Lehighton Area School District taxpayers voiced their opinions on the proposed elementary center Monday night.

Wallace Putkowski said he was confused over the proposed millage released to pay off the new center."To me, it looks like you'll only have enough to pay off the interest. How will you pay off the principle?" he asked.In addition, he questioned access to the proposed site, as well as water supply and sewage concerns.The proposed site of the elementary center would be at the southwest corner of the property already owned by Lehighton Area School District at the high school/administration building campus, behind the varsity softball field.Kristin Simmons, Franklin Elementary School secretary, is in favor of a new center."Personally, I like the idea of bringing together all of the children already in kindergarten. It's more efficient to have one building and one staff," she said.A taxpayer and grandmother of children in the school district, Simmons said, "I want what's best for our children."Betty Wolfe questioned the loss of jobs. According to the project plans, the district would save $825,000 in staff realignments."I know that you have been telling us that no staff will lose their jobs if the four schools are combined into one, and that you will just not replace those who retire or leave," Wolfe said. "To me, that's the same thing. And those who are left will have to do more."She also said she was concerned about additional traffic at "Heintzelman's Curve" on Route 902.Suzanne Howland offered her views of the proposed elementary center as an elementary principal, a taxpayer and resident, and a parent of both a current elementary and middle school student."As a principal, I believe the center would allow for a continuum of educational services in one location," Howland said.Citing a massive decrease in travel time between buildings and a more consistent presence in the building at all times, she remarked, "It would also allow Aaron (Sebelin) and me to better and more efficiently perform our duties as principals.""My view as a taxpayer is that I believe a community is often defined by the quality of its school system," Howland continued. "An elementary center, combined with a well-planned district building project, may actually attract younger families with younger children to the area."As a Lehighton borough resident, she expressed concerns regarding the overall traffic congestion that the proposed building is likely to attract."I still need to be convinced that the borough roadways with new intersections will be able to handle the increased demands."My view as a parent is that I'm all for it," Howland said. "Our children deserve more!"As one of the organizers of a grassroots citizens' group concerned about potential tax increases, David Bradley again urged the school board to take a look at the "Smart Dollar Plan."In addition, he asked what the school district plans to do with the current buildings."What will those costs be and is that included in your projected buildings costs?"As a former student at East Penn Elementary School, Rich Kriner commented, "I'm in favor of putting a new roof on that building rather than constructing this elementary center. How much more can we tax our tax base?"David Hauser, a ninth-grade English teacher at Lehighton Area High School and a parent of two young children who will eventually be students in the district, stressed the importance of teacher-student ratios and said that he hopes the proposed elementary center would not be built according to any "trends or buzz words."In addition, he asked, "What renovations are needed at the high school to total nearly $10 million?"Bradley stood up and asked when the school board will answer these questions from the taxpayers.School board President Gloria Bowman assured him that she was writing down the questions and that they would be answered and addressed at the next building committee workshop meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 10 at the administration building.To view the presentation regarding the proposed elementary center as well as feasibility studies concerning school district facilities, go to

www.Lehighton.org or call 610-377-4490.