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A plan to consolidate and redistrict the Council Rock School District is not set in stone, school board members told the public Thursday.
“We’re not nearly as far ahead as people assume,” board member Dr. Michael Thorwart said.
During Thursday evening’s packed school board meeting, the capital planning process was discussed, including potential redistricting at the elementary, middle and high schools and the possibly of closing schools.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Fraser told the school board he does not believe major changes in Council Rock should take place until the start of the 2018-2019 school year. He said he did not want children to be redistricted multiple times and have major upheaval.
Thorwart said the 2018-2019 school year could be a “grand reset” for Council Rock.
The discussion comes in the weeks before the school board takes a vote the move forward with renovating and expanding Holland Middle School and constructing a new middle school at the site of the current Newtown Middle School.
Changes are needed as Council Rock’s student population shrinks and costs to operate the district continue to rise. As of last week, the district is working to close a $14 million gap in the next year’s proposed budget.
School board President Andy Block told the crowd at the meeting that the district should consider a five-year capital plan. He said the plan for elementary, middle and high schools should align and “balance capital planning with academic planning.”
“We’ve got to do things the right way,” he said, adding that the administration has to have a say on any plan because they will be implementing the path that is chosen.
Block said he believes a broad redistricting to better utilize buildings along with potential consolidations in the elementary schools could work.
School board member Edward Tate said Council Rock needs to approach its future in a form that is “integrated and thoughtful.”
Wendy Thomas, a school board member, said the school board needs to figured out a game plan for Richboro Middle School, which could be shut down once the projects at Holland and Newtown middle schools are completed.
Thomas said a timeline and plan for the middle schools needs to be established before she votes on bids for the middle schools projects.
Balancing student populations at Council Rock High School North and Council Rock High School South was also a big discussion point at the meeting. Several board members said students would have to go “across the (Neshaminy) creek” to even out the high school’s populations.
“There is no way to balance the high schools if you don’t cross the creek,” school board member Denise Brooks said.
Due to the upcoming financial challenges Council Rock will likely face, Dr. Bill Foster urged for the closing of Wrightstown Elementary School, which only has slightly more than 200 students enrolled currently. He said closing the schools would reduce the amount the district is spending.
“Unfortunately, the money matters as to what we can do,” he said.
Many residents at the meeting spoke against certain aspects of possible plans going forward, including closing elementary schools.
A good portion of residents from the Newtown Crossing development spoke out against redistricting, which they fear will impact their elementary, middle and high school-aged children.
Scott Sysler from Newtown Crossing spoke out against any plan that would close Goodnoe Elementary School.
“Our development has strong ties and I really think (a closing) would affect the parents, the children,” he said.
Nancy Carroll of Newtown spoke in favor of the district consolidating to save money. She said Council Rock could invest money saved through shrinking its footprint to upgrade technology and educational tools for students.
“I want to use the closing of a school to bring our technology up sooner rather than later,” Carroll told the school board.
Holland resident Steve McGill spoke in general terms but said “change can be an opportunity.” He said parents should embrace whatever choice is made by the district and work their children to adjust.
Several board members thanked the public for attending to voice their opinions.
