New Springfield High Plan Leaves Crowd Leary

About 100 persons spent two hours on a Thursday night hearing Springfield School District (Pa) officials detail plans concerning the fate of the high school.

Considering the questions asked, the consensus of the crowd in the auditorium on Leamy Avenue seemed to be “please don’t raise our taxes, we can’t take any more. ”

The officials led by School Director Doug Carney described the current state of things and went through four scenarios as to what to do about it. They were extending the life of the existing building via necessary maintenance, renovating the building, putting a new one  at the intersection of Leamy and Rolling Roads, and putting a new one  adjacent to the Saint Francis property on Saxer Avenue.

Carney noted the maintenance work to extend the life of the building would be far more expensive than most understood due to the asbestos roof, the ancient low-pressure steam heating system and pipes, and the simple pane windows that date to the 1950s.

The discussion was organized to clearly point to the district’s preference of a new high school behind Saint Francis Church, that would have more community athletic fields, parking and better traffic patterns.

It was noted that the building would be smaller than the existing one — the existing one is underused –and have geothermal heat.

Quite a bit of volunteer labor went into the study. The logic behind it is sound and those who did it deserve respect and praise.

However, the plea “we can’t take any more” trumps all.

The costliest of the plans was the one for a new Leamy Avenue building coming in at $150 million, followed by the one for renovating the old high school.

The new school near Saxer Avenue was pegged at $144 million, and the life-extension maintenance at $110 million.

This is a little lower than the costs initially presented in May.

For the most likely plans this translates to an ultimate tax increase of $171 per $100,000 assessed  for the necessary maintenance one which would mean  $250 per year more for a home assessed at the district average of $146,000; and  $273 per $100,000 assessed for the Saxer Avenue one or $398 per year for a home assessed at the district average.

Note the tax will not be implemented all at once but in frog boiling increments — now estimated at between  $26-$46 — over nine years until the max is reached.

In the question period, Carney said in response to rumors about the school district  seeking to buy Saint Francis, that the only contact it has had with the Archdiocese was a plan related to straightening Speakman Avenue, which the Archdiocese rejected.

He also noted that the district is considering unprecedented ways of raising revenue including selling naming rights to the school.

New Springfield High Plan Leaves Crowd Leary

New Springfield High Plan Leaves Crowd Leary
New Springfield High Plan Leaves Crowd Leary
New Springfield High Plan Leaves Crowd Leary
New Springfield High Plan Leaves Crowd Leary

Paycheck Protection Amendment Defeated

An amendment to a school emergency allergy bill, (HB 803) instituting “paycheck protection” was defeated 28-20, yesterday, Oct. 15.

All Democrats voted nay excepted for LeAnna Washington who didn’t vote. They were joined by Republicans Pat Browne, Stewart Greenleaf, Bob Mensch, John RaffertyTommy Tomlinson and Eric Erickson.

Erickson represents the 26th District in Delaware County. There is no point in giving him grief, though, as he vacates his seat this December.  We are disappointed it should be noted.  He has indicated paycheck protection is not something he opposed.

The others, except for Browne who represents Lehigh County, also represent the Philadelphia suburbs.

Paycheck protection would end the almost universal Pennsylvania practice of union dues, fees and political contributions being automatically deducted from the paychecks of government employees including those in the public schools.

This would require supporters of those causes to write checks or make other arrangements to transfer the money, just like, well, the rest of us do.

In places where this was implemented the money for leftist “progressive” groups dried up. They are apparently not so popular that their flock won’t stop the tithes when given the chance.

The amendment was introduced by Scott Wagner of the 28th District who is starting to look heroic.

While there is no point in giving grief to Erickson one might want to send a nod of thanks to embattled Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi of the 9th District  who voted aye and represents most of the rest of Delaware County.

But also give a nod of thanks to Wagner and the others who are battling him.

Paycheck Protection Amendment Defeated

Paycheck Protection Amendment Defeated

 

Hat tip Matt Brouillette of Commonwealth Foundation

Springfield School Master Plan Meeting Tonight

A report on what happened at the meeting can be found here.

The first Town Hall Community Meeting to discuss the Master Plan for Springfield High Schooll is 7 tonight,  Oct. 16, in the Springfield High School Auditorium at the school, 49 W. Leamy Ave., Springfield Pa. 19046.

The cost of the project is an estimated $150 million.

The meeting will start with a presentation of the overall plan and options, followed by a question and answer period.
It will be broadcast live on SETV which is Ch. 11 Comcast or Ch. 29 Fios.

This is the first of six planned Town Hall meetings. A schedule can be found here.

 

Springfield School Master Plan Meeting Tonight

 

Springfield School Master Plan Meeting Tonight

Hat tip Regina Scheerer