Officials discussed the planning and construction of the new Ferguson Elementary School at the York City School District's May 5 public meeting.

Greg Gettle, district solicitor; Tresa Diggs, superintendent; Mark Barnhardt of EI Associates Architectural Firm; and Lauren Eby of RBC Capital Markets gave their public presentations.

Construction costs are estimated to total $24,539,811. The maximum building construction of the new Ferguson Elementary School will be $18,185,010.

The current Ferguson Elementary School has a 400-student capacity. The new building will have a capacity of 800 kindergarten through fifth-grade students, alleviating some of the overcrowding in McKinley, Devers and Goode elementary schools.

"The construction of Ferguson is long overdue, and in desperate need of repair," Diggs said. "The new school will help level out the student population."

The school will be constructed on the Ferguson 6-acre site along North Newberry Street. The district also purchased an adjacent residence to facilitate the construction and parking.

The new multilevel school will take advantage of the land's natural slope. Hard and soft play areas, outdoor learning areas and separate service areas are part of the new design.

The total increase to the taxpayer would be 1.23 mills.

This would mean the average home, assessed at $50,000, would see an increase of $61.50 per year until 2030. The state will reimburse the district 21.65 cents on the

NEXT MEETING

The next school board meeting is scheduled for May 21 at the Davis Elementary School auditorium at 6:30 p.m.