Spring Cove Has Seen a Decline in Student Population in the Last Decade

Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, school architects, did a facility study update for the board and the public in attendance at the October Regular School Board of Directors meeting for the Spring Cove School District.

Joseph Crabtree and Larry Levato revealed that Spring Cove has seen an 11% decline in student population over the last decade and meets Pa. Dept. of Education guidelines for space.

The secondary level only has a 76% utilization rate and Spring Cove Elementary a 79% rate.

The biggest focus of districts are 1) Safety and security of students 2) Being fiscally responsible 3) Being building code compliant for the future. Spring Cove Elementary, only 15 years old, is in good condition as is Martinsburg Elementary. Spring Cove Middle School, built in 1969, was put in fair to poor condition, but well maintained as was Central High School, built in 1960. They recommended Bean Hill, built in 1910, be repurposed.

The Central Athletic Field is in need of more parking facilities, unpaved except for handicap spots and restrooms not available for public.

They stated the Administration Building is in good shape for its age but should have all of its pipes scoped.

Facility conditions examined by the school architects included: walks, parking lots, plazas, crossings, bricks, mortar joints, finishes, hardware, plumbing, etc. They examined code enforcement - is building up to current standards.

They will be back in January 2025 to discuss options for the school district and the various facilities.

Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker, in her report, thanked Mrs. Heather VanWinkle for pulling together the equipment information and quotes for the CTE Supplemental Equipment Grant application. The equipment requested includes six new welding booths, a flame cutting table, a dust collector, three new workbenches with steel storage lockers and a small engine training program, totaling $76,233.

The district is in the process of applying to renew their cybersecurity grant. The grant provides Intrusion Detection Service, which notifies the district of potential cybersecurity issues, and free Security Awareness Service, which helps teach staff to recognize and properly respond to suspicious emails. This involves $75,000 worth of equipment.

The policy in final reading - attendance in person at voting board meetings versus attending electronically - was passed by an 8-1 vote, with the only no vote coming from Kevin Smith, who stated earlier it was a violation of the Sunshine Act.

The board accepted the resignation of AJ Labriola as a Spring Cove Middle School history teacher and junior high boys’ basketball head coach. The board passed motions to hire Thad Albright as junior high boys’ basketball head coach at $4,369, Angela Diehl as junior high girls’ basketball head coach at $3,335, and Rylan Daugherty as junior high boys’ basketball assistant coach at $1,780.

Seventeen appointments and stipends for Central High School musical positions were approved for their production of Grease. T.L. Long Excavating was approved for snow plowing and salting for the 2024/25 school year for the cost on the list received on October 10.

The next Regular Meeting will be held Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00P.M. at the Administration Office Board Room.