The Octorara High School Fitness Center will be opened to the community July 19 for two months as the district explores whether it makes financial sense to offer public use of the center.
While the district considered an offer from teacher Tom Hurley to run the center, Athletic Director Jim Weagley recommended the athletic department assume responsibility due to legal concerns, and the school board unanimously voted June 28 to give public fitness center use a trial run.
Residents will pay a $20 per month fee to use the center, while senior citizens will pay $15 and non-residents will pay $35 per month. The center will be open early morning, late afternoons and evenings, and on weekends.
The school board also asked Business Manager Dan Carsley to seek legal counsel about a reassessment in Londonderry Township, Chester County. Carsley said Honeycroft Village, in phase one of construction, removed 257 parcels from the tax rolls, resulting in a $4.2 million reduction in assessed values.
According to Carsley, this and numerous other reassessments have contributed to a fiscal challenge and the school district used an additional $100,000 in fund balance, $474,320 in all, to avoid raising taxes any higher.
Brian Campbell of Cedar Knoll Builders, Honeycroft developer, said in an email Honeycroft Village has added $4 million in total assessments to date and will continue to add $1.5 million annually. He said a revised plan added single family homes and reduced the number of townhomes.
Richard Brown, Londonderry Township supervisor, said in an email only approximately 20 units were completed by this past spring. He said market conditions encouraged the developer to build more single-family detached cottages rather than triplexes or quadriplex units.
“The retired lots represent the old plan and lots not completed at this time,” Campbell said.
In personnel matters the school board hired: Lindsay Mitman as a long-term substitute third grade teacher; Amanda Lenton as a long-term substitute sixth grade teacher, and Candice Manning as a long-term substitute primary art teacher.
The school board also transferred these teachers: Jennifer George to eighth grade English; John Atlee to middle school guidance; Amy Steinmetz and Jodie Pitt to Title 1 reading, Kim Cabry to learning support, Drew Duggan to middle school science, Amanda King to sixth grade, Laura Brotman to intermediate school learning support, and Alison Manetta to second grade.
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