School Officials Meet with Levittown Residents on Proposed Closings

The passion in the gymnasium at Samuel Everitt Elementary School in Middletown’s Levittown section was evident Monday evening during a nearly three-hour-long community meeting.

District officials stating that they wanted to do what was best for the health of the Neshaminy School District.

Many residents and parents vocalized their desire to keep the neighborhood school open.

“I will move if you close this school,” a father of four young children told gathered Neshaminy School District officials.

Other parents voiced concerns about what might happen if the school, built in 1955, is closed.

The meeting is one of three where district officials will be meeting with community members. The meetings are taking place at the three schools a taxpayer committee recommended the school system close. The meeting was not a public hearing and no closure decisions have been finalized.

“We’re not wasting your time,” school board member Mark Shubin said. “We’re hearing you out.”

Everitt, Oliver Heckman Elementary and Lower Southampton Elementary could be closed. At the questioning of residents, district officials said the they hope to find new uses for the building, like renting them out.

Aside from the declining enrollment numbers, finances have played an important role in consolidation.

Everitt and the two other schools that could be closed all need costly repairs, School Board President Richie Webb said.

He added that he lives near the school and he deeply cares about it.

“I’m concerned about finding ourselves in the same situation as Bristol Township,” Superintendent Dr. Robert Copeland said, referring to Bristol Township School District’s plan to close nine aging elementary schools and building three large elementary centers.

The Neshaminy proposal includes redistricting to accommodate students from the closed schools. It also includes a $50 million bond to build a $35 million new elementary school at the Tawanka Learning Center site on Brownsville Road in Lower Southampton, a large addition to Pearl S. Buck Elementary School in Middletown and needed renovations to the remaining buildings.

Parents are concerned that the new school is designed to house 1,200 students. Facilities and Operations Director Paul Minotti and Copeland told the parents the school would not be filled to capacity, teaching about 992 students daily.

Parents also voiced concerns about busing that would be involved with redistricting and building a new school is Lower Southampton, an area the district said has a growing enrollment.

“This is not a done deal,” Webb told community members. He said the issue would be discussed at board meetings and in separate public hearings.

School board members Irene Boyle and Mike Morris also attended the meeting.