Fate of School Buildings to Be Discussed
Armstrong Junior-Senior High Auditorium will be the site of the next Armstrong School Board Open Caucus session due to an-anticipated large crowd of residents and public officials anxious to hear results of what is recommended for the now-closed Kittanning and Ford City secondary schools. (KP File Photo).
by Jonathan Weaver
An upcoming school board meeting location has been moved due to some anticipated survey results.
According to Armstrong School District Superintendent Chris DeVivo, the November 5 Open Caucus session will be held in the new Armstrong Junior-Senior High School auditorium in Manor Township.
At that meeting, school directors will hear draft results from Fourth Economy consultants related to the potential usage of the now closed-Ford City Junior-Senior High, Kittanning Senior High and Kittanning Junior High schools.
Since the end of the school year, Fourth Economy Consulting, of Pittsburgh, has surveyed reportedly hundreds of local residents via the school district’s website regarding their thoughts on the future of the school buildings.
“While the facilities are not currently generating any taxes, the potential reuse provides an economic opportunity for the community to realize a benefit both through an expanded tax base and a reuse that aligns with the community needs and market opportunities. In some instances, it may be determined that the best use of the property includes razing the existing structure,” the school district writes on their website before offering residents to take the reuse survey.
Officials from Kittanning Borough Council were invited to attend the open caucus session yesterday to offer feedback to school board directors.
Ford City Borough Manager Eden Ratliff last week said he and council members have invited school board officials to talk to the municipality leaders before a school auction was held in September, but that that meeting never took place.
Last week, School Board Vice-President Chris Choncek said it would have been “premature” to meet with the local municipalities due to the upcoming meeting which all municipal officials - and public taxpayers - are welcome to attend.
Armstrong School District, Local News | jweaver October 22, 2015
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By jorn jensen, October 22, 2015 @ 8:45 AM
Article states that FC council had “invited school board officials to talk to the municipality leaders before a school auction was held in September, but that meeting never took place.”
And Choncek responds “it would have been “premature” to meet with the local municipalities due to the upcoming meeting which all municipal officials - and public taxpayers - are welcome to attend.”
Well then, maybe the school board should have waited with the idea of an auction until after this ‘meeting’ involving Fourth Economy Consulting. After all, the auction may negatively affect the selling value of the property - a topic of discussion for the coming meeting.
How was the invite handled? That is, was a letter drafted and sent by FC council? Date? If so, was it ignored or was there a formal response? Date?
A lot of loose ends in this story.
By Marc, October 22, 2015 @ 12:54 PM
Ratliff and Miklos are grandstanding to take the focus off of the massive debt they’ve handcuffed Ford City with. I agree with Lobby when he says the land is more valuable without the buildings on it.
The auction is over and the results are permanent, kind of like that massive $580k debt. Take your pick of which is worse for this community.