School Board Bickering

The Danville News from Sunbury PA provides us with a break from our school board bickering: Some old-fashioned bickering of their own.

Published December 19, 2008 12:45 am - NetSummary

District divided on building decision
By Karen Blackledge, The Danville News

DANVILLE -- School board members often bicker at public meetings, and sometimes to the point of personality conflicts. This week's meeting was no exception.

At the end of the meeting, two residents including Mike Benjamin, said they were embarrassed by some board members' behavior. At the start of the meeting, he said the board needs to be fiscally responsible and "emotionally based decisions need to be replaced with a rational decision. Consolidation is the only plan on the table that meets any of these needs," he said of a consolidated elementary school. The board rescinded its vote to renovate and expand three elementaries and has no project at this time.

The arguing began when director Kellie Krum asked who would "step up to the plate all the time" and attend planning meetings on design if a consolidated elementary school is approved. While not in favor of a consolidated school, she represented the board at previous meetings on a consolidated school. Her attendance made the difference in space being provided for special education and for Head Start in the plans, she said.

"I work 60 hours a week, have two kids and am a single parent," said director Megan Raup who also represents the board on the Columbia-Montour Vocational-Technical School Board. "You work weekends and Carol (Bisordi, previous board member who attended the planning meetings with Krum) didn't work," Raup said. "You're attacking board members," she told Krum.

Member Jennifer Henning said someone needs to attend the meetings if the board votes again on a consolidated school. Before she was appointed to the board, she served on the building committee for the consolidated school, which at that time was proposed for district property across from the high school.

Board President Allan Schappert said he was willing to represent the board at meetings if a consolidated school is approved. Director Steve Schooley said he could assist Schappert.

Schappert said the district can't afford any other choice but a consolidated school. "Doing nothing will delay the inevitable further and put our children at a greater disadvantage," he said.

Vice President Dr. Paul Moser said a consolidated school will save nearly $700,000 a year. "One single school is less expensive than three little ones. If we forgo consolidation, there are safety and security issues. There are modules that were supposed to be temporary and have become part of the landscape and systems in those schools that aren't quite right. Class size is easier to control at one location and we face the prospect of reorganizing personnel with one school," he said.

Schappert said the cost to maintain the three schools amounts to a half-mill of taxes every year or an average of $75 per year for a taxpayer. "With a consolidated school, we avoid that. Looking at the numbers, everything pales in comparison," he said. "It's not just us taxing our citizens. It's the borough, the county, state and federal taxes. Everyone in this room is hit in the pocketbook and who's going to pay for this? Every day we hear more and more jobs are being lost and I don't want to contribute to this. We are still pouring money into these old schools and kicking that can down the road. Waiting makes it more expensive," he said.

Schooley, who favors consolidation, wanted to put the project on hold for six months due to the economy. The state has indicated it will be cutting revenues to districts, he said.

Business Administrator Richard Snodgrass said a consolidated school is a "more cost-effective way of running the schools than we are doing now." He said there is a potential need to raise taxes if they do not consolidate.

While saying there is no perfect project, Snodgrass recommended taking the best option and working it through. While the current economy is difficult, he believes it creates some opportunities for construction costs if we can get in the market at the right time, we will realize some savings, and if we get a bid at a time people are hungry for jobs and projects."

A number of residents spoke at the meeting. Most of them favor consolidation.

Retired Danville teacher Joan Kessler wants Danville Elementary as the consolidated school. "The day will come to build a new middle school and you'll be talking about building it on this hill," she said of the high school site. She favors Mahoning-Cooper becoming a location for administration and maintenance.

"We are not a community with a population increase around the bend and school population isn't expected to increase," she said.

"We need to find a consensus either way, stick to it or we need to table it," Christy Payton of Mahoning Township said. Payton favors keeping neighborhood schools.

Richard Snyder of Valley Township, who attended a one-room school and then the first consolidated school in Danville, asked, "Where will we get the tax money? I'm over 65 and there are a lot more people over 65. A big elaborate school -- I think we can live with what we have now."

Amy Andrews, with a son at Riverside and a son in Head Start, was concerned about her special needs son in Head Start being thrown into a large group in a consolidated school. "I'm afraid he will be bullied. I'd like to keep Riverside as a family school," she said.

Craig Welliver said building a consolidated school at the high school will compound parking problems. "It's not big enough for a playground and young drivers will be around the elementary school. You need to consider where it will be built before you decide on consolidation," he said.

Wes Wertman, businessman and long-time resident, said it comes down to the economy. "Now is not the time to do anything," he said. "Money that is spent for architecture is all on paper and not lost. I had a lot of plans for 2009 but I canceled them as of October. My products went back 20 years. This effects the whole economy and everybody's business is going downhill. People are losing their jobs."

Bob Snyder of Mahoning Township suggested Danville Elementary become the consolidated school for kindergarten through third grades.

Joe Mahoney, who has taught in the buildings being discussed, said the Liberty-Valley Elementary is still considered a neighborhood school but it is a large school. He questioned rebuilding in outdated schools when the trend in the nation is to go green. "We built a stadium that was outdated. We have to look at what our needs are and what's best for our kids and for the community," he said.

Marcy Taylor of Danville reminded everyone that President-Elect Barack Obama said he will provide money for schools. "Maybe if we take a step back and wait to see what he wants to do, maybe he can help us with this funding," she said.

George Wagner of Riverside earlier didn't favor a consolidated school, but with the cost difference between the three elementaries and a consolidated school widened considerably now, he has changed his mind.