SHOCKER: Neshaminy Closing & Consolidation Plan to be Reconsidered

In a statement read by Neshaminy School Board President Ritchie Webb, it was announced that economics have forced the district to take steps to revise the proposed plan to close several neighborhood schools and build a new school in Lower Southampton.

Webb said that an Ad Hoc committee on the project will reconvene and he hopes to have a recommendation on a course of action before the board by late 2013 or early 2014.

District officials were hoping that low interest rates would help the school system finance the $50 million proposed project. However, Webb said financial reports made available to board members over the past two weeks painted a picture that made the current plan too costly.

In order to not raise taxes and not exceed the district’s Act 1 limit, which is the state law that caps a district’s ability to raise school taxes, Webb said the project would not be possible in its current form.

The district was considering a plan that would close Samuel Everitt, Oliver Heckman and Lower Southampton elementary schools in favor of a $35 million “super” school at the Tawanka site, which could house 1,200 students. A large addition to Pearl S. Buck Elementary School in Middletown and needed renovations to the remaining buildings would round out the $50 million project. If the plan moved forward, redistricting and an extension of the district’s debt service would be necessary.

Closing schools became an option as Neshaminy, like many other Lower Bucks County districts, are dealing with limited finances, aging buildings and shift populations.

Webb said he was not sure what form the consolidation project would take in the future. He did tell reporters after the meeting that the closing of schools was still likely.

“We can no longer avoid to take further action,” he told the crowd at the beginning of the school board meeting.

Most residents who spoke during public comment thanked the board, who unanimously pledged their support for Webb’s statement, for deciding to reevaluate the plan.

Former school administrator and Levittown resident Ed Kern was among the taxpayers who urged the board to vote against closing neighborhood elementary schools. On Tuesday night, he said looked “forward to a new equitable solution.”

Middletown resident Angie Manning thanked the board for their action. She came to the meeting set to present 200 more signatures that were attached to a petition calling for a referendum on the plan. So far, over 1,200 signatures calling for a referendum on the issue have been collected and presented to the board.

The district hopes consolidation can safe several million dollars a year in the budget and help fund restoration of educational programs that have been cut as finances have become tight.

The board promised to make sure they give the public all the information they need to evaluate the plan.

“We have a unified board looking to move forward for the benefit of our students,” Webb said.

 Related:

• Overflow Crowd Packs Meeting, School Closings Plan Fills Public Comment