Man On The Street

Local residents have heard many opinions within Armstrong School District board directors during the past few weeks, especially regarding the debate between community schools and one centralized school facility, and had lots on their minds.

At the beginning of the month, directors sent a proposed referendum to the Armstrong County Board of Elections and the Indiana County Board of Elections for inclusion on the May 17 primary election ballot asking voters’ opinions on building a centralized school for area students. The Indiana County board has since approved that referendum, while the school district is still arguing for the same in Armstrong County, where the majority of district taxpayers reside.

Bryan, of Kittanning, doesn’t have any children in the school district, but thinks taxpayers need to be offered a third choice on a proposed referendum this May.

“They need to offer the voters of Armstrong County three choices rather than two, and the third would be to do nothing because of today’s economical instability.”

Robert, from Adrian, agreed that a third referendum possibility should be included and that board directors are making decisions based on politics.

“I think it’s a fiasco, that borrowing $80 million at whatever interest rate is ridiculous when you don’t have bids and you don’t have actual contracts in-hand. Because there are people that may not want to do anything – which needs to go on the referendum – as was pointed out by Sen. White. I don’t think that any school directors at this time want to build a super-school because of the economic times and I think the board should take all those matters into consideration – hopefully the majority that is ruling the school board now is ousted by the elections in May.”

Gladys, of Ford City, said her and her granddaughter, a current school student, agree the economic strain on the community would be too much.

“This referendum is either vote for a new school or do with what we already have. My granddaughter goes to Ford City High School and she said, ‘Why would they put all this money to fix this horrible school that is in such horrible condition.’ I really think we need a new school, but not at the cost they are talking.”

Barb, from Applewold, thinks community schools should be eliminated.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to have three schools remodeled. I believe in one big school.”

Mark, of Kittanning, also thinks a centralized school will help answer dwindling graduation classes.

“I think things are trying to be pushed through before the new election of officers. I think there should be one school – the small schools don’t offer enough education for the children. I think Mr. Solak’s ploy to keep Elderton open was a ploy to keep Ford City open – the graduation classes are shrinking and Ford City was the next one to go down, so he had to keep Elderton open.”

Missy, of Kittanning, said young children will receive a lot of peer pressure if they are grouped into one location.

“If they think they have enough drug problems now, they’re going to have 11^th and 12^th graders in one building. How do they think $80 million in this economy that we can pay for that? My great-grandchildren will be paying for that. I don’t want my daughter to be in 4^th grade and dealing with 11^th and 12^th graders.”

Mary, from West Kittanning, said the debate between one centralized school and community schools has went on for more than 40 years and will seemingly never end.

“I think this should be resolved – they’ve been arguing in this school district since the late `60’s, early `70’s and have settled nothing. I realize that people like to maintain their own identity having a school in their community, but it’s about time we realize that it’s impossible, it’s too expensive – grow up.”

Don, of Kittanning, was a former educator in the district when this debate was going on years ago, and still thinks residents will never agree.

“The Armstrong School District situation is never going to change as long as you have school directors that are more interested in their own political agendas and private agendas rather than what’s best for Armstrong County as a whole. We are too parochial – how you can treat Kittanning and Ford City like two different towns when they are 3 ½ miles apart makes no sense to me. How you can service the school district with as many square miles as we have makes no sense either. They can’t or won’t consider breaking the school district up to make it a manageable size, they won’t consider consolidating things because of their parochial ideas, and that’s never going to change.”