PASD to explore settlement options on partially built administration building

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

The Palmyra school board agreed on March 26 to explore a settlement option regarding a new administration building already under construction on South Forge Road, with some board members saying they should reconsider the new building.

These other options, according to board members Corey Andrew and Seth Steinmetz, could include adding to an existing school or moving to a larger work-from-home model.

Fellow board members Jill Martin, Alicia Haldeman, and Cynthia Spondello said they were also in favor of exploring the options, while Larry Geib, Sue Gilligan, Dave Laudermilch, and Christine Fisher were not in favor.

No formal action was taken, with the board giving guidance to the administration to speak with district legal counsel and HR Weaver Building Systems.

At its Dec. 12, 2024, meeting, the board voted 7-1 to approve a $3,858,761.04 agreement for the purchase of land and construction of offices. Superintendent Bernie Kepler said a change order brought that price to around $4.2 million. LebTown previously reported that the new building was proposed because some teachers didn’t have classrooms in the high school and moved around the building using carts.

The building is now under construction, with an estimated completion date of June 15, Kepler said. As of the board meeting, the steel structure is assembled, and the concrete has been poured.

Andrew said the Pennsylvania Department of Education projects the district will lose 500 students by 2035, so he questioned why the district would be looking at major renovations to the high school for a declining student population.

Steinmetz said he agreed with Andrew, and the money for an administration building could be put elsewhere, such as renovations and repairs needed at the high school.

After the meeting, Kepler said the estimated costs to add onto an existing building were about $5.5 million, which is why they decided to construct a new building.

“We went through extensive research on this, and we made the right decision, OK?” Geib told Steinmetz. “The research is all there. … Dr. Kepler went through that, and you want to start it all over again.”

Board members not in favor of exploring settlement options, instead preferring to move forward with the under-construction administration building, said this has been brought up at many previous meetings without action. They said it would cost more legal and settlement fees, and the district still wouldn’t have an administration building.

Kepler said backing out of the contract could bring litigation and further expenses. He said he doesn’t have an estimate at this time and will have to look into it with the district’s legal representatives.

Administrative staff have been working out of two classrooms in the high school so the district office could be split into six classrooms. Kepler said staff members are getting the necessary work done, but not having their own space has been wearing on them.

“They’re poised and ready to come to work,” he said. “They’re a well-oiled machine who care deeply about one another, and the loss of that interpersonal connect, the steady loss and decay of their morale, but their work has not been impacted.”

Kepler said at a previous meeting that he is worried he won’t be able to maintain employees without a space. He said it is still the case after the Thursday meeting.

Board members also suggested a work-from-home model for some employees to cut down on the space needed. Kepler said that could work for some positions but not all. He also said there are many student- and public-facing roles in the district, where office workers wouldn’t be able to reasonably commute from home if they’re needed on district property during the school day.

Full-day kindergarten presentation

The principal and kindergarten teachers of Lingle Avenue Elementary School also gave a presentation to the board about full-day kindergarten. 

Palmyra houses all kindergarten classes in Lingle Elementary, and it is the only Lebanon County district that doesn’t offer or have a plan to move to full-day kindergarten. There is currently a full-day option for students who don’t meet the necessary levels outlined by an academic screener.

Principal Ashley Harrison said the current half-day kindergarten structure has the following barriers:

• Time constraints.
• Reduced opportunities for play-based learning, critical peer interactions, and opportunities for problem-solving and independence.
• High pressure and pacing.
• Limiting relationship building.
• Widening the gap.
• Fragmented learning experience.
• Availability for therapy services.

Harrison said studies have found that students who went through full-day kindergarten were significantly less likely to be behind on executive function skills. She said a focus on basic skills when students are younger sets a good foundation for future learning.

“We know this is something that’s going to take time, but we also understand that it’s important to have many people around the table being part of that team,” she said.

Harrison and the kindergarten teachers asked the district to consider full-day kindergarten over the next 12 months, so it might be included in the 2027-28 budget.

Kepler said full-day kindergarten would mean students of all ability levels — not just those who need additional support — would be in the classroom together throughout the day.

“We have a pretty good idea of what we want it to look like. We have to go through and do a full analysis,” he said. “What’s that look like from a personnel perspective? How many teachers do we have to hire in addition to current staff? Are there additional support positions?”

Budget presentations

The board heard budget presentations for special education, the high, middle, and elementary schools, and athletics. All presented budgets included higher projected expenses compared to the previous school year.

The proposed special education budget shows a $286,250, or 12.61%, increase from the 2025-26 budget to 2026-27. This comes from the addition of a job trainer, more hours, and additional student placements.

The high school budget showed an increase from 2025-26’s $314,518 to $345,941, for a 9.99% rise in expenses. The largest percentage increase would be for AP student registration. Principal Scott Richardson said many students aren’t taking the AP test associated with the course at the end of the year because cost can be a barrier. Other cost increases come from additional equipment and supplies.

The proposed middle school budget showed $266,230 budgeted for the new school year, for an increase of 0.61%. It includes intervention supplies and weight room equipment to replace aging and unsafe items, and a software fee increase.

At the elementary level, the proposed budget went up 18.13% from $258,115 to $304,924 due to higher supply costs and library and health services.

The proposed athletic budget went from $387,668 in 2025-26 to $422,242 in 2026-27, for a 8.92% increase. Higher transportation costs, along with a new timing system for the track and uniforms for the field hockey and football teams, contributed.

In other business, the school board:

• Recognized bus driver Karen Nye for her commitment to student safety while transporting a middle school student. Kepler said she noticed an unusual vehicle in the driveway and contacted the district and the student’s family to ensure the student was safe to be dropped off. Karissa McGarrity was also recognized for her support and leadership from the home office during the situation.
• Recognized students and coaches involved in the PASD Elementary Divisions’ first inter-school STEM Bowl competition. Teams from Northside and Pine elementary schools advanced to the finals of the Palmyra STEM Bowl, then represented the district at the IU13 Lancaster-Lebanon Regional STEM Bowl in March.
• Approved all staffing and administration items outlined in the agenda.
• Approved a request for proposal for audit services. Martin said they hope to lower costs for the district’s annual audit.
• Heard from board member Geib, who said he was speaking as a resident during the meeting’s public comment period. He addressed Martin’s statements during the first March meeting that she was concerned about senior citizens not being able to pay school taxes and losing their homes. Geib said there are many reasons senior citizens give up their homes, and hundreds of public comments have had parents and community members urging the district to take care of the children, which can necessitate a tax increase.
• Tabled a motion to approve the Stray Pro quote for audio and visual solution for the district office for $47,705.58 due to the earlier discussion. They also tabled the motion for a furniture proposal from STS Innovative Interiors with a total cost of $154,377.93.

The Palmyra school board will meet next at Lingle Avenue Elementary School on April 9 at 6 p.m. Meetings can also be attended via Zoom.