The concept of an elementary center received mixed reactions from 35 people attending the Franklin Elementary School PTO meeting on Tuesday evening.

Lehighton Area School District Superintendent Jonathan J. Cleaver said, "We want an open dialogue with the community so we look at all of our options and then determine the best way to go for our students and community."Currently, LASD maintains four separate elementary schools for students in grades kindergarten through four. Students in grades five through eight attend the middle school and students in grades nine through 12 attend the high school.According to Cleaver, the school district is looking at bringing the fifth grade students back to the elementary schools. Kindergarten through fifth grade would attend the elementary center, grouped in grades kindergarten through two and three through five. Students in grades six through eight would attend the middle school. The high school would continue to serve students in grades nine through 12.East Penn, Franklin, and Mahoning Elementary Schools were all built in 1954. Shull-David Elementary School followed in 1959. The board recently approved major renovations to meet current infrastructure needs.Site visitsCleaver emphasized that the possibility of an elementary center is still just a concept. At this time, there are still no designs, artist's rendering of the concept, or cost projections."We're doing our homework and gathering information right now."A team from the district will travel to Fleetwood Area School District in northeastern Berks County today. They are expected to visit Willow Creek Elementary, which opened its doors at the start of the 2009-2010 school year with a concept similar to what is being considered in Lehighton.The team also plans to visit similar elementary centers at Paradise Elementary School in Pequea Valley School District in Lancaster County and Steelton-Highspire Elementary School in Dauphin County.AdvantagesAlong with Suzanne Howland, principal of East Penn and Franklin elementary schools, Cleaver discussed advantages of having one building: balancing class sizes; continuity of services under one location; improved safety and security; and full-time principal, guidance counselor, and special teachers."To keep the community feel, each grade would have its own pod or 'neighborhood' with the shared core space in the center of the building a separate cafeteria, gymnasium, library, media center, etc.," explained Cleaver.Currently, LASD elementary students operate daily in a "café-gym-atorium" a combined cafeteria, gymnasium, and auditorium. Howland said on rainy or cold days, gym classes take place on the stage during lunch time.The elementary center would probably be built on property already owned by LASD at the high school/administration building campus.Salary savingsIn addition, Cleaver estimates a savings of approximately $800,000 a year just from salaries and benefits because fewer teachers would be needed.He said that current employees would receive a memorandum of understanding explaining that there would be no furloughs.As employees retire or leave, they would not be replaced.Concerns from those in attendance about an elementary center include safety; transportation issues; traffic congestion; the fate of the current school buildings; and of course, the bottom line money."These schools that you plan to visit are in rich areas," said one concerned taxpayer. "We don't have the tax base here for a Parkland School.""If we couldn't afford a new building two years ago, how can we afford one now?" Betty Wolfe said. "Our kids don't need the best buildings. They need the best teachers, staff, etc.""Teachers teach the kids; buildings don't," agreed David Bradley.With no reimbursement from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Cleaver estimated at a Jan. 13 meeting that a new elementary center could result in a tax increase of 5.38 mills. One mill equals $360,320."I looked into what 5 mills would mean to me," said one concerned parent."My taxes would go up about $440 a year to pay for a new building. My child's education is worth an additional $1.25 a day.""As long as we have four separate buildings, we don't have equality," she concluded."Once something is decided, then we'll have dollar figures to present," Cleaver said."But we can't commit to the concept of an elementary center without knowing the cost," responded Wolfe. "None of us here would say, 'OK, let's build a house' and then find out later what it will cost us. We can't commit to it until we know the cost.""Safety is always our number one priority," added Brenda Eckley, a paraprofessional at Franklin Elementary School."It scares me to think that all of our elementary students would be going to one big school."She suggested the possibility of renovating and building onto two of the existing buildings and have two elementary schools.The next Lehighton Area School Board Building Committee Workshop meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10 at the administration building.