Students moved into the new building on April 7. The new building has permanent classrooms for 2nd and 3rd graders, while kindergarten and 1st graders will temporarily move to temporary classrooms.
2nd grade teacher Catherine Marsala said, “When we first walked into the classroom, there were many oohs and aahs.”
Leaders Heights Elementary Renovation marks the first step in the district-wide project.
Project one of Dallastown’s massive elementary school building projects has begun – and it is just the start.
Leaders Heights Elementary is not the first school in the Dallastown Area School District to be renovated in the last few years. Loganville-Springfield Elementary School underwent renovations in 2019-2020. The school opened on Aug. 22, 2021.
Loganville-Springfield now serves as the district’s K-3 standard for the newly renovated buildings.
Starting with Leaders Heights also eliminated the need for multiple building transitions, and will give time for the other schools to be renovated. The school was built in 1954 and had previously undergone renovations in 1980 and 2006.
Leaders Heights principal Christopher Martin stated, “Every teaching team sat down with our architects to talk to them about how a space affects their teaching practice. This feedback was taken into consideration before any final decisions were made.”
The renovation of Leaders Heights Elementary School started in March of 2024. The school was chosen first in the project because it has the most room for growth to keep up with the district’s rapid growth.
“[The project cost] around $37,213,266,” Martin said.
The school currently has two classes per grade from kindergarten to third grade, serving 150 students. Before the project, the school had one large common space that served as the auditorium, gym, and cafeteria.
“The most challenging part of the transition was the stress it put on our staff to dismantle their classrooms and create new ones in 2.5 days,” Martin said. “I’m still in awe of the amazing spaces that were created in such a short amount of time.”
Getting used to the school took time for both the students and the teachers.
Marsala said, “We treated the first week like the first week of school. We took time to learn where places are and how things are organized. Two weeks in, and we are back to operating like normal!”
The building also features two levels compared to the original single-story it had before.
“Immediately, my second graders went to the windows and admired the view! You’ll find them lined up at the windows at the end of each school day, anxiously awaiting buses to arrive so they can tell me who should line up for dismissal or scan the car rider line for their parents,” Marsala said.
Once the entire building is upgraded, the new building will continue to house kindergarten through third grade, expanding to five classrooms per grade.
The updated building will also include a dedicated large group room, a cafeteria, and a separate gym, providing the school with a lot more space.
There will also be two playgrounds for kindergarten and first grade, and for second and third grade.
Construction is planned to conclude in November of 2025 and will fully open for the start of the 2026-27 school year.
The long-term renovation project also includes major upgrades to Ore Valley and York Township elementary schools. Redistricting will begin in the spring of 2026.
Ultimately, the project aims to have 4 “like-sized” buildings to accommodate the growing district to include Loganville-Springfield, Leaders Heights, York Township, and Ore Valley.
Dallastown Elementary cannot be renovated due to its location, configuration, and condition. Built in 1912, it is the district’s oldest school and originally served as a high school until 1958.
Dallastown is set to look a lot different in the years to come, but it will continue to strive to provide students with a supportive learning environment and a high-quality education.
