School Board Divided on Referendum Issue
by David Croyle
Directors in the Armstrong School District had immediate reaction to Wednesday night’s Building and Grounds meeting that announced a plan to create a referendum for building a new high school.
According to the document read by ASD Solicitor Gary Matta, the referendum would be phrased as: “Shall debt in the sum of $120 million for the purpose of financing a new high school for Ford City Jr.-Sr. High School, Kittanning Jr.-Sr. High School, and Elderton Jr.-Sr. High School, and a new Elderton K-6 be authorized to be incurred as debt approved by the electors?”
Chris Choncek
School Director Chris Choncek was first to voice his opposition. He posted his comments Thursday at 9:04 AM on the Kittanning Paper website after reading the article.
“I won’t support a referendum asking voters to choose between renovations or building a new school. The referendum needs to be written in a way that asked the voters whether they want to spend $80M (million) to renovate or NOT to spend the $80M to renovate. No one is talking about building anything in this district at this time. It would be completely fiscally irresponsible in this economic climate to propose any huge expenditures,” Choncek blogged.
At last night’s Lenape Joint Operating Committee meeting, School Director Joseph Close had similar remarks.
Joseph Close
“I cannot support having a referendum question that says that we are proposing a $120 million high school, because it has not been proposed. There’s nothing on the table right now to say that we could produce that. My term is to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. These are tough financial times right now. I cannot propose that we will spend any money on anything right now, whether it be renovations or new. What is on the table is renovations at this point of time – renovations that are going to spend $80 million. That’s it! There’s no proposal for a new high school. We don’t even have that on the table to even offer that to anybody at this time. The question would be false if somebody would answer it that they were in favor of that.”
Close said that even if voters answered in the affirmative on the referendum as presented, it could not be enacted.
“I don’t know how we would give it to them. I don’t know how we would do it. I would still have to say if that is what you really want, we still would have to review everything and wait to see how you could pay for it. I don’t know where the money would come from.”
School Director James Solak said publicly in yesterday’s Kittanning Paper that he is ready to debate the issue at Monday night’s school board meeting.
“I not only support placing the referendum on a ballet for a new school, but I will abide by its outcome – I will do what the people vote to do,” Solak said.
The caucus meeting will be held on Monday at 7:00 PM in the Administration Building in Ford City.
The meeting from Wednesday night will be rebroadcast today at 12:30 PM on WTYM AM 1380 radio. It will also be rebroadcast tonight at 7:30 PM on Family-Life TV.
Armstrong School District | David Croyle March 18, 2011
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By scott_starr, March 18, 2011 @ 9:57 AM
Let’s look at the logical fallicies in this idea ( though granted nice move by Solak).
1. If the vote to build a phantom new school is shot down, people are in favor of renovations.
By tipiguy, March 18, 2011 @ 12:34 PM
What they are trying to tell the people of ASD is that we need to Kiss Their Butt. The left cheek with the zit will cost $85 million and the right cheek will cost $120 million. I say we kiss nothing and kick all of the board majority’s butts out of office in MAY!
By ASDpayer, March 18, 2011 @ 2:33 PM
The referendum that should be put on the ballot is very simple.
Shall the School District spend 80 million dollars to renovate the three high schools. Very simple and to the point of what the board is considering.
Quit the games Solak and pals. Show us that the people really approve of what you are trying to force on us. My guess is that people don’t want this boondoggle.
By mutchka, March 18, 2011 @ 3:32 PM
Once again Id like to say the DR. is a genius he made all you dummies look bad just keep ranting about him. Hes still smarter than all of the fake people who really want to build but are afraid to say it. He knows what he wants and hes beating everyone at their own silly game by being honest about his plans instead of pretending to be cost conscious like the rest of you. Believe me i dislike what hes doing but in C sheens own words hes doing one thing “WINNING”