Analysis Of Southern Lehigh Elementary School Options

Conclusions

• There was insufficient information to do a total economic analysis

• There was however sufficient information to perform a evaluation of the initial capital costs to meet further student growth– To build a new school is more than twice as

expensive as any other option– The other options fell in a range that would

require more study to determine the best one

Questions needed answering

• The operating cost need to be developed for all the schools. This includes both existing and those after any upgrades or additions.

• Life cycle costs should also be done for all the schools. Even a new school will experience life cycle costs (i.e. heat pump needs replacement)

• The analysis by the SLSD used square ft per pupil that were inconsistent. The new school needs 16% less than the other schools. Is there a reason for that?

Questions needed answering (cont)

• The costs to build an addition or new school were not remotely consistent on a per square foot cost. Additions were over 200% more expensive than a new school. Can that be explained?

• Hopewell was given a $5 million dollar cost for improvements without any engineering justification. This needs further study.

Introduction

• Evaluate Elementary school options for Southern Lehigh School District over next 10 years.

• Using three existing schools (Hopewell, Liberty Bell, and Lower Milford) plus the possibility of a new school to replace Hopewell.

Student Capacity Requirements

• Future Think did an analysis– Did not identify future needs by region– Used Macro assumptions to try to develop

population projections• To address uncertainty in projections will use a

range of growth over 10 years of plus 3% to 10%

Elementary Growth over 10 years using 3% to 10%

• 810 is existing elementary enrollment of three elementary schools– For 3 % growth-1.03 x 810=828– For 10 % growth-1.10 x 10=891

• Therefore any option must serve at least 891 by the end of the 10 years– The 891 should try to be met if at all possible;

however, not necessary

Schools capacity and square footage

• Hopewell– 51,600 Sq ft– 392 Student capacity or 132 Sq ft/student

• Liberty Bell– 59,265 Sq ft– 441 Student capacity or 134 Sq ft/student– Addition 2,958 at Liberty Bell• Total of 62,223 Sq ft• 475 student capacity or 130 Sq ft/student

School Capacity and square footage

• Lower Milford– 39,000 Sq ft– 242 student capacity or 161 Sq ft/student– Additional 14,258 Sq ft at Lower Milford• Total of 53,258 Sq ft • 410 student capacity or 130 Sq ft/student

• New School• 67,000 Sq ft• 500 student capacity or 134 Sq ft/student

Capital Costs for Schools

• Hopewell– Identified $7.5 million– Additional $5 million was used in SLSB analysis but not verified by

study– Will use range of $7.5 million to $12.5 million

• Lower Milford – $3 million was used in SLSB analysis– Documentation revealed the $1 million used for replacing sewage

system which is a life cycle cost and is probably not needed• Therefore $2 million to upgrade

– Expanding by 14,258 Sq ft x $297 ft/sq=$4.3 million– The total cost to upgrade and expand is $4.3 +$2=$6.3 million

Capital Costs for Schools next 10 years

• Liberty Bell expanded – Additional 2,958 Sq ft x$297 ft/sq=$.9million

• New School– 67,000 Sq ft – At $303 per Sq ft which includes $6 demolition

gives:• 67,000 x 303= $20.3 million

Operating Costs

• Per Ms. Christman operating costs changes were not identified, but were expected to be similar to today’s with some savings due to new systems

• Operating costs are composed of fixed and variable and the variable are highly dependent on the number of students – Since the data was not available, it was not part of

this study

Travel Time and Busing Costs

• Optimum travel would have no busing or schools near all students– Require many schools throughout District

• Probably very high capital and O&M cost

• Having only one school has the highest busing cost and travel time– To minimize travel time school must be situated at centroid

of population• Unfortunately the centroid will probably change year to year

• Number of schools and their location need to balance above constraints

Possible Options to meet Student Population of 828

• Hopewell 392+Liberty Bell 441+Lower Milford 242=1075

• New school 500+Liberty Bell 441=941• Liberty Bell expanded 475+Lower Milford

expanded 410=885• Liberty Bell 441+Lower Milford expanded

410=851• Liberty Bell 441+Lower Milford 242 +New

Smaller school 102=885

Capital Costs for options $Million

• Hopewell $7.5 to $12.5 +Liberty Bell $0+ Lower Milford $2=$9.5 to $14.9

• New School $20.3+Liberty Bell $0=$20.3• Liberty Bell Expansion $.9+Lower Milford

Expansion $6.3 M=$7.2M• Liberty Bell $0+Lower Milford Expansion

$6.3=$6.3• Liberty Bell $0+Lower Milford $2+New Smaller

School $5.2=$7.2