetlands area, Option B attaches new buildings to the existing center, with plans to demolish some existing buildings at the school.

According to a cost comparison provided by Beers + Hoffman, the plan would likely take around 31 months to complete and cost a base rate of $90,326,684 (adjusted to $94,867,373 with expected cost escalation by 2027 and phasing impact costs).

This summary also noted that this plan would generate “some disruptions to education,” with some renovations taking around four months to complete and requiring time out of the early or late school year (as opposed to only being undergone during the summer).

Option E

Option E, which includes the addition of two new structures and the demolition of two existing ones, is estimated to cost $100,583,821 including escalation and phasing impact costs.

Like Option B, this plan would also generate “some disruptions to education,” with some portions possibly taking four months to complete and stretching beyond the summer.

Darren Grumbine, representing Annville-Cleona School District, said he was concerned with the space in between new buildings (apparently there to allow for construction access), and said he worried a future board would need to fund another construction project to change the layout of this area.

Option F

The only option set to involve demolition of the entire existing school, Option F proposes the construction of a new three-story building, not to overlap with existing structures.

Including likely escalation costs due to a 2027 start-time, this option is estimated to cost $123,260,195.

This option would be the least disruptive to student education, as construction could occur during any time of the year without need to displace students. Once the project is complete, the existing center would be demolished.

This plan would not replicate the center’s existing “ramp condition,” in which the main hallway is at a slight incline due to shifts in elevation.

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Each option presented Tuesday contained an equal amount of classroom space, containing room for existing classes/programs as well as more administrative space, a second welding classroom, an arena, and two additional classrooms.

Plans B and F were both revised from previous versions, which placed buildings on wetlands, represented by the light blue area.

Projected costs include a cushion for possible change orders and unexpected costs. Actual costs will be subject to material and labor costs, as well as unanticipated conditions of construction.

The portion of the CTC property shown on the right of the map is not proposed to be used by any of these options, as the space is being considered for potential future Commercial Driver’s License and equipment operator programs. This would keep these programs from disrupting other programs from generated noise.

Beers + Hoffman representatives explained that they have already made presentations to the six public school districts that make up the CTC’s student- and funding-base. Representatives of each school board make up the joint operating committee.

As of now, the board has not expressed any official preference for one plan over the others. Board members, as well as school districts, will continue to review options before making a decision.

The feasibility study with Beers + Hoffman, which was first approved in April 2024, was requested to examine the school’s current and future needs and provide rough plans, as well as cost estimates, for potential projects.

After the April 24, 2024, meeting, board chairwoman Ruth Ann Schlegel said the study would examine construction needs in addition to reviewing current CTC programs and funding.

“I think the curriculum expertise will be so valuable in terms of having that here,” Schlegel said then. “Some of the things that I heard in the presentation by Beers + Hoffman talked about the review of the current LCCTC programs, which I think is absolutely critical, looking at the history, student performance, cost-benefit analysis of current program, examining alignment of current programming here at the CTC, so I think that’s critical.”

In other news, the board:

• Heard a presentation showcasing a new website for the center, which is slated for a Nov. 1 launch.
• Unanimously agreed to numerous personnel matters, including granting leaves of absence to two staff members and hiring substitute teachers.
• Unanimously approved student and staff participation in the SkillsUSA Fall Leadership Conference in Camp Hill, with the center paying $1,138 to cover advisers.
• Unanimously approved two staff conference attendances at no cost to the CTC.
• Unanimously approved an articulation agreement between the CTC and Lackawanna College for designated CTE programs, to cover this and next school year.
• Unanimously approved a tuition agreement with Commonwealth Charter Academy.
• Unanimously agreed the Student Assistance Program agreement with Empower the Mind LLC for $3,350, covering September 2025 to June 2027.
• Unanimously agreed to approve an agreement with D and B Broadband LLC to provide technology consulting services, not to exceed $35,000.
• Unanimously approved reports, minutes, and payment of bills.

Following the meeting, the JOC entered into an executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.

The JOC meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board/conference room (D-144) at the school, at 833 Metro Drive, Lebanon.