JACKSON TWP — About 20 concerned citizens from Evans City attended the Seneca Valley School Board meeting Monday night to share their thoughts on the fate of the Evans City Elementary and Middle schools.

Talks about replacing the school have been ongoing for months, with options limited to paying to repair the existing structure or construct a new building. The new structure would be either at the current location in Evans City or on Ehrman Road in Cranberry Township.

Evans City Mayor Dean Zinkhann, one of seven who spoke during the public comment section, said his primary concern was the safety of the students in their travels to a school that could be so much farther away. Other speakers also reiterated concerns about safety, transportation, time and money.

Brandon Johns, pastor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Evans City, said the middle school shaped his education.

“As a father and educator, I wonder about the lessons that are taught with (these) decisions,” Johns said.

“If we move the school, I believe we risk teaching our children that those in power are the ones who benefit from decision-making — that partnerships don’t matter, and what matters is the newest, latest, biggest and the best. Consider the implications, not just in the classroom, but in life.”

The 79-year-old school, which holds kindergarten through sixth-grade students, has been a main concern for Seneca Valley since a feasibility study was conducted in 2014.

Superintendent Tracy Vitale said in an earlier interview that the district’s focus was on what needed to be done to plan for the future rather than “waiting until something breaks to fix it.”

The site, which hosts 1,072 students, was renovated four times, with the last renovation in 1989.

“Just age in general would tell you that it probably needs some upgrades,” Vitale said. “While the current building is safe and functional, it isn’t scoring well.”

CannonDesign, the architectural firm heading the project, has explored various options for the school, including a remodel or new facility in Evans City or at a district-owned property on Ehrman Road.

“All options have extensive pros and cons,” Vitale said. “The board has been very public about what they’re doing. They’ve been very engaged with the community and very open.”

In April, Cannon conducted a survey to understand the priorities of teachers, students, parents and community members who will be affected by decisions regarding the Evans City building.

Of the 968 people surveyed, 900 said they didn’t have a preference for the location of the building. The top priorities determined by the survey were safety and security; fun and engagement; and durability, according to Vitale.

“Everybody has had a chance to be at the table,” Vitale said. “But, we want to make objective decisions that are driven by data and ultimately good for the district and students.”

The board has been weighing four options for the Evans City project since 2015: renovate; renovate with an addition to the building; build a new building at the site behind the current one; and build new on Ehrman Road, which is a site of 100 acres the school district purchased 16 years ago.

“I don’t know that they’re prepared to make that decision yet,” Vitale said. “We want to do our due diligence and be very open and transparent about where we’re headed and why we’re headed there.”

Eric DiTullio, board vice president, urged the Evans City community members to return for the Sept. 4 meeting when the project architect is to attend.