CARLISLE, Pa. — Rubble on the side of Waggoner's Gap Road is all that remains of the old Bellaire Elementary School in Carlisle.
"That was actually my elementary school growing up," Carlisle Area School District Superintendent Dr. Colleen Friend said.
The site, however, might not have seen the last of its days as a home for education. It's currently up for consideration as the location for a new school building.
"We're really looking at a building that kids are stepping into for the start of the 2026-27 school year," Dr. Friend said.
School district officials have their eyes set on reconfiguring Carlisle's kindergarten through eighth-grade programming based on one of two models, after starting with ten when the idea was first brought to life.
Model 9 would see a new school for grades fourth through 6 sixth, and renovations to other district schools. There would be renovations done to other buildings in the district as well.
However, Dr. Friend says they’re leaning towards a second option in Model 6.
"We're going to have five K-3 buildings, two 4-6 buildings, a new 7-8 and we have a comprehensive high school," she explained.
Both models would close two elementary schools.
The site of the Old Bellaire Elementary is one of two new locations where a seventh and eighth-grade school could be built; the other alternative is a 33-acre lot off of Meeting House Spring Road, adjacent to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Concerns were made clear during a school board meeting about one of the possible location's proximity to the Turnpike.
"Number one, road noise from the turnpike. I assume we’re talking about a very soundproof building," CASD Board Member Rick Coplen said during the board's April 11 meeting. "And I would also express a concern about, I hate to say it, really bad actors."
Concerns were also brought up regarding long-term growth in the district, which could eventually outpace the numbers predicted in their planning.
"This will be a heavy and expensive lift," CASD Board Member Dr. George Stroud said. "I'm thinking about ten years from now, twenty years from now, will we still need more room?"
Model 6 is projected to cost CASD anywhere between $88 million and $94 million.
Dr. Friend says a final plan should be voted on this summer, with the goal of improving the educational experience for the growing number of students.
"It’s really to be able to align the curriculum and focus on our primary learners, our intermediate learners, our middle school learners and to prepare them for that bridge to high school," Dr. Friend said.
There will be three more public meetings where community members can provide their input on the projects. The next will be held Wednesday, April 24 at Lamberton Middle School at 6 p.m. Two virtual public meetings will be on April 29, one at 9 a.m. and the other at 5 p.m.
Parents, guardians and community members are encouraged to share their thoughts on the ongoing project here.