Penn Manor has some big bucks construction projects in the works.

Construction crews continue to make progress on the major overhaul of Martic Elementary School.

Penn Manor officials are also planning  an $11 million renovation and expansion of Central Manor Elementary School.

And, the district has moved forward with a proposal to revamp the high school's infrastructure and redo the high school's west gym.

So far, the $6 million renovation of Martic Elementary remains on schedule, board President C. Willis Herr said.

Students are expected to move back into the school, on Martic Heights Drive in Holtwood, by the start of the 2009-10 school year.

Built in 1952, Martic Elementary lacked air conditioning, and the electrical system was outdated and ill-equipped to handle the burden of so many computers, Herr said.

Martic is also receiving a geothermal heating and cooling system. It's an alternative system that uses the constant temperature of the Earth to heat and cool buildings. The well field will lie underneath the playground.

Martic is also getting new insulated windows, an expanded library and computer lab, and a secure entry system.

"Pretty much from A to Z the school needed work," Herr said.

While their home school is under construction, the district has been busing Martic's 342 students about four miles to Marticville Middle, 356 Frogtown Road.

About half of the elementary students attend class in modular buildings, while the other half are housed in the middle school.

Central Manor Elementary, on Blue Rock Road, was built in 1939 as a public works project during the Great Depression.

Penn Manor School District officials are hoping they can now tap federal stimulus dollars again to pay for the school's renovation and expansion.

But school officials will have to wait and see; they do not know yet what rules will come with the stimulus money.

On Monday night, the school board will hear from the architect firm Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates about the Central Manor project.

Central Manor Elementary keeps growing.

An enrollment study predicts that Central Manor's population of 544 will rise to 617 by 2017-2018.

Preliminary plans call for adding seven instructional spaces.

The K-6 school now has 29 classrooms, but it leaves little room for tutoring, special education and gifted programs, Superintendent Don Stewart said.

And, as more kids come in, the  school will need more room for art and music instruction, he said.

Central Manor will also receive new security and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Penn Manor is also looking to add green (environmentally friendly) design elements to Central Manor. Under consideration are solar panels to heat water and windmills to generate electricity.

Students would be able to use computers to study alternative energy firsthand.

The district will apply for grants to help cover the cost of the green elements, Stewart said.

Overall, the superintendent said he feels optimistic that the project could come in under budget. Construction companies need work and have been bidding lower, he said.

Penn Manor plans to make upgrades to the high school's infrastructure and to its west gym. Both projects should begin this summer, Stewart said.

In January, the school board awarded bids totaling $578,937 for electrical, cabling, plumbing and HVAC  contractors at the high school.

The gym estimate came in at $406,528.

The board intends to put the project out for bid next week.

The west gym is one of two at the high school. The main gym, used for competitions, was built in 1992.

The west gym houses physical education classes and indoor practices.  It needs a new floor and roof and revamped locker rooms.

The locker area needs air circulation, Stewart said.


Staff writer Robyn Meadows can be reached at rmeadows@LNPnews.com or 481-6025.