Donegal School District approved the hiring of a consultant group Sept. 20 to study growth and building issues within the district.

Board member John Coleman, who chairs the facility committee, said the district budgeted $12,000 for the feasibility study to be conducted by Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates Architects of Mechanicsburg.

Coleman said the firm will "look at all district facilities including roofs and heating systems."

He said the study also would assess demographics and "tell us where Donegal should be going in the future."

Coleman said 20 companies responded to the district's request for a project bid, and the facilities committee narrowed the field to three candidates with help from a rating system maintained by the state Department of Education.

He said Crabtree came in the middle range of cost, and "schools have used this firm multiple times."

Coleman also said Superintendent Shelly Riedel has previous experience with Crabtree from other school districts.

Coleman said the feasibility study should take three to six months to complete based the availability of teachers, administration and board members.

Board president Todd Smeigh said he would like Crabtree to give the board a presentation of the findings once the study is complete.

Coleman said the next step is to hire a firm, possibly Crabtree, to study options and costs.

A study done in 2000 for Donegal predicted growth in the East Donegal/Mount Joy area and led to the closure of two aging elementary school buildings and the construction of the $17 million Donegal Springs Elementary School.

In other business:

• Coleman said East Donegal Township officials have fast tracked development plans to expand parking to 352 spaces at Donegal Springs Elementary School. Coleman said the school has 101 parking spaces for a student population of 700 students.
  
  Coleman said plans also call for relocation of some ball fields, the construction of new fields and construction of walking paths to connect the school, fields and parking lots.
  
  He said the township's waiver of a land development plan was a big win for Donegal. "It means less meetings, time and legal fees."
  
  Coleman said storm water management issues can be done administratively by the district and township.



• Board treasurer Debra Sturgis said new accounting software implemented within the district has changed the format of financial accounts and bills shown to the board and public. Sturgis said the new format lists the district's nine individual fund accounts by line item and includes an entry for detailed information or explanation of that item.