Parents Say Keep Martic School

By ROBYN MEADOWS

When parents had their say before Penn Manor School district officials last week, they spoke clearly: Do not close Martic Elementary and build a K-8 facility at Marticville Middle School. “I think it’s fair to say that (of) those who approached the mic, the vast majority did not want to close Martic Elementary School,” Superintendent Don Stewart said. The school district is weighing three options for construction at both schools. About 200 parents attended the special meeting to give their opinion. Penn Manor School Board will hear a completed feasibility study on proposed construction options from architect Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates of Mechanicsburg at its April 3 meeting in the auditorium at Manor Middle School, Route 324 and Frogtown Road, Pequea. A published report in another newspaper incorrectly stated that the board would discuss the matter Monday. Declining enrollment at both schools and the declining condition of wells and septic systems are among the reasons the district is considering the options, school officials said. Built in 1953, Martic Elementary, 266 Martic Heights Drive, Holtwood, has 383 students. Marticville Middle was built in 1968 and has 390 students. At the March 2 meeting, the architect gave the board the following options: Provide capital improvements to both Martic Elementary and Marticville Middle schools that would include refurbishing the HVAC at Marticville, giving both new roofs, and making mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements. The cost estimate for this option is $12.5 million. Under this idea, the district would not receive any reimbursement from the state Department of Education for construction costs. Close Martic Elementary and construct a new, two-story addition on one side of Marticville Middle and a new gymnasium on the other side. Also, the middle school would be renovated to bring it up to current standards. The site would house grades kindergarten through eight, but middle and elementary school students would remain separate from each other. This would require the district to buy nine acres of farmland that sits behind Marticville Middle School. The project’s estimated cost is $19.5 million. The district could receive some reimbursement from the state. But a group called the “Concerned Parents of Martic Elementary School Students” has written a letter to district taxpayers objecting to the K-8 idea. The letter says that closing Martic Elementary would take away the sense of community parents and children feel. Renovate both buildings on a larger scale fixing up systems and roofs, but also updating for current building and education standards. This could mean relocating the office and entrance for tighter security, conducting exterior site work and improving ramps and door widths to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. This option is estimated to cost $17.1 million. This plan would also be eligible for some state reimbursement. Anne Carroll, principal at Marticville Middle School, said both schools need work. Marticville Middle needs upgrades to some of its educational facilities, including science rooms. And the school needs upgrades to HVAC equipment. “We are prone to power outages,” she said. “And the problem with having inconsistent air conditioning is that we don’t have windows that open in our building.”