Primary center's destiny delayed

By PATRICK E LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

New Castle’s school board agreed to wait on a consultant’s recommendation before deciding on an early learning center’s future.

In the only show of unity regarding the $19 million project, the board voted 8-0 last night to hire Education Management Group LLC for $3,700.

Superintendent George Gabriel requested that the board allow a third party provide an analysis on whether it’s best to maintain the district’s three primary centers or renovate Lockley Kindergarten Center into a facility for students in kindergarten through second grade. At Monday’s work session, four of the seven members requested a vote to reconsider the project.

Company representative Dr. Ronald Stainbrook, a retired state Department of Education official, will supervise the evaluation.

“He will identify educational advantages (and) disadvantages to keeping the three elementary facilities or closing them and operating a single new (and) renovated facility,” Gabriel said.

Stainbrook, who worked as the state’s director of schools, was part of a group that studied that district’s finances in the early 1990s.

“This is his expertise,” Gabriel said.

The report will be completed within 20 days of his visit to the district. Business manager Joseph Ambrosini said he will speak to Stainbrook today regarding his arrival date.

Except for a question seeking clarification, the board passed the measure without comment.

During the visitors’ portion of the meeting, a district kindergarten teacher and a former school board member offered different views on the project.

“(Lockley) has not changed to meet the demands of our earliest learners,” said Victoria Bober, who teaches at Lockley. “This is also true for our other existing primary centers.”

Bober said the kindergarten center lacks the basics to accommodate its 300 students. She cited a leaking roof and malfunctioning boiler system among its problems.

“It is not an uncommon sight to walk down the hall without students having to walk around buckets that our collecting rainwater.

“Putting a Band-Aid on a severe wound that is bleeding profusely does not work.”

Philip Conti said the board must focus on the district’s $60 million debt service and the state’s reduced assistance.

“We cannot afford to assume any more debt,” said the former board member and retired educator. “Anyone who doesn’t understand that doesn’t understand fiscal responsibility.”

He added that although the board hasn’t raised taxes in at least seven years, New Castle has the highest taxes in Lawrence County.

“Where are you going to get the money to fund that debt? It’s going to have to come from the taxpayers,” he said.

“Debt is the most vicious form of taxation.”

Board member Mary Ann Tofel participated in the meeting through a conference call. Fred Mozzocio was out of town on a business-related trip.