Who needs options? Just do it!

From the BCCT.

Four options presented for school reorganization
By Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times

Centennial School District parents and teachers heard four options to reorganize the district's elementary schools Wednesday evening.

Seven board members selected the options from a longer list of 13 choices that architects presented to the public earlier this month. Six elementary schools currently serve more than 2,600 students in Upper Southampton, Warminster and Ivyland.

The district predicts budget shortfalls in the coming years if the aging elementary schools are allowed to continue as is. Major problems in the schools include underutilized space, renovation and replacement of original systems, and a lack of equivalent educational programs and resources across all schools.

The four current options are:

* Create two K-1 schools and two grade 2-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $61.8 million

* Create two K-2 schools and two grade 3-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $70.9 million

* Build one consolidated K-5 educational center to serve the entire district; sell all six existing schools. Cost of plan: $91 million

* Renovate four K-5 schools; close and sell two others. Cost of plan: $55.3 million

Each option will produce long-term savings in operating costs and the money from selling any schools will go into renovations and construction.

Some board members at the meeting gravitated toward selling all the existing schools and building an elementary campus in a single location. It would separate grade levels into individual areas. This option would save the most money in yearly operating costs and provide a fair and equal educational experience for all students, said Superintendent Sandy Homel.