CRESSON, Pa. – When Penn Cambria School District classes end for the 2024-25 academic year, it will be the last time students will walk the halls of the primary building in Lilly Borough.
School board members voted unanimously at Wednesday’s meeting to close that school after an extensive evaluation of district structures and planned reconfiguration of the five buildings.
“I can tell you that it wasn’t something that was taken lightly,” Superintendent Jaime Hartline said. “We certainly looked at all avenues of what it would look like if we were to close any of these buildings, but starting with the primary school made the most sense for multiple reasons.”
In the resolution to close the school, which was attached to Wednesday’s agenda, the district noted that there is “ample space to accommodate all district primary elementary building students” and the primary building is not only more than 48 years old but requires extensive repairs and renovations.
In addition to approving the closure, the board also passed motions to reconfigure the pre-primary in Cresson Borough to house pre-K through first grade; the intermediate school in Washington Township to hold second and third grades; the middle school in Gallitzin Borough to have fourth through sixth grades; and the high school in Cresson to house seventh through 12th grades.
Following that action, the group approved making Ben Watt principal and Kristen Blackburn assistant principal of seventh through 12th grades; Dane Harrold principal of fourth through sixth grades; Joseph Smorto principal of pre-K through third grade; and Justin Wheeler assistant principal of second and third grades.
These changes won’t result in any furloughs of professional employees, according to the resolution.
Penn Cambria held public meetings in August at the pre-primary, primary, intermediate and middle schools to share information on possible plans to close one or more of the district’s buildings, with the exception of the high school.
Following those gatherings, school officials had 90 days to further examine the situation, which Hartline said took the group into November.
Board President Michael Sheehan said this has been a “long, long process,” but this was the right decision.
“It is a sad day to see it close,” he said, “but it is an exciting time.”
Sheehan said that these decisions will move the district in the right direction and prepare it for the future.
“This is a much-needed step,” board member Matthew Kearney said.
He graduated from Penn Cambria High School in 2021 and said ever since then, class enrollments have decreased, which is concerning.
Kearney also noted the cost-saving benefits with one less building and recognized this will address parents’ concerns regarding too many grade transitions with the current configuration.
Other changes the board is exploring include a two- story addition to the high school to house students in second through sixth grades.
Hartline said that option is still being considered.
As for the primary building, he said the future of the structure is being evaluated at this time and the district has kept an open line of communication with Lilly Borough Council on the subject.
Additionally, “the potential exists for the intermediate and middle school to close” as well, but that has not been decided yet, Hartline said.