Residents, board battle over plans to close school

By Karen Blackledge
The Daily Item

March 12, 2008 05:58 am

— DANVILLE -- Most of those packing Tuesday night's Danville school board meeting made their opinion clear to directors: They want to keep Danville Elementary School open.
Board members fought among themselves, and residents argued with the board.
"I'm so sick of fighting," board member Megan Raup said after being asked by a resident to have the issue of whether to close Danville Elementary and renovate two other schools become a referendum.
"I'd rather you guys pick."
A retired Danville Elementary teacher asked the board why it would sell the best elementary school building in the district and renovate two older ones -- Riverside and Mahoning-Cooper elementaries.
"Make it work," said Joan Kessler, wearing a "Save DES" button. "Don't ask us to give up the neighborhood school."
Resident George Wagner asked the board not to move forward in light of its 5-3 vote at its most recent meeting, in which it approved closing Danville Elementary and renovating Riverside and Mahoning-Cooper elementaries, where Danville Elementary students would be sent.
"I don't care if it's one year, three or four years, wait until the consensus feels it has a good solution," he said.
Board solicitor Timothy Bowers said if the project cost exceeds a certain amount, it must go to referendum -- but this project doesn't exceed that amount.
Montour County Treasurer Kim Schooley said an unscientific poll he conducted of 100 people showed none agreed with the board's decision.
In discussing the economic impact on the community, he asked how young couples, farmers, senior citizens and single parents would be able to pay for the tax increase from the project, which is estimated to cost $6 million more than a plan to build a $24 million consolidated elementary and close the three schools.
Kim Schooley called the board's decision "baseless, rash, irresponsible and self-serving."
Saying the latest decision would add $375,000 to $495,000 annually from money that would have been saved under the previous plan, he said this would be an increase of $12.5 million to $15.9 million the next 20 years.
Dianne Stonier proposed a junior high for seventh- and eighth-graders be built close to the high school instead of a consolidated elementary school.
"In getting rid of neighborhood schools, you lose community," she said. "Consolidating elementaries is a travesty."
Greg Hein, who has a child at Danville Elementary, said, "Taxpayers are taking a hit whatever decision is made."
He said costs are continuing to climb and "we're in a recession. This is not the time to take on a project of this magnitude."
Saying his family is not low-income, as alluded to at a previous board meeting when Danville Elementary families were discussed, he said Danville Elementary is "a great school with great teachers and a great staff."
The past three years, the board has wasted time and money, he said.
"When is enough enough?" he asked.
Joann Gray, who chose to have her daughter attend Danville Elementary, said it has "fine educators and a fine principal. Let's work together. I want tax dollars spent wisely whether it is consolidation or four elementaries and in the best interest of everyone."
Board member Kellie Krum, who voted to close Danville Elementary and renovate the two other schools, said she opposed consolidation because she believes the site near the high school is a poor one.
"DES is the most saleable, is in the best shape and is landlocked," she said. "At least we would have two smaller schools."
Board members Steve Schooley and Krum argued over studies about class size, with Steve Schooley telling her "you take and twist research."
Board President Allan Schappert had to stop them because the discussion came during time for public comment.
Martin Kessler said Danville Elementary is the only school in the borough and questioned why the school was singled out to be closed.
Resident Roxanne Patton said it is called the Danville district.
"There should be a school in Danville," Patton said. "Close the worst one, not the best."
Later in the meeting, Raup said: "We aren't going to do this without thinking. Here we are back to square one again and we are stopped again."

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