No Decision Made on School Re-Use Proposal
Armstrong School District Superintendent Chris DeVivo and School Board President Joseph Close is seeking input from Kittanning and Ford City Borough council officials and residents regarding TREK Development’s demolition proposal.
by Jonathan Weaver
Armstrong School District board directors are waiting for input from local borough officials before discussing more about a proposal to tear down the former Kittanning Junior High and Ford City Junior/Senior High Schools.
Two weeks ago in front of about 150 people between two meetings, TREK Development President William Gatti, Jr. proposed for both former schools to both be demolished and townhouses to be built at both sites after the firm was not able to find a way to historically preserve the school buildings.
However, the school district will make the final decision, as it is still the property owners.
School Board President Joseph Close listened to the proposal in a joint meeting with county commissioners, Planning and Development leaders and Kittanning Borough and Ford City Borough officials in the middle of August.
“I think it’s something we can work with if all the pieces line up – there are a lot of them that have to line up for the project to move forward,” Close said. “If it’s well-received, it might be a good option for us. We’ll have to see how things transpire.”
One of those pieces includes grant funding that would help for the building demolition.
There is no timeframe to make a final decision.
“While we ultimately make the decision what to do with the buildings, if there’s overwhelming negativity about it, that’d be something to think about,” Close said. “We’re trying to make it best for everybody.”
Close and District Superintendent Chris DeVivo said input from borough councils will be welcomed.
“Both Ford City and Kittanning Boroughs are exploring their options and trying to determine what’s best for their communities and I’m sure our board will listen to what the leadership of those communities have to say regarding that proposal,” DeVivo said.
Close said board members are still open for other suggestions or offers.
A private individual did submit a letter to school officials after attending the August 24 public meeting.
Last month, Gatt said a formal purchase offer has not been made, but the firm is prepared to “if there’s general consensus.”
Armstrong School District, Ford City, Kittanning Borough | jweaver September 9, 2016
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By jorn jensen, September 9, 2016 @ 8:30 AM
“We’re trying to make it best for everybody.”
Clue: That can’t happen because we don’t all think alike.
Perhaps ‘what to do with the old buildings’ should have been thought about back in the haste to build the new school and abandon the old schools? Maybe this school board should have assembled a comprehensive plan for those buildings BEFORE shutting them down?
The school board did the right thing to consolidate and cut employment to meet enrollment declines. How they went about it and the lack of cutting jobs is one of many areas where they failed.
If two of the buildings are knocked down and townhouses are built, then what is the attraction for anyone to move into the townhouses? There’s plenty of empty places around, plenty of places for sale as the population declines in numbers - so what would be the attraction to move to these townhouses? Real, meaningful manufacturing jobs locally, with benefits?
Why have these buildings become the towns’ problem? The towns didn’t create this problem. It is good that they have input in resolving the problem, but the responsibility rests with the 9 school board directors - they ‘created’ this.
It is time to take back the ASD school board from the PSEA. We need taxpayers unrelated to the PSEA to take over this school board so that we get taxpayer representation in decisions affecting this district and these taxpayers.
If the people study the relationships of board members to ASD union members, you’ll understand that the union negotiates with itself. My statement, for the attackers, is not anti-teacher - it is a statement of allowed nepotism, failure to abstain from voting when a decision directly affects the board members’ own income, abuse of the Sunshine Law in using electronic media to settle agenda items ahead of public meetings, ethics infractions, and so forth.
To save taxpayers’ homes, we need to pass HB/SB 76, school property tax elimination and get more people paying for education than just property owners. Wise teachers, administrators and school boards should be in favor of HB/SB 76 as it widens the pool of taxpayers paying into this expensive public education.
Don White is a strong supporter of SB 76. Please support Don White in the upcoming election. A restaurant owner from Indiana is running against Don and the guy calls the bill HB/SB 79 - maybe the guy should study up a bit on the bill.
Sign on with PTCC (Pennsylvania Taxpayer Cyber Coalition)- we are 10,000 strong across this state and we’ve had it with tax abuse of property owners. The politicians pay attention to groups in large numbers - make your voice heard!
By Just sayin, September 9, 2016 @ 10:27 AM
Tear the Kittanning High School down, too. Fair is fair (just like the Armstrong High School band should march in Ford City parades).
Get a new football field, while you’re at it. The Kittanning football field is not level, and the parking is horrendous. It looks like something a grade school would use. It’s embarrassing.
By heardenoughalready, September 12, 2016 @ 12:04 AM
Yeah ! All decisions should based on fairness. Not on what makes financial sense! You would not last one minute in business! And this marching band conspiracy theory is just one too many!!!!
By jorn jensen, September 12, 2016 @ 3:57 AM
“Get a new football field, while you’re at it.” Just Sprayin, you must not be a property taxpayer in Armstrong County if you’re proposing more and more spending of tax dollars like this. Your friendly, local school board will gladly spend our money for you. Football fields are not designed to be level - they are designed to shed water as in a rainstorm - but that is none of my business. Use the present field as it is. If you don’t like the parking, ride a bus.