Corbett Effect: Board to reconsider renovation

By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

The New Castle Area School Board is prepared to halt plans for an early learning center.

Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget has some board members worrying how the district can operate with $3.3 million less in state subsidies while undertaking a $19 million renovation project.

Its fate is expected to be determined during tomorrow’s regular board meeting. Four of the seven board members want to reconsider the venture in response to Superintendent George Gabriel’s call for a vote of confidence.

“I think about everywhere I went — phone calls I received — people in the community are scared,” Anna Pascarella said at last night’s work session. “The ones who really want to be honest with us will say we probably should not move forward with this.

“If we do, we need to scale it down from $19 million.”

Pascarella was joined by Dr. Marilyn K. Berkely, Brad Olson and Barbara Razzano.

“Up to this point we had additional funding. Now we don’t,” Pascarella said later in the meeting. “That makes a big difference.”

J. Allan Joseph, Mark Kirkwood and Karen Humphrey said they want to continue with the project. Fred Mozzocio and Mary Ann Tofel were absent.

The development comes as Gabriel was prepared to release a video and unveil a website designed to promote and answer questions about the renovation.

“We did a very poor job of getting the word out,” the superintendent said.

The Harry W. Lockley Early Learning Center would bring students in kindergarten through second grade into one facility, located on the site of the Lockley Kindergarten Center. Third-graders are scheduled to move to the George Washington Intermediate Elementary School. The consolidation plan closes West Side, John F. Kennedy and Thaddeus Stevens primary centers.

“Whether you build the project or you can it, you still have $3.3 million you have to deal with,” Gabriel said. “Plus, if you can it, you have four old buildings you have to deal with.”

Business manager Joseph Ambrosini said the district will hold sessions next month as it prepares the 2011-2012 school year budget. The district also is in negotiations with its teachers union.

“We have made substantial cuts, but we just haven’t brought it to the (board) yet,” Gabriel said.

He added that district administrators and staff have been asked to provide input on trimming expenditures. The superintendent also noted “raising taxes is not on our radar.”

With a $12 million fund balance, Ambrosini said New Castle is “doing OK financially.”

He called the early learning center an opportunity to generate additional savings through reductions in staff and building costs.

“I’m the last person who would stand behind this building project if I didn’t think it was a good idea financially,” he said. “I would tell George that.

“Don’t lose sight of consolidating four buildings into one. That’s the difference.”
Olson asked what would happen if state funding continued to decline.

“Yes, we have a great fund balance right now,” he said. “We can make plans to adjust for this year’s $3.3 million loss. What if next year, it’s a $3.3 million loss additional and the following year is another $3.3 million.”

Gabriel said if that were the case then all of the state’s public school systems would eventually shut down.

“I guess we can all agree it’s not going to get any better,” Berkely said.