NEWTOWN >> There was movement by the Council Rock
School Board in regard to the a series of suggestions put forth by the board’s
capital planning committee at its meeting on Nov. 7.
Specifically, the board addressed nine points and made
official decisions on all. The agenda included separate motions on each point,
but most motions were painstakingly edited before officially voted on.
The board voted to tear down Newtown Middle School and
build another. There was discussion about rebuilding the school versus simply
renovating it. Each would be an expensive proposition.
“Something does need to be done to that school,” board
member Denise Brooks said.
Ultimately, the movement to rebuild passed by a 6-2 vote,
with Richard Abramson abstaining. Brooks and Mark Byelich voted no, while Kyle
McKessy, Jerold Grupp, Patty Sexton, Bill Foster, Board President Wendy Thomas
and Board Vice President Andy Block voting yes.
They also voted for a long-term elementary school plan
that “removes all students/instructional programs from all trailers in the
2015-16 school year,” according to the motion, which passed unanimously.
“[There will be] no kids in trailers for the 2015-16
school year,” said Superintendent Mark Klein. “When [the trailers] will be
removed is a little beyond our control.” Some trailers will still be used for
storage, requiring them to be heated and cooled to prevent mold.
All of the motions come under the general umbrella of the
district’s five-year plan. They also voted to implement a long-term elementary
school plan that could result in redistricting, school closures and school
consolidation.
One of the sticking points in the original motion
concerning the elementary schools was the motion’s wording that would require
the plan’s delivery in November of each year, beginning with next year.
Some board members felt that wasn’t enough time to
prepare a school and a school’s community for such a major upheaval.
Ultimately, the motion was amended to make the plan deliverable by the first
school board meeting of October of each year.
“We need to give a community as much time as possible if
we’re going to close a school,” Klein said.
Board member Jerold Grupp brought up a potential sticking
point for the timing of closing a school.
“If we’re going to do it in November, every two years we
could have board members on their way out without proper motivation” Grupp
said. “It could be as many as five board members on the way out the door.”
Other highlights from the plan include:
- A long-term middle school plan that calls for
renovation of Holland Middle School. “At the conclusion of the renovations,
students attending Richboro Middle School will be redistricted to Holland
Middle School.” The school district will then evaluate what should be done with
the old Richboro Middle school. Board members Richard Abramson and Mark Byelich
were the lone dissenters in the 7-2 tally.
- Two trailers from Richboro Middle School will be
removed for the next school year.
Many of the motions simply set in place a plan, with
specifics to be determined at a later date. For example, the motion that dealt
with the students learning in trailers also included language calling for
removal of all trailers by the end of August, 2016. The plan to do so is expected
to be presented to the board in August of 2015.
The work for the board concerning all the facility’s
movements is far from finished. Some could say it is just beginning.
A vocal and organized movement to save Wrightstown
Elementary School – one of the school’s potentially on the chopping block – has
been successful – so far. When the plan to determine the fate of specific
elementary schools comes back, that group will likely have to spring into
action once again.
Source: Bucks
Local News
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