Carl Lewis speaks to the school board during the public comment portion of the Physical Plants & Facilities Committee meeting on Feb. 27, 2023. Photo by Brian Hagberg.

“Please Hear Us”

February 28, 2023

RUSSELL, Pa. – The growing public interest in the Warren County School District’s Master Facilities Plan process was on display Monday as the district was forced to open overflow seating for the Physical Plants & Facilities Committee meeting.

Approximately 60 people were in the main meeting room at the district’s Central Office, with approximately 15 more watching via live stream in the cafeteria.

The main item of concern was where the district stands in the current MFP process and what options, specifically those that involve school closure or student reassignment, are on the table. The board heard from three residents in attendance, plus another via email, about what things the board should consider moving forward.

“Our children are not a number on a paper,” Kelly Sullivan said. “I fear that the firm that we’re hired to do the studies (Strategy Solutions) only looks at numbers but not the actual student. My child matters. Our children matter. They are not numbers. What consolidation will do to them will impact them for the rest of their lives. They may have issues down the road that we are not aware about yet if consolidation happens. As communities and homeowners, parents, and stakeholders in this community we are concerned. Please hear us.”

Foreshadowing comments board member Arthur Stewart made later in the meeting, Sullivan and Carl Lewis asked that the public be given more information before the district continues the MFP process.

“As it stands now, information on the district website is basically asking the public we come up with consolidation plans,” Lewis said. “I would ask the board to slow this process until the fall so that information on all district facilities can be compiled and released to the public for review.”

Youngsville Borough Manager Wendy Wilcox raised four points for the board to take into consideration as it moves forward: 1. a comparison of attendance rates between Youngsville and Eisenhower attendance areas, 2. consider that Youngsville is closest to the geographic center of the county when discussing transportation, 3. consider creating a K-12 school in Youngsville and renting out the old building to community groups and organizations to derive revenue, 4. a comparison of response times for first responders in an emergency situation.

“I urge the board and the deciding body to really contemplate the previous facts that I presented,” Wilcox said. “And please take into consideration the effect that these decisions (have) on the safety, the health, and education of our students.”

Trudy Kysor sent an email to the board, read into the record by board member Donna Zariczny, espousing some of the benefits of keeping Youngsville High populated, and that any increase in cost was worth keeping the school.

“I now fall in the enlarging tax base of Medicare recipients but will gladly give you my cost of living raise to help keep Youngsville High School open,” Kysor’s email said. “While you consider the cost to keep buildings open. Please remember the benefits of our small community school and make the right decision as has been done in the past.”

A public engagement session is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 8 in the gymnasium at Central Office. That meeting will not be available via Zoom. The next full board meeting is set for 6 p.m. on March 13.

         

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