Williamsport Area School District Study

District Wide Feasibility Study

The study was initiated as a follow-up to this 7,500 pupil school district’s long-range facilities strategic plan adopted in the late 1980’s. That plan lead to a series of renovations and additions to four of the district’s schools and culminated in the construction of a new replacement elementary school of which Mr. McKissick was project manager and architect. The study involved nearly 1,100,000 SF of instructional and support space located in 15 buildings in five municipalities.

Problem

The district was suffering from dual challenges; the in-migration of an ethnically diverse and socio-economically challenged pupil population and concurrent enrollment decreases. The district had one of the highest tax rates in the region as a result of out-migration to adjacent township school districts during the 1970s and 1980s. As a result of decreasing enrollment the district had adopted a middle level program converting several former junior high schools to middle schools in name only. This change, coupled with tax payer dissent, resulted in a halt to the building programs after 1992 and a significant inequity developed between instructional facilities at the elementary and middle school level. In addition, with the average age of the district’s facilities in excess of 60 years, a cost effective solution was necessary.

Process

The analysis by Mr. McKissick, initially as project leader and later as partner in charge, revolved around a three phase study process. This process included extensive staff interviews as well as very active involvement with two distinct community advisory committees. An comprehensive public relations campaign was undertaken which included newspaper advertising, supplemental public hearings and a series of call in radio talk show spots featuring Mr. McKissick.

Solution

The ultimate solution provided for a five year implementation program with the first phase including the limited $2,600,000 renovation of the 1949 Roosevelt Middle School to extend the buildings life for 6 to 8 years at which time the board reserved the decision to consolidate its three middle schools into two. The second component focused on addressing shortfalls in the ability of the high school to support applied learning techniques. This project involved the construction of a new vocational education wing at the Williamsport Area Senior High School consisting of a 20,000 SF renovation and 38,000 SF of new area at a total cost of $5,200,000. The third component included the renovation and expansion of the 80 year old Cochran Elementary School (to match the educational specifications of the new Andrew Jackson School completed in 1993. This project was unique in that the decision was made to renovate the building empty of pupils and to conduct the renovations on a compressed timeline, resulting not only in a reduction in costs, but also in reduction of risk to the health and safety of staff and pupils.