Connellsville residents, mayor oppose school closing proposal
David McDonald (at right), Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Federal Programs and assistant to the superintendent, speaks to parents and concerned citizens about the proposed closing of elementary schools during the third and final meeting about the closing Monday at Dunbar Borough Elementary School.
Philip Martell, superintendent of the Connellsville Area School Districts presents enrollment figures for the elementary schools in the district during a public meeting Monday at Dunbar Borough Elementary, one of the buildings proposed for closure.
DUNBAR — Several parents and Connellsville Mayor Greg Lincoln on Monday voiced opposition to the Connellsville Area School District’s proposal to close or reconfigure as many as four elementary schools.
They addressed the school board at the third and final hearing the district is required, under the Pennsylvania School Code, to conduct at least 90 days before voting on closing schools.
Under consideration is closing Dunbar Borough Elementary School and sending those students to Dunbar Township Elementary School; closing Clifford N. Pritts Elementary School and sending those students to Springfield Township Elementary School; closing South Side Elementary and sending those students to West Crawford Elementary; and closing Connellsville Township Elementary and sending those students to Bullskin Township Elementary.
Administration officials said the closings would allow students in all the elementary schools to receive the same educational materials and opportunities.
Public comment was accepted and recorded after administration officials made a presentation outlining educational, enrollment and financial reasons for possibly closing as many as four of the eight elementary schools.
“Why don’t you fix what we have here,” said Roy Smalley, a parent from Dunbar.
He said he realizes that district expenditures have to be cut, but closing the schools would hurt the communities where they are located.
“Fix what you have instead of starting from scratch,” Smalley said.
Lincoln said he disagrees with the idea of closing schools, especially South Side Elementary in Connellsville, to meet education goals.
He said the city is poised for more development next year and having a school in town is a major selling point to perspective home buyers.
“Closing this school is going to have a very, very negative impact,” Lincoln said.
Citing information on the district’s PowerPoint presentation on the closing proposal, he said South Side has never been renovated.
The school was built in 1965, according to the district.
Lincoln said having a neighborhood school that children can walk to is important for attracting residents to the city.
He said he didn’t blame the current school board for not updating or repairing the school, but said years of passing the buck created the problem.
Dennis Cook, a parent from Bullskin Township, said he is against closing Pritts Elementary School and too much expansion of technology in teaching.
He said technology breeds laziness.
“I want kids to open a book and fight for the knowledge they deserve,” Cook said.
Technology forces students to work by themselves, he said.
Teachers connect with students and create personalized education without relying on technology, he said.
Crystal Christopher, a parent with students in Connellsville Township Elementary School, said many parents she talks to believe the school board has already made its decision on the closings and the hearings are just formalities.
Smaller schools have a nurturing environment where students know each other, Christopher said.
Students achievement is better and there is more opportunity for parent involvement in smaller schools, she said.
In addition, she said the number of students in her children’s classes is larger than the figures displayed on the presentation.