Consolidation Proposal In Butler Area School District Causing Controversy
BUTLER (KDKA) -- Incoming board members in the Butler Area School District are saying not so fast to a plan to consolidate elementary schools.
If approved by the state, this fall there would be six elementary schools instead of 11.
"It's too much too fast, it just needs to be slower," says Butler County mom Timmi Longdon.
She's upset that the plan to close several schools in the school district is moving so quickly.
Last month in a 7-2 vote, board members decided to close five elementary schools including Meridian, Center Avenue, and Broad Street Elementary. The plan would also restructure the current intermediate and junior high schools. The reason is to address declining enrollment and a smaller budget.
"The problem is we've gone from 12,000 kids to 7,000. We have to do something," said Mark Krenitsky, a local business owner.
But in December, there will be four new board members, all of whom oppose consolidating.
"It's disrupting the whole community with the manner that it went forward," said Bill Halle.
Halle is an incumbent board member, one of two who voted against the plan in May. Halle and member John Conrad have joined the incoming board members calling for the plan to be put on hold.
In a May 24 letter addressed to the current board, Superintendent Dale Lumley and state representatives, they ask: "Before other steps are taken that may cause BASD to incur unnecessary costs, we appeal to you to put the implementation of plan 4B on hold. Take this action with the knowledge that the voters and the incoming board do not support it and we will reverse aspects of it."
"Every one of the people who signed the letter… are in agreement with the need for consolidation," Halle said. "We just do not agree with the current plan or the speed in which they're trying to implement it."
Krenitsky says putting the plan in place now is good for students and taxpayers.
He adds, "We have classrooms on the Eastern side of the district, we have 10, 11 kids in a class, and here in Meridian, we have 30."
Still opposing the plan happening now, Longdon said, "I know that the schools are not as empty as they are saying. There may be two or three below 75 percent."
The state Department of Education still needs to approve the consolidation plan. The superintendent says they are moving forward until they are told to do otherwise."
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