School Business Director Estimates Cost Savings with Current Construction Plans
Armstrong School District Finance Committee Members James Solak, Rose Stitt and Sara Yassem discuss the ways to pay-off $80.4 million in federal bonds.
by Jonathan Weaver
As much as the Armstrong School District borrowed for three proposed school construction projects, a board committee saw and heard evidence yesterday that they would actually save money.
The information, compiled by HT Capital Market bond administrators, shows a net cost savings after the proposed Kittanning High School, Ford City Jr. – Sr. High School and Elderton K-12 complex construction projects are complete.
That information was brought before the district’s Finance Committee Thursday, April 14.
District financial officials will pay approximately $3.6 million bi-annually to pay off Build America Bonds issued last year. However, the district will be reimbursed by state Department of Education officials approximately $800,000 per year if the projects are deemed necessary, trimming the total yearly cost to more than $2.84 million.
A payment of $1.042 million was issued March 15.
However, since two schools are projected to be closed with these projects are completed – Kittanning Township Elementary and Kittanning Jr. High, the district will incur cost savings. Savings will be produced because of salary, benefit and overall cost decreases, and will total approximately $2.88 million.
Armstrong School District Director of Business Affairs Eric Brandenburg discusses cost savings to the district after the three proposed construction projects at Kittanning Sr. High, Ford City Jr. - Sr. High and Elderton K-12 are completed.
District Business Affairs Director Eric Brandenburg totaled the estimated yearly savings.
“So, if you take the cost, which is $2,842,432, subtract the $2,880,993, you have savings that exceed the cost in 2016 and will continue annually of $38,561,” Brandenburg said.
The year 2016 was used as a projectable estimate since the projects will hopefully be completed at that time.
Finance Committee Chairman James Solak said the savings are not only good for the district, but also for taxpayers.
“If the annual savings exceed the every-year payments, then that means we don’t need a tax increase for these projects,” Solak said.
However, if the $80.4 million in bonds are returned to the state, school district officials – and taxpayers – will pay millions of dollars in penalty fees to alleviate the price.
“The $12.4 million can be made up in two ways –4511 if this district has $12.4 million somewhere in the budget, you can take the $80.4 million and invest it to total $92.8 million for 10 years, then you’d be able to meet the debt. But we don’t have $12.4 million in this budget, so the alternative is that you have to raise taxes two-and-a-half mills to get that $12.4 million.
“So if you return this money, you will have to raise taxes two-and-a-half mills, which is 4.5 percent, and the taxpayers will have to pay that for the next ten years,” Solak said. “For ten years, the taxpayers won’t have anything to show for it.”
Approximatley $3.7 million was already issued to L.R. Kimball architects and capitalized interest fees.
School Superintendent Stan Chapp explains a conversation with the district's bond council as to why the bonds can not be used for anything but construction costs.
School Superintendent Stan Chapp said the bonds can also not be used to alleviate any current school debt and was issued strictly for building construction, whether that be for three construction projects or a comprehensive high school – the two matters that were discussed in the “Armstrong Charette” in 2007 and that are proposed to be on the election ballot May 17 through a referendum.
Indiana County Board of Elections officers agreed to have the referendum placed on the ballot, but the Armstrong County board initially denied the request. The case is currently before Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas Senior Judge Kenneth G. Valasek after the school district appealed the election board’s ruling April 1.
Brandenburg explained traditional bonds are tax-exempt, but Build America Bonds under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are taxable.
Readers can access the Bond Payment documents by clicking here.
Uncategorized | jweaver April 15, 2011
By Flatstanley, April 15, 2011 @ 11:27 AM
Ahhhhhh the illustrious $150,000+++ man speaks, but is it anything intelligent or of EDUCATIONAL value? Just another smoke screen. You all know what Sen. White said about liars and figures…..cut some administrators and then we can look at savings…..why on Earth does Elderton need 3 principals at $93,000 each? Do you honestly think appointing “department heads” to map curriculum is anything more than lip service? Hope you are not wasting money on paying these “heads” extra. This district has been mapping curriculum for the last 10 years….what has it gotten us??Why are we paying Chapp AND Williams? Can’t one of them do the
job or are Laurel and Hardy a dynamic duo?? Waste, waste, waste…..
By GetSmart, April 15, 2011 @ 1:56 PM
Just imagine how much will be saved if the voters elect Referendum quesstion #2. Especially if the cost to build is less than they “guessed”, effeciency cost savings by eliminating duplication of services, better physical plant, not building an elementary school or tech ed component.
Thiose Bethel Park numbers, (for approx. 1/3 more students, by the way), look pretty obtainable.
By let it go, April 15, 2011 @ 2:08 PM
a couple of questions for the spin Doctor Solak
Most companys do a 5 year projected budget,
how far in the future is the ASD budget available
based on the current situation of the district,
is this a public record and available for viewing?
If this information is available it should be able
to be detailed by school?
What is the long term 10 - 12 year projected high
school enrollment for Elderton, Kittanning, Ford City. This should be an easy calculation by suppling the current elementary enrollments that
will support each school. I know this is only a
projection, however Armstrong County in not a
growing community.
Also based on the 2010 census, what is the age
breakdown of the county as this could have
an effect of supply over the next 10 years?
I am sure the school board has done calculations
of some sort to base their decisions.
It should be easy to supply this information
as there is a 5 year estimate on the bond payment
document available above, please make the requested information available in the same manner
as a link from the Kittanning paper website.
I think this information would be very helpfull
in preparing for the April meeting in Elderton
and for the May vote.
Any other opinions?
By mutchka, April 15, 2011 @ 3:47 PM
Why is every other school district in the valley preparing to lay off teachers and were not doing anything.Im so confuseddddddddddd!
By GetSmart, April 15, 2011 @ 4:46 PM
If Jimmy and Rose have this financial information, why do they present it only as a final tally. Shouldn’t they be giving the public information on the breakdown of the 3 individual projects, then a final tally on the total?
I think inquiring minds relly need to know how the money to fund these projects was appropriated and how the cost justifications are booked. They were presented as 3 seperate projects, right? How about 3 seperate breakdowns.
Let’s see how the FCHS rennovation was funded. Certainly not from any “consolidations” in their attendance area.
Again I say, do the taxpayers a huge favor and stop the FCHS project!
By Jan, April 15, 2011 @ 4:51 PM
Hmmm- I say this is “campaigning” to the nth. degree. How timely good doctor! I wonder what the savings would be on a new building- why not show figures for both? After all, the good doctor states that if the referendum question swings in favor of one consolidated school- he will honor this. So shouldn’t the taxpayers have information for this? Why not have the business manager give us theses figures.
Rah-rah- let the campaigning begin. I certainly hope that Chapp reserves some time for the other candidates who are running.
By sweetleur, April 15, 2011 @ 5:25 PM
Because we have those taxes under control, they will never rise under Jimeny
By scott_starr, April 15, 2011 @ 10:45 PM
I see Mr. Brandenberg mad a deal with the devil.
Let’s take them at their word, borrowing $82 million to save $38,000. How about Get rid of William J. Williams? There is easily your $38,000 savings and we are not in debt.
That’s what a 60 year payoff?
We are losing $5 million in state aid, yet our budget is balanced? Really ? Look at past years numbers, we have been running a deficit, and have been saved by the past surplus.
Teacher salaries alone will add $1 million to the budget, pension obligation will at 2 million more ( $8 million moving out of the coffers, no increase coming in.)….
Ohhhh, wait we have an $80 million windfall, we can cover this up for quite awhile.
By JMPC, April 15, 2011 @ 10:51 PM
The photo and caption at the top of this article is frightening. How did we get to this place we find ourselves in? How did these idiots have the authority to borrow 80 million dollars? Something is wrong with the system. Why are the self serving six so passionate about getting anything put on the ballot to find out what the voters want? Where was the concern for the voice of the voters when they literally wasted millions of dollars on their own self interests? The solakians have not made a single choice based on what is best for the students. Academics have no part in what they are doing. Take a look at the picture. The three of them could not even count to 80 million let alone figure out an intelligent way to pay it back. They promise no tax increases. Oops, let me correct that. They promise no tax increases that will be associated with the 80 million dollar “secure their glory days” project. They are finding ways to make it look like future tax increases won’t be linked to this, but we are not falling for this one jimmy. How will the Solakians pull this off? The only way they know how. Like idiots. How was it that everyone else realized that the government cash cow was going to stop except the solakians? So, we are getting about 5.5 million less from the government, and you borrowed 80 million dollars? Even without the 80 million we were going to have to make some drastic cuts to keep our heads above water. Perhaps the closing of Kittanning Middle School & Kittanning Township would have been necessary to make up a portion of the 5.5 million dollar annual deficits we will be facing. Now the savings will be less than a drop in the bucket. I find it so hard to believe that anyone feels this is truly a sensible time to have borrowed 80 million dollars. The saddest part is that all of this was done for ONE reason. I am sorry to inform the HERO group, but reopening Elderton was not only irrational and fiscally irresponsible, it was completely irrelevant to Mr. Solak. All of the yelling, wasteful spending, and personal attacks were to serve one purpose – Secure the sacred ground and building that we know as Ford City High School. I have to give solak credit. He gets what he wants. Unfortunately, for the rest of us, Jimmy’s success will result in a less than mediocre education for our children and grandchildren. But, Ford City will stay open, and although they will get the same sad level of education as the rest of us, they will be open. Ford City will be secure and that is all that matters to Jimmy. So, as the solakians (I know it is not all of you) who live in the Ford City attendance area celebrate the victory of securing the building that represents their pathetic “glory days”, just know that your children and grandchildren will be less prepared to face the challenges that are just ahead of them. What is left to cut that will pay off 80 million dollars plus interest? Not to mention the little 5.5 million dollars in annual deficits. Educational programs will be cut. Teachers will be cut. Classroom sizes will increase. Educational value will be lost. On a positive note, the cafeterias and gymnasiums will look great, however, the lines will be so long as the students struggle to figure out how to count out the money it costs to buy their lunch or get into the basketball game. All thanks to Jimmy and the five mindless followers who supported his quest. By the way, do you have to be a high school graduate to be on the school board? If so, I think we need to see some documentation from a few of them. Maybe I should email Rose Stitt to see if it is a requirement.
By billbell, April 15, 2011 @ 10:53 PM
I’m willing to bet they’ll ram through teacher lay-offs with little of no thought soon enough. The real stupertendent is probably working on that.
By scott_starr, April 15, 2011 @ 10:56 PM
Also note kids that we “don’t know” what is the rembursement. It is a guess, with budget cuts what do you think are the chances it will be reduced?
a 1% reduction in reimbursement will put us in the red.
Another shell game from Jimmy, of course after ripping Brandenbeg earlier in his tenure, I wonder how Jimmy got him to play ball?
BTW, Jimmy, Matta, Cambest, Williams, Chapp… anyone anyone…. Buller, Buller.
Still afraid of a discussion folks?
By ridgerunner, April 16, 2011 @ 5:31 AM
If there is such a savings by closing Kittanning Junior High and Kittanning Township, just imagine the savings by closing all the high schools and build one school. How many teachers would be cut? Only one sports program instead of three. Energy costs would be cut. Supplemental would be cut. Just how many classes at EHS are under 5 students? Mr. Choncek, Mr. Close and Mr. Rearic please ask that question.
By GetSmart, April 16, 2011 @ 7:22 AM
So, Jimmy says he will abide by the referendum, but how about the others in the glorious six?
Rose, you are up for re-election. Where do you stand?
You people complain about stements of positions of the candidates. Where does Rose stand on abiding by the results of the Referendum?
Or is this just another infamous smoke screen.
By the way, if the board is going to abide by the referendum, shouldn’t everything come to a halt until the results of the election. Why are we using taxpayer funded resources to produce this propoganda and campaign report.
Shouldn’t we be spending those resources on figuring out how to address the Gov.’s budget cuts.
Isn’t Jane Orie in a lot of trouble for improperly abusing her elected office to get re-elected?
Oh the tangled web we weave…….
By let it go, April 16, 2011 @ 11:44 AM
How many people know what capitalized interest is?
In summary it is a calculation that allows interest being paid on construction loans to be added to the cost of the assest and depreciated over the life of that asset, reclassing interest expense to depreciaton, it is not a true savings but used in business to not show interest expense in the current year income statement it is explained in detail at FASB34. Capitalized interest does not have an impact on cash flow, you still pay interest yearly the impact gets added to the asset.
A couple of more questions for spin Doctor Solak
There are two basic methods for calculating capitalized interest, weighted average and specicfic, which method was used in the savings report?
How does the interest payment until the 2014 -2015
budget when the closure of Kitt twp &Kitt jr high effect ASD cash flow, or are these payments
covered in the amount borrowed.
you may see some of these posts in additonal columns only to try and get information
By let it go, April 16, 2011 @ 11:50 AM
“If the annual savings exceed the every-year payments, then that means we don’t need a tax increase for these projects,” Solak said.
Remember this statement no tax increase for these projects! But hold on and enjoy the ride for every other tax increase if we don’t get a handle on costs.
By asdtaxpayer, April 16, 2011 @ 4:23 PM
80,000,000 wow!!
Let’s forget about renovations. Worst idea ever! I do not know how this is even a thought. It is an insult to everyone’s intelligence.
West Hills Elementary Campus was a flop in my opinion and should not have been done.
We are losing money at the Secondary Level.
The elementary schools do not have to deal with all the extra costs of the extra curricular activities.
Do we really need to discuss the need for 4 high schools? I can live with 2 how about you?
Since we made the mistake with West Hills lets try and correct it a little bit by closing down the Jr. High. Old building it does have a decent gym though. LOL. Since we have some money to burn add a couple shops and wings and we have something new. Maybe we can even throw some Air Conditioning in the buildings. There is wasted space in the elementary schools. Let’s fill the empty rooms.
OK we have one building closed now and consolidated the JR high with West Hills.
Elderton you do not need a high school. It just does not make any sense. It never will. Declining enrollment does not equal money being wasted in your area. Sorry but it is only business. There will be new school colors for you to cheer for. The party is over. Now I can see some money being used to merge your two elementary schools together and you can even keep 7th and 8th grade with this new school. So we have closed the High School and formed a SUPER COMPLEX for the Elderton Area. I am sure it will not take much to make an addition to KT to fit the entire population of the Elderton attendance area. If they do not how about this idea re draw the attendance lines. We are not splitting atoms here? 2 more buildings closed and a new addition. Remember we have 80,000,000 to work with. Believe it or not new wings are better then renovating dumps.
Let’s move onto the land of Purple and Gold. King James your followers are leaving you. People are whispering I have heard. They are not pleased with your obsession with keeping your dump open and even worse renovating it. Why a person would want the youth of the area attending that building is beyond me.
I would love to see a reality show with families moving into the Pittsburgh area. Let’s set up just three schools of similar size. Let’s use Ford City, Mars, and Freeport. Would you not love to see the expressions on their faces as they toured the grounds and buildings? I would just love to hear their comments. Mr. Croyle set it up for us. You have the TV station. It could air right before the board meetings.
FC, Sorry I take your High School and all of your basketball banners. I think sending your 7th and 8th graders to Lenape Elementary is a good fit. A couple minor add ons should do the trick. Remember we have the 80,000,000 dollar mistake to work with.
What to do with students 9-12 from KHS, EHS, and FCH?
Well Elderton you were absorbed into West Shamokin already so Guess What? You are going back. Most of the kids liked it there anyway. They found out air conditioning was an OK thing and heat in the winter is a good thing as well. Running water and working toilets as well. People of Elderton, West Shamokin believe or not is a pretty nice school with nice facilities. I know its not located in downtown Elderton but it is nice. You can’t have it all.
Kittanning high school isn’t in terrible shape it’s not great by any means. Have you seen the bathrooms? They should just get the Porta-Johns and set them up at the end of each hallway. Just kidding.
FC and Kittanning both deserve a new building. Plain and simple. It could have waited but since the current board went out and borrowed 80,000,000 there is no time like the present. Mistakes happen right Jimmy!!
We could make the KHS building into a combined FC KITT JR High and scrap the add on’s to the Elementary Schools. The one thing that needs improved there for sure would be the football field. I think it is a joke that it is even legal. The fence is way too close. The actual playing surface is not suited for farm animals to graze on. I can not believe that our students play football and march on that pasture. I have heard that ground hogs actually take up residence in some areas of the field.
Here is tip I know it is hard to believe but they came up with an invention it is field turf. Very easy to maintain. Hint all the cool schools have it!! LOL
The new school could be built close to the Vo-tech. We could maybe even take over the vo-tech seeing how most of the population is ASD.
We can be creative here.
It’s time to close and build new. We have to since there is 80,000, 000 on the table.
Jimmy we already have all the facilities we do not need to build new fields. This is where you can renovate.
Bring all your banners and trophies Jimmy and Kittanning will bring their’s. Hang them in the new gym one side can be Kittanning and one side can be FC. On the ends you can put the new banners. Build some display cases within the walls surrounding the gym lobby and put all the trophies you can stuff in there. It would be like a mini hall of fame for Kittanning and Ford City. You can still have your memories of both schools. Keep the old tradition alive and build and new and stronger tradition together. Oh yeah and we can maybe even compete and win some championships at AAA. (Not AAAA because a merger will not put as AAAA so we are not a SUPER SCHOOL)
Did anyone notice Central Valley? Two school districts came together. They had some success in football this year. They are not to far away.
We can even include air conditioning in the new school. Rumor has it the new renovations do not include AC. How does that happen??
School colors could be fun Purple and Red would take a while to get used too but it is no big deal.
The Glory Days are over. We must combine. I would have preferred to wait a little to do this but the mistake by the school board has forced the hand to be played. I would hate to see the district throw away hard earned TAXPAYERS MONEY!!
By getreal, April 17, 2011 @ 7:28 AM
With ASD graduating approximately 270 kids this year, how can a combined school be considered a “super” school…. it would be a mini school at best. Having 4 high schools with this kind of enrollment is RIDICULOUS!!! If we have to spend the money, I say consolidate.. you would save alot of money by closing EHS,FC and Kittanning… attention parents: GROW UP, the students are acting way more mature than you are!
By DANBOY, April 17, 2011 @ 10:20 AM
Guess What !!! I have been thinking!!!
Today is April 17 one month to go until the end of the EVIL EMPIRE!!!!
Hey asdtaxpayer would you mind if I use you as a write in candidate!! That is what I call VISION!!! Please tell me you live on this side of the river!!!!
What are the chances of the KP putting the above article and attached picture in the Friday paper.
It has allowed me to look at that picture all weekend long. I do not know about you but I bet we could come up with some hilarious captions!!
Scott you are right on about the Finance Director. At earlier meetings the Dr Director was continually ripping him a new one only to be saved by PUBLIC ENEMY #1 Dr Kerr. Job Security makes you do strange things!!!
How about the per diems Superintendent’a article announcing the meeting at Elderton. Was that not a perfect example of (CYA) cover your ashtray!!!
I joke here alot but I do not know where we are headed. Everyone please investigate the candidates in your regions and hope that future boards can debate and cooperate with each other for the betterment of the entire district and put personal vendettas aside. Did I actually say that????
TICK TOCK TICK TOCK sorry I could not help myself!!!!
By let it go, April 17, 2011 @ 2:22 PM
What is ASD projected reduction by the state $4million+
Look at other West PA schools talking mergers/
reduction of school functions/Jr high sports etc.
Listen to area newscasts and read the papers.
Some school districts are being pro active to prepare for the lost funding, what is ASD plans,
other than to flush money down the Kittanning and Ford City sewer systems.
following from a local paper:
A number of local school districts have asked permission to raise school property taxes significantly.
While Pennsylvania’s Department of Education won’t confirm this yet, KDKA-TV has learned some local school districts have applied – and received – exceptions to a state cap that limits tax hikes.
School district officials say they are caught between a rock and a hard place – especially as government mandates for special education and pensions go up and state support go down.
School districts across Pennsylvania are facing up to a budget reality from Harrisburg.
“The basic subsidy was decreased substantially and districts are struggling with it,” says Linda Hippert, executive director of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
But because of Governor Corbett’s education cuts and lots of unfunded mandates, school districts are feeling the pressure to raise taxes even more.
A loophole in state law allows districts with certain fixed costs to raise taxes above the inflation rate with state approval.
Local districts seeking that approval are Bethel Park, Elizabeth Forward, Franklin Regional, Freeport Area, Gateway, Highlands, Northgate, Riverview, and South Fayette.
Highlands has just been approved to raise taxes 14 percent.
Rupert says it’s not a done deal but the state keeps making things worse.
“Not only are the mandates required, they’re unfunded,” he said. “Then they pass Act 1 where you’re only allowed to increase revenues by the index and then come around and take a couple million dollars away from you.”
And no help from Harrisburg means program cuts and higher taxes back home.
“I’m very squeezed, yes. It’s just a matter of time before all the districts are squeezed.”
These are not the only districts applying for this exception and just because they get it doesn’t mean it will be used.
Here’s another wrinkle.
The deadline for applying for the exception was before Governor Corbett announced his budget, so that’s really pinching some districts that now have no alternative but to cut staff and programs.
Some more questions for the April meeting in
Elderton and the May election?
By Bottomline, April 17, 2011 @ 8:03 PM
ASDtaxpayer has some very good ideas. I could live that vision for the ASD. I vote for this plan.
By asdtaxpayer, April 17, 2011 @ 11:34 PM
I think the board should state any changes that have been made to the renovations.
The board should be honest about this right???
I have heard there have been a lot changes to these great plans. Is this true? I am going to go out on a limb and say if we would get these renovations they would be very generic.
With the YMCA moving into KHS’s neighborhood why would they even need a new gym. They could use the Y’s gym and even use the pool.
The other thing that annoys me about the Kittanning plan is the mixing of grades 7-12. Not a good idea!!
Why would the people of Elderton and FC want renovated?? Seriously!
Why don’t we just adopt the whole Little House on the Prairie approach? We could just put up trailers all over ASD and have the true community school idea. We could eliminate all the buses and kids could get extra exercise by walking to their new school.
We could create our own sports league and have each community school play each other. We can name it the ASDIAL. I am sure the WPIAL would like this. I am sure they are annoyed with the ASD revolving school merry go round.
Dan I may buy a house boat and take residence on the river? Would I have to pay taxes? Could I have multiple votes if I just drifted from one region to the other? LOL
By GetSmart, April 18, 2011 @ 6:53 AM
@ asdtaxpayer:
Very well done and spot on from a concerned taxpayer, someone who is concerened about our children’s educational future and a realist.
By solomon, April 19, 2011 @ 12:23 PM
asdtaxpayer wrote regarding the Elderton school children, “They found out air conditioning was an OK thing and heat in the winter is a good thing as well. Running water and working toilets as well.” Since Elderton HS is in such poor condition, what I’d like to know is - why haven’t my tax dollars been used OVER THE YEARS to fix up this building as things deteriorated? I pay a lot more school taxes than many of my family members who live in other counties in the state. Our kids don’t need Taj Mahal schools, they just need a clean, comfortable environment and teachers who inspire learning. C’mon ASD School Board, quit bickering, grow up and compromise!!
By asdtaxpayer, April 19, 2011 @ 9:36 PM
@solomon What school board director has been on the ASD school board the longest? Ask that individual?
He has had the board majority in the past correct?
It is all political. I have an idea of what the real answer is. It’s all about protecting one school and one school only. Maybe??
I would like to know why my taxes were not used wisely as well over the years. My thoughts are not with fixing Elderton, KHS, or FCHS. I was here when Armstrong Central was created. Believe or not it would of worked and was working. The kids did not have a problem with it. What director was there when this happened?
I would love to know the exact cost this individual has cost the ASD. How many millions? We like to do studies in the ASD, we should study this. I bet we could have had the Taj Mahal built and a football field with turf!
I bet we would have had more business moving in and people looking for a place to raise a family. Is that currently happening in this district? NO!
Why do you pay more taxes in this county? hmmmm.
What major businesses are in Armstrong County? What major industry is here?
Our children have been punished enough over the years. People wake up! 80,000,000 is on the table! It is not going anywhere we are stuck with it. What director did this? Why did he do it? Preservation that is why. This person wants to to leave his mark in the ASD forever. He is leaving a mark all right. I can think of other marks that stink.
There is only one solution. Build something new!! ASD has only one nice high school. It is time for another and guess what it will not cost 80,000,000. Why waste money on old buildings? Step by step. ASD needs only two high schools. Period.
Taxpayers of the ASD you control the future. Don’t let this man waste any more of your hard earned money.
Taxpayers go through your documents and see if this Director had concerns about mold a year ago. He has concerns now. He doesn’t want to waste Taxpayer’s money. OK. I trust you. LOL.
How about that study of wasted money? How many millions?? How many businesses did not locate here? How many families went to another school district?
How many classes have not been offered to our children? How many activities have our children been denied?
All because of one man and his dream!!
By asdgrad, May 17, 2011 @ 1:15 AM
I think its time that the Dr. Director steps down and let the next generation take over, and do whats right for ASD. And I also this that the lose of Dr. Kerr was a big mistake, he was trying his best to make something of this school distract, with the cards he was dealt.
I think the only construction that should be going on in ASD is the deconstruction of Elderton, sorry but that school is a joke and waste of space.
I agree with asdtaxpayer in using the money already borrowed for good. I agree with the idea of closing down the entire Elderton complex, sending the high school students back to West Shamokin, and making one elementary school at Kittanning Township, keeping that school k-6. Oh and knock down that damn building so there’s no more going back.
Now for Kittanning and Ford City areas, put them back together for heavens sakes, its stupid that there are two high schools down river from each other! Close Kittanning JR. High and move the Administration offices to that site along with storage and the Yes program. Then sell the old Administration building. We can keep KSH and Ford City for now as the Jr. High (at Ford City) and the Sr High (at KSH), give it so fancy name with a new mascot. Each building only housing three grades each. OR just build a nice new school along the river at the old Eljer site.
Leave Lenape alone, after all the students of my time preferred to go there to get away from their home schools and not only that, Lenape is used by more then just ASD.