Residents question need for Springfield elementary school
CONNELLSVILLE – Several Connellsville Area School District residents voiced negative opinions on a proposed new elementary school in Springfield Township. Dennis McKendry of Freeman Lane, Connellsville, explained to the board Wednesday that the history of the school district shows a 40 percent decline in enrollment since the merger.
McKendry asked, “Why does the school district continue to maintain the same number of buildings, and at what point will the school board consider down-sizing?”
McKendry also asked, “When will this school board consider cost-efficiency in the decision- making process?”
McKendry, Don Johnston, Chuck Blackstone and Cecilia Driscoll all questioned the need to burden taxpayers with the projected $10.1 million of the proposed project.
Last year, board members granted approval for architects to move forward with plans for the new school by instructing Astorino Pellis Architects to submit project documents to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Board member Francis Mongell, who dissented along with Karen Blocker, Loretta Lint and Jeffery Harvey when it came time to vote on a request to submit construction documents to the state Department of Education said “no to the magnitude, not to the school.”
Mongell said the problem is the amount of money for the school.
“Clifford Pritts (the other mountain elementary school) needs $6 million right now in renovations. I would rather see the two elementary schools combined and one new school built,” said Mongell.
Although there were dissenting votes on plans for the new school, the measure passed by a 5-4 vote. Those voting in favor of it were Kevin Lape, Charles Wilson, Kenneth “Chip” Nicholson, David Goldblum and Ann Watson.
Two other plans, including a project accounting based on final costs for renovations of Junior High East and West, were unanimously passed by the board.
In other matters, four board members voted against the appointment of a senior high school girls’ basketball volunteer.
Robert L. Renzo, who received five yes votes from Lape, Wilson, Nicholson, Goldblum and Watson, received four no votes from Blocker, Harvey, Lint and Mongell.
Three other volunteers were unanimously appointed. They are Michael Bosnic and Dean Crawford, senior high school boys’ basketball and Michael Zavada, Junior High West wrestling.
The board also agreed to change the junior high athletic director position from a single position to two separate positions, one at each junior high school.
The board hired Ronald Marciante as Junior High East athletic director at a salary of $2,247 and Jennifer Sanzone as Junior High West athletic director at a salary of $1,843.
Marciante’s salary is at 100 percent, while Sanzone’s salary is at 82 percent.