Financial Concerns Prompt School District Merger

ZELIENOPLE, Pa. — A feasibility study exploring the merger of two Pennsylvania school districts is being conducted by Foreman Architects Engineers.

The Center Area and Monaca School Districts hired the firm to explore construction options for the pending merger and assess any future construction needs that may arise for schools serving K-12 students.

“We were selected because of our experience with politically charged mergers,” says Phillip Foreman, president and CEO at Foreman.

The firm handled the 1981 court-ordered merger of Churchill, Edgewood, General Braddock, Swissvale and Turtle Creek communities of Allegheny County into the Woodland Hills School District.

Despite initial resistance, the Center Area and Monaca districts merged voluntarily as a way to hedge against dwindling enrollment that is financially crippling both districts. Proponents argued a merger would allow the schools to offer more classes and activities while saving about $1.5 million a year through streamlining administration.

The Center Area District serves approximately 1,850 students. The Monaca School District has 700 enrolled students. The districts are set to join on July 1. Elementary grades will be combined when the 2009-10 school year begins, and middle school and high school classes will be combined in fall 2010.