Board weighs project's dollars

June 9, 2010

By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

The pros and cons remain unchanged, but $15 million may sway the support required to consolidate New Castle schools.

Mark Kirkwood broke a prolonged silence before agreeing to the proposal. During Monday night’s work session, he provided the fourth vote of the seven school board members present.

Originally scheduled for tonight’s board meeting, the consolidation project vote will be part of a special meeting taking place at 5 p.m. June 29.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education alerted Superintendent George Gabriel last week that the district was awarded a no-interest, $15 million loan. The money comes from federal stimulus funding earmarked for school construction projects.

Gabriel then unveiled a pared-down version of a kindergarten-through-second-grade building. The price tag dropped from $29 million to $19.3 million.

Renovations to George Washington Intermediate Elementary School were scrapped.

“Hopefully, it will change the complexion of the project in addition to some other things that could be done,” Gabriel said.

The early learning center would be built on the Harry W. Lockley Kindergarten Center site.

Approximately 5,000 square feet were trimmed from the original plans. David Esposito of Eckles Architecture & Engineering said that was accomplished through reducing gym size and five special education classrooms.

“Unless you can change the area of the building, I’m not interested in participating in some sham that we can make this cheaper,” Esposito said. “The only way you can make it cheaper is to make the building smaller.”

Business manager Joseph Ambrosini said the district will apply $4.3 million from its fund balance to lower the cost to $15 million. The interest-free loan will produce savings, in addition to closing West Side and Thaddeus Stevens primary centers and making staff reductions.

District third-graders would be housed in the John F. Kennedy Primary Center.
The district pays $2.9 million annually on bond issues associated with the construction of its junior/senior high school. The early learning center would add $250,000 to its yearly debt, according to Ambrosini.

“There’s going to be a whole lot of operating savings that could almost fund this project in its entirety.”

However, board members Dr. Marilyn K. Berkely and Barbara Razzano remained opposed.
Gabriel asked Berkely what the district should do.

“I just want to wait and see what happens when the new governor is in. That’s all,” she said.

Gabriel responded, “Wait for a new governor? You think that’s our answer?”

“No. I just think that’s a lot of money, and we can’t afford it right now,” she said. “Nothing’s changed in my mind.”

Esposito agreed that today’s economy is in poor shape.

“But if all of you believe in 15 years, it’s still going to be bad then we’re really in bad shape,” he said. “We’ll eventually get through this.”

“But you say that in an area that hasn’t recovered from the steel mills closing and that was 30 years ago,” board member Brad Olson Jr. said.

Olson passed on the consensus vote.

With Karen Humphrey, Anna Pascarella and Mary Ann Tofel backing the plan, Kirkwood represented the majority vote needed to move the proposal forward. He took several minutes before making a decision.

In the interim, Gabriel said it appeared the project was dead.

“I’ve been against (the project), but with $15 million, I’m going to say ‘Yes,’” Kirkwood said.