As part of a realignment plan to address student needs and population shifts, the Carlisle Area School District will shut two primary campuses at the end of the 2027–2028 academic year.
The Carlisle Area School District would be reorganized into five elementary schools serving grades K–3, two middle campuses currently housing grades 4-6, and a new school that would be constructed for classes 7-8. This concept was first proposed by Superintendent Colleen Friend.
According to preliminary estimates, the junior high building would cost approximately $90 million.
LeTort and Mount Holly Springs, the district’s two oldest primary schools, will be eliminated as a result of the reorganization before the 2028–2029 academic year.
Students in years 9–12 will still be served by Carlisle High School.
Aaron Carmichael, the administrator of LeTort Elementary School, welcomes pupils as they disembark from the bus on the first day of classes. On August 19, 2019, students arrive to Carlisle’s LeTort Elementary School for the start of classes.
[email protected] Dan Gleiter
Naturally, some people will be disappointed by this, just like with every other truly important choice a board makes, said board member Bruce Clash. I just want to acknowledge that disappointment. The board was given with some convincing evidence that discussed the drawbacks of eliminating local schools.
The two facilities that will no longer house the elementary schools need to be the subject of open conversations going ahead, the board added.
School Board President Paula Bussard stated, “As I mentioned earlier, this board will have a more thoughtful conversation about the use of the two buildings that will be closed, and we welcome input, ideas, questions, and thoughts on that.”
Board member George Stroud spoke to community members who might not agree with the board’s choice during discussions over the realignment.
I want to talk to the people in the community who could be disappointed, as was mentioned. I know that change is challenging, and I get that. However, I would like to point out that, as our president has stated, we as a board must consider how we view the communities affected by the closing of the schools and how we ensure that there is something there of which those people can be proud. To make sure those community members feel like they’re not forgotten, I’m looking forward to having that conversation.
A number of board members also emphasized the administration’s and school board’s openness on the shutdown plans.
I truly admire the openness, the process, and the consideration that went into this, as you all explained. According to board member David Miller, it was genuinely a community endeavor, and community feedback was gathered. I simply commend the effort and the method that was devised to arrive at this point.
A resident of Mount Holly Springs who opposed the resolution after the board’s vote claimed that while the K-8 plan had made strides, there were too many detrimental effects on his area.
I have made the case why closing Mount Holly Springs Elementary is a bad idea in great detail. According to the man, bringing more students to the borough will help a local community that has been steadily declining over the past 15+ years in addition to the students themselves. We often discuss how difficult it is to close schools, and while I am not familiar with the demands of managing a school system, I believe that moral decisions are frequently not at all challenging. I sincerely hope this burdens your conscience.
Clash returned to the chamber after the public’s remarks and stated that he did not approach Thursday’s vote lightly.
Because of the vote we were going to take, I came to tonight’s meeting a little depressed. He added that having to make decisions like this, which have the potential to alter people’s lives and the fabric of a community, does weigh on you. That’s why we’re, you know, hoping that over the course of the next several years, we can lessen, even improve, what students will have. I therefore cast this vote with much sadness.
The realignment, according to district officials, will divide kids into smaller age groups, assisting in meeting the children’s developing requirements as they progress through the system.
Furthermore, just 18% of the district’s population resides in the two municipalities served by the existing Mount Holly and North Dickinson elementary schools, Dickinson Township and Mount Holly Springs Borough.
The majority of Mount Holly pupils would transfer to North Dickinson under the new plan since it has space for more students.
According to the resolution, as part of the K–8 facilities project, school administrators will do everything in their power to support and help the students, parents, staff, and other impacted parties at LeTort and Mt. Holly Springs Elementary Schools as they move to other institutions.
Expensive upgrades are also required in Letort and Mount Holly Springs.
The district’s oldest surviving school building is LeTort, which first opened in 1936 outside Carlisle’s historic district at the southeast portion of the borough. A thorough rehabilitation there might cost at least $16 million, according to district officials.
Renovating 1961-opened Mount Holly Springs could cost at least $20 million.
The school district’s YouTube account features the whole school board meeting.
Charles Thompson, a staff writer, helped write this report.
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Madison Montag
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