Despite vehement opposition from the public, Lehighton Area School District will seek state funding for a new elementary center.

By a narrow 5-4 vote, the school board on Monday agreed to authorize the submission of a request to the Pennsylvania Department of Education to combine the previously submitted four elementary PlanCon project submittals into one elementary PlanCon project by the administration and the architect, EI Associates, for the project known as the new primary/elementary center.Directors Larry Stern, Wayne Wentz, Stephen Holland, Andrew Yenser and board President Gloria Bowman voted in favor. Directors Rocky Ahner, William Hill Jr., Hal Resh and Lori Nothstein were opposed.Previously, the district submitted paperwork for funding to renovate its four elementary schools. In essence, Monday's vote was to switch the paperwork for a new elementary center.The proposed site of the elementary center would be at the southwest corner of the property already owned by the district at the high school/administration building campus, behind the varsity softball field.Construction of a new elementary center would place students in grades K-5 in one building, and close each of the district's four existing elementary schools.The district has been faced with a decision to either renovate its four elementary school buildings, all built in the 1950s, or replace them with a new elementary center.District officials say costs for either scenario new construction or renovations are projected to be about the same, about $32.5 million. However, a major issue is whether state funding will be available.In addition, the district is looking at $10.7 million to renovate the middle school, along with $9.3 million to renovate the high school.That brings the total projected building costs throughout the school district to $52.5 million.Earlier this month, the board voted 5-4 to realign the district classes by moving the fifth-grade students back to the elementary level.Directors who voted in favor of the grade realignment were Bowman, Holland, Stern, Wentz and Yenser. Opposed were directors Ahner, Hill, Resh, and Nothstein.As a result, students in kindergarten through fifth grade will attend the elementary schools or proposed elementary center; students in grades six through eight will attend the middle school; and the high school will still serve students in grades nine through 12.Public commentA crowd of about 70 people attended the standing-room-only meeting.Before the board's vote, several residents spoke out against the new elementary center.Among them was resident David Bradley, a Lehighton businessman and taxpayer who organized a group known as Taxpayers United for a Safe, Debt free school.Bradley pulled no punches in his critique of the board, which he referred to as a sham, a shill and a slumlord.Resident Sherry Snyder said her two grandchildren, who are students in the district, want to remain in their current schools.Further, Snyder told the board she believes housing all of the district's elementary students in one building is unsafe."If they're all together, they can (all) be harmed at the same time," Snyder said. "I am totally against that."Resident Wilmer Everetts told the board he, too, was also opposed to a new elementary center, and asked the board to refrain from taking such action."How can you expect all the school board members to cast an honest vote when you're deliberately withholding all the information," Everetts said. "What else are you hiding from us and your fellow board members."Everetts added that he previously submitted a survey to the board at its April 14 workshop session that asked residents of the district if they supported fixing the existing schools, using asset management and no debt; or supported building an elementary center closing all four of the elementary facilities.The number of signatures collected totaled over 1,000 from residents who are opposed to a new elementary center, Everetts said.Financial impactof elementary centerSuperintendent Jonathan Cleaver then gave a slideshow presentation that showed the financial impact a new elementary center could have on taxpayers.Cleaver said the purpose of the slide show was to alleviate confusion of the numbers involved with the potential construction of a new center.He then reviewed several borrowing options, as well as the impact it could have on taxpayers."If we're going to build this, there will be savings," Cleaver said. "These funds are already built into the millage as we see here."Board members speakHill said he couldn't support such a plan because, "I just don't think we have real hard numbers."Ahner said he believes there should be a cost breakdown that includes proper site investigation, such as a proposed area of supply for utility lines like electric, water, and sewer, exit/entrance/parking areas/traffic reconfiguration on and off site, storm water management, a busing comparison, and existing school closings with sale or rental options in detail; as well as educational/job evaluation, including administrative realignment, teacher realignment including job loss, if applicable, and support staff realignment including job loss, if applicable."I myself find it hard to believe that we can eliminate eight teachers and not affect the education of our students," Ahner said. "Without proper site evaluation including cost, the board cannot make a rational decision on behalf of the students and taxpayers, and (it) could affect current programs throughout the district."Resh said he was concerned that the board could "landlock ourselves.""I don't know why you would want to do that," Resh said. "I've seen this happen in other school districts."The roll-call vote was then taken.More publiccommentAfter the board's vote, resident Onalee Cramer made an impassioned plea with the board to reconsider its stance.Brought to tears as she spoke, Cramer said she and her family bought a home in the borough several years ago. She said they owe money, and were told they would be evicted if they don't pay."I have a lot of health issues," Cramer said. "Our house is for sale. I don't want to lose my home and be living in the streets."Cramer then asked if there were any steps she could take so that she won't eventually be evicted from her home.Board solicitor William Schwab told Cramer there may be legal avenues for her to pursue.Cramer then pulled out a photo of her home, and said, "If anybody wants a home, it's for sale."At that, Bowman noted that there have been no tax increases in the district for three years.Resident William Watkins was clearly bothered by the board's decision."When you don't have the cost of what it's exactly going to be, to move forward without those numbers is irresponsible," Watkins said. "I'm disappointed when people can move forward with something when there's so many people against it."Bowman said, "We voted to request a waiver. We don't know if we're going to."Resident John Venuto told the board it's decisions such as these that can have a negative impact on the district."I don't know where you people live, but all I see is for sale signs up," Venuto said.Venuto said he was concerned about whether an evacuation plan has been created for a new elementary center, to which Cleaver said an evacuation plan would have to be approved."I just don't understand how you could build one building over the four (current elementary buildings)," Venuto said. "I really think this board needs to rethink what they're doing."Cleaver noted that with the proposed K-5 concept, the district does not plan to replace three current Act 93 positions, which will result in a savings to the district."With having four buildings, we don't have that same luxury," Cleaver said.