Credit: Neshaminy School District
The Neshaminy School Board will once again vote to close an elementary school.
On Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., the board will vote on whether to approve the permanent closing of Samuel Everett Elementary School in Middletown’s Levittown section. If approved, the school would close in June and students would be moved to several surrounding buildings. The vote will take place in the auditorium of Maple Point Middle School.
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A group of vocal residents have voiced their displeasure with the plan. For months, residents have rallied to save the school, which was built in 1954 and had additions put in 1958 and 1968.
“We need as many parents and community member as possible to come out Tuesday night at the Middle School and let the School Board know we are not going down without a fight,” a post on the Save Our Schools Facebook page said.
Board officials have said the district-wide consolidation plan say it is necessary to save money and put the school system on the proper path going forward. Their plan includes closing Everitt, renovations to several schools and building a new elementary school in Lower Southampton.
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The district has been working to consolidate buildings for roughly a decade. Many plans have been proposed along with numerous studies of the district and the communities that make it up.
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School board member Stephen Pirritano has stated the plan, which will require a $53.9 million bond with an additional restructuring of nearly $28.4 million in outstanding debt, will have no tax impact on residents.
District officials have said the Bucks County Intermediate Unit is interested in the building. A 2013 letter of interest for the building was sent to Neshaminy by the IU, but no final deal has been announced.
The fight against closing Everitt is one of the reasons the Save Our Schools team of candidates decided to run. The four Neshaminy residents also have attached their names to a petition and complaint for a declaratory order against the district in regards to the bond.
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The board will also vote on Tuesday night on whether to send PlanCon Part F documents to the Department of Education in Harrisburg. The documents are for the proposed construction of a 900-student elementary school at the site of the current Tawanka School in Lower Southampton.
