The past five years, Schappert said, the composition of the board has changed, while considering various consolidation plans and keeping neighborhood schools open.

"There is an endless parade of people as soon as it looks as if their bull is going to be gored," he said. "The basic problems are they are reluctant to support individual desires for the greater good and the board's indecision. If you think you're frustrated, we have been dealing with this for years."

"We've taken five years and are back running in circles," director Megan Raup said.

Resident Anthony Conmy, who has a son in kindergarten at Liberty-Valley, urged the board to decide on a long-term plan.

"Our children's education is too damn precious for crisis management every five years," he said.

Resident Dave Betts asked if the borough, state representatives and state senators could get together and find a piece of land to build a consolidated school. "It's not rocket science. You're never going to please everybody," he said.

After Conmy asked about land the state gave the district, Bickford said it the state legislature would have to change the deed restriction for a consolidated school.

"It's extremely complicated," she said. "People have been working on it a long time, and we're still trying to get a decision."

One woman felt the proposals discussed would offer no savings because added buildings will still have to be upgraded.

"You have to make a decision whether to build a new school," she said. "The community wants a stable decision. Taxes will go up no matter what."

Director Barb Boyer said she favored a consolidated school in Riverside while director Gill opposes it because it's near a chemical plant. When someone asked about Liberty-Valley becoming a consolidated school, Boyer said there were sewer issues there.

Dan Feldman, father of five in the district, asked the board "to get a real district with a real campus" and keep up-to-date with other districts.

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