Questions, concerns raised
BUTLER TWP — Members of a community advisory panel Monday night asked the Butler School Board, district administrators and a member of the consultant group about concerns regarding proposed school building consolidation plans.
More than 200 people attended the three-hour meeting, which was divided among administrators listing district financial figures and advantages to consolidation; members of the community advisory panel asking questions; and some residents voicing their concerns.
Community advisory members asked questions about everything from class size, issues about the junior high school building and district costs. Questions came from public feedback at the Nov. 5 consolidation meeting.
“If one were to paint a canvas of a true neighborhood school, it would be our city schools,” said Bill May, a Butler City Council member.
He said the walkable neighborhoods bring about a sense of belonging and inclusion, and the schools are one of the reasons that his family moved to the city. He said closing city elementary schools would harm the neighborhood.
May said, “Without this advantage, and now having to have their children bused instead of walking to school, this may very well negatively affect the property values and tax base of our city neighborhoods, as well as the loss of revenue to our Main Street businesses.
“Has the administration and the school board taken into account the multiple effects of closing all of our city neighborhood schools? Why not leave at least one?”
Dale Lumley, superintendent, said revising consolidation plans is a possibility.
“We hope to take that input as well as the input from everyone in looking to revise and reshape some of the plans. I can't say exactly how it'll come out, but we are considering those things,” Lumley said.
There are 11 elementary schools among the 14 total buildings in the district. All three elementary schools in the city are recommended to be closed.
Last month, Thomas & Williamson Program Management recommended three consolidation plans, which included closing six or seven of the 11 elementary schools and reconfiguring grades into a K through 3 or 4, 4 to 5 through 6, 7 through 9 and 10 through 12 model.
The school board hired Thomas & Williamson to recommend how to make more efficient use of the district's schools, which have an average occupancy rate of 55 percent.Bill O'Brien, vice president of continuing education at Butler County Community College, addressed “the 800-pound gorilla in the room.”“Would you consider closing the junior high school before you consider using it for fourth to sixth graders? ... The location is not viewed as safe right now,” he said.This question comes after a number of shots were fired at a building a few blocks away from the junior high school this past weekend.“The junior high is in the city. We have three elementary schools in the city. This district has taken safety very seriously,” Lumley said. “I think we're one of the few districts in the state of Pennsylvania that have armed guards in every building, that have metal detectors in every building.”Lumley said they would consider adding more security features, if necessary.Scott Covert with Penn United Technologies asked other questions about the status of the junior high school: What will be done about staff and visitor parking if playgrounds are built on the current parking lots? Will the swimming pool there remain or be filled in?Lumley said parking would likely be leased from neighboring churches. He said the pool can be kept for optional use, but could be closed if it is considered a safety hazard for younger students.Covert ended with the question: “Why does everyone hate the junior high?”Lumley said, “I think it's really a mindset, Scott, of that fear of having your fourth grader go. I guess there's a fear, a trepidation in sending seventh graders there, but we all know that's going to happen.”District officials are considering closing schools to save money. They have said they need to make a decision on the issue in the next few months so changes would go into effect for next school year.Another consolidation meeting is set for Dec. 15 at the intermediate high school.
