Letters to the Editor for November 28

Here are today’s Letters to the Editors…

Submitted by Robert Sanna of Levittown:

As a Levittown resident and taxpayer , I must take issue with the Neshaminy School Boards’ decision to move 5th graders to middle school and close 3 elementary schools in order to build a new school.

While six members of the current school board believe that the above plan will benefit the community and the children of the district, everything that they have shown as evidence is to the contrary. They have forgotten that their job is to represent the taxpayers and they have consistently ignored the public outcry against the decision. They have been unable to provide any meaningful educational benefits for moving the 5th graders to the middle school and have been unable to justify the borrowing a 50 Million dollar bond to build the new school that will cost the taxpayers a total of 109 Million. The six school board members have, on numerous occasions, said that they refuse to put the bond issue up for referendum because it would not pass. They believe the seniors in our district would vote no due to fear of tax increases. In my opinion it is wrong to not allow the public to vote on spending our money because they believe one demographic of our population would vote it down.

The Neshaminy Federation of Teachers conducted a poll of 284 educators within the district. They presented the results to the board on October 28th, 2014. The poll showed more than 92% of our educators believe that moving 5th graders from an elementary school model to a middle school model is not in the best interest of our children. Additionally, the Bucks County Courier Times ran a readers poll in October 2014 asking the question, “Do you think 5th Grade is too young for a student to be in Middle School?” The final result of the poll was 73% of people said “Yes”. The 6 members of the board dismissed both polls questioning their reliability. They also have attempted to discredit every professional study stating that this type of move was detrimental to developing children. This is another example our 6 elected officials not listening to what the public wants.

The board, in addition to the solicitor, scheduled the public meetings that are required to be held in order to obtain the bond for December 4th, 2014. This is a day the board knew coincidences with some of the school district most well attended evening events. The elementary and middle schools’ annual winter music concerts, as well as the popular Middletown Township Open house have been on the calendar since well before the scheduling of the Act 34 vote. One could surmise that this is an attempt to keep the public away from this meeting.

The board keeps stating that the plan to close schools is to prevent the loss of programs; however, they refuse to tell the public any specifics of what programs will be cut in order to help us all make an informed decision regarding the direction of our schools. We understand that the district is facing some difficult financial decisions in the future. These decisions should not be made at the expense of our children. The issues are complex, but it’s not going to help us to harm our students. Young families, necessary for our financial growth and success, will move into a school district that cares about the emotional and educational well-being of their children.

In closing, we the taxpayers must attend as many public meetings as we can and tell the board that what they are doing is wrong. We will not tolerate this and if we don’t have our voices heard now, we will at the next election when we will vote in a new school board.

The time is now to take back our schools and save our community. WE are Neshaminy.

Submitted by Karen Lowry of Feasterville:

As the holidays draw near, let us be thankful for the times that will be shared enjoying family and friends as we gather together in anticipation and excitement for the season. Except of course, in the Neshaminy School District. School district officials have now made it a choice as whether to attend your child’s holiday concert, or attend the hearings which involve their consolidation plans, including the closing of your child’s school. I am speaking to the taxpayers of Neshaminy, but most importantly, to the Samuel Everitt Elementary School community. Please review the dates and times listed below as posted on the Neshaminy School District calendar.

December 4th
7:00pm  Federbar Instrumental Concert @ Poquessing
7:00pm  Maple Point Concert 2 @ Maple Point Middle School
7:00pm  Sandburg Holiday Concert @ Sandburg Middle School
7:00pm  Public Hearing-Proposed Construction of New Tawanka @ NHS-Theodore Kloos Auditorium
7:30pm  Middletown Township Holiday Open House @ Middletown Twp. Bldg.

December 5th
7:00pm  Public Hearing-Continuation of Proposed Construction of New Tawanka @ NHS-Kloos Auditorium

December 15th
7:00pm  Public Hearing-Proposed Closing of Everitt @ MP-Harry M. Dengler, Jr. Performing Arts Center

December 16th
6:00pm Everitt Holiday Concert @ Sandburg
6:00pm Public Hearing-Continuation Proposed Closing of Everitt @ MP-Harry M. Dengler, Jr. Performing Arts Center
7:00pm Federbar Vocal Concert @ Poquessing

Does anything on December 4th strike you as being odd? How about the fact that the first hearing is scheduled on a date when many parents affected by this consolidation plan will be in attendance at school concerts. Does anything on December 16th strike you as being odd? How about the fact that a continuation of a hearing to close Samuel Everitt Elementary School is scheduled on the very same day as their school concert. This is the Neshaminy School Board’s and Administration’s holiday gift to you, the taxpayer. This my friends, is not the American way. It is a sad day in America when a governing body, elected by you, denies you the right to speak on a topic such as this. Disingenuous, secretive, speculative, strategic are only a few words that come to mind.

The Neshaminy School Board has not given you much to be thankful for this holiday season. They are essentially using your child as a pawn in their politically driven motives of consolidation. I have witnessed a large outpouring of dissatisfaction for this board’s contempt towards the people that have elected them. Taxpayers and parents at the podium during board meetings pleading for an alternative solution. Solutions solicited by the board, discovered by the people, and dismissed by the “Six.” Let us not forget administration’s role in this as well. It is grievous to think that they have your child’s best interest at heart. They are being less transparent than the school board. Words can be harsh, but actions speak volumes.

From what I understand, two board members have stated publicly that they know they will not be re-elected. Others will not as well. How is it that a de facto group of board members is making these life altering decisions? Because, they think they can. I suggest that we not take this lying down. I suggest that we call and demand a postponement and rescheduling of these poorly timed hearings. Involve the PTO leadership and members. Get the word out. These dates and times are not a coincidence. They are a carefully calculated ploy to prevent you from speaking out.

What if all these plans come to fruition and a new school board is seated next year? What will it cost to undo the travesty that will become the legacy of the then previous board? Ultimately, the children will suffer. “WE the People” have the right to be heard. “WE the People” know what is best for our children. “WE the People” demand the opportunity to voice our concerns and opposition during formal hearings. Hearings that are public record submitted to the Board of Education. This is our time. Demand that a choice not have to be made. In the end, it’s not the gifts that matter; it’s the thought that counts. Don’t expect much of either if you don’t take action by demanding a change in the hearing dates. It’s our school district.

Submitted by R. Douglas Hanisch of Langhorne:

The Giving School

Adapted from The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and inspired by recent actions of the Neshaminy School Board.

Once, there was a school . . .

and it loved its students.

And every day the students would come

and they would climb in its playground

and read from its books.

They would run on its grass

and learn in its classrooms

and sing in its halls.

And the students loved the school . . . very much.

And the school was happy.

But time went by.

And the students moved on.

And stayed away for a long time.

Years later, six of the students returned.

And the school said, “Come, Boys, come and run on my grass, and climb on my playground, and sing in my halls and be happy.”

“We are too big to sing and play,” they said.

“We want money for research.

Can you give us some money?”

“I’m sorry,” said the school, “but I have no money.

I have only instruments and books.

Take my instruments and sell them in the city.

Then you will have money and be happy.”

And so the boys went into the school and took her piano, and flutes, and drums, and carried them away.

And the school was happy.

But the boys stayed away for a long time . . .

and the school was sad.

And then one day the boys came back

and the school shook with joy

and she said, “Come, Boys, swing on my swings, sit at my desks, and learn in my classrooms and be happy.”

“We are too busy for such things,” said the boys.

“We want money for programs.

Can you help us start new programs?”

“I don’t know about such things,” said the school. “But take what I have, and then you will have money and be happy.”

And so the boys entered the school, and removed her desks, and took her computers, and gathered her books and carried them away.

And the school was happy. But not really.

And after a short time the boys came back again.

“I am sorry, Boys,” said the school, “but I have nothing left to give you. I wish that I could give you something, but I have nothing left.”

“We want a new school,” said the boys.

“Can you give us one?”

“No,” the school said sadly.

And so the boys went into the school

and closed her windows

and turned off her lights

and locked her doors.

And the boys were tired and sat to rest against the school’s sturdy walls.

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