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District staring at big change

Closing plans draw opinions

On a brisk, sunny weekday afternoon, Trisha Engwer walked three blocks from her home to pick up two sons at Emily Brittain Elementary School.

Another son, 3-year-old Shane, clasped tightly to Engwer's hand. They strolled down the sidewalk, and a crossing guard waved the pair across North Washington Street to the front of the school, where she picked up 6-year-old Xavier and 12-year-old Harry. It's an afternoon routine she's done for years.

But all that could change as soon as next fall. That is because the Butler School Board is considering school consolidation plans from Thomas and Williamson, a Pittsburgh consulting firm. If one of its recommendations is approved, six or seven elementary schools could close as soon as next year, including all city elementary schools, and the district could undergo a grade realignment.

“I don't want my kids to go to another school,” said Engwer, Thursday. “I think it's ridiculous.” A Butler graduate, Engwer has become used to the teachers, the location and the short distance away from her children.

If Emily Brittain were to close, its students would be sent to Center Township Elementary, four miles north of the city school.

“I can trust my kids to walk home from here, if need be. I know they're somewhere where they're safe,” she said. “The kids love it here.”

Down North Washington Street is a bed and breakfast, tea room and antique shop, where Pat Kriley has maintained her business Step Back in Time for 16 years.

“For the life of me, I cannot understand cutting education,” Kriley said. “And cutting teachers, too. I really hope they change their mind.”

She said that over the years, she's hosted Emily Brittain retirement luncheons and etiquette lessons with students. There would be a loss business-wise, but she's more concerned about the community and educational impact as a whole if Emily Brittain were to close.

Parents, residents and elected officials are split on the major issue. Many schools could close, and many people are wary of larger class sizes, longer commutes, and older elementary students attending the junior high school. However, some argue the consolidation efforts may be able to strengthen the district as a whole.

“Whatever plan they come up with, I just hope they do it the right way. It's more than just about buildings and transportation issues,” said Tom DeGeorge, president of the Butler Education Association, the district's teachers union. “The wrong way would be just looking at the facilities and what would be the best way to do it to save money. ... Is it what's best for the education of the students, or is it best for the bottom line?

“I think it's a good opportunity to really change how we've done education in Butler School District for the better. And this will be the chance to really try some new and innovative things if we do it the right way,” he said.

The association also has been in the middle of teacher negotiations, but said it's trying to keep consolidation and negotiation talks as separate as possible, DeGeorge said.

The three recommended consolidation plans could save $5 million to $6 million in the district's $100 million annual budget.

Broad Street, Center Avenue, Clearfield, Emily Brittain, Meridian, Oakland and Summit elementary schools could be shuttered, depending on the plan. The four or five remaining schools, Center Township, Connoquenessing, McQuistion, Northwest, and possibly Summit, could be shifted to a primary facility with kindergarten to third or fourth grades, while intermediate elementary students would be sent to the current junior high building. Then 7th, 8th, and 9th graders would be sent to the intermediate high school, and 10th, 11th, and 12th graders would go to the high school.

School board members have had mixed responses to the plans. Board President Don Pringle said he still wants to consider possible alternatives and community input.

“I'm really encouraging everybody to come forward. This is a community decision. It's not just my decision. With what's been going on, I haven't had that aha moment,” Pringle said.

The board would have to vote on a plan by January if changes were to be made by the end of the school year.

A parents group has formed regarding the plans, and it supports keeping a K-6 community school model. Closing fewer elementaries and closing the junior high building could have just as much financial impact as closing six elementary schools, said Kris Paserba, a spokesman for the group.

He's also leery of the efficiency percentages that Thomas and Williamson presented since larger fourth, fifth and sixth grade classes would yield lower efficiency ratings. Many have argued that 27 students per class at that level is too many.

The average usage of school buildings is 55 percent, the consultants say.

“These efficiency numbers are subjective,” he said. “It depends on what you make the class sizes.”

City officials and business owners also have concerns about how vacant schools could impact the city.

“Although I understand the reasoning, I do think closing three schools in the city is detrimental,” said Bill May, a city councilman. “One reason why I chose to live in the city is I wanted my children to be able to walk to school.”

He said he felt the district should keep one city elementary school open.

However, Buddy Thompson, who manages Butler Center for the Performing Arts and The Connection Hair Salon on West Penn Street, both within steps of Emily Brittain, said the closure could be a great opportunity for the city to partner with the school district to create new opportunities.

Mentoring programs, specialty schools, business partnerships could prove to be a great asset with the city population, he said.

“I think it affects the downtown demographics totally,” Thompson said, on city schools closing. “Who's going to live here? How old is the city going to get?”

2 meetings planned


The Butler School Board has scheduled two more meetings to focus on plans for possible closure and reuse of school buildings. They will be at 6 p.m. on Nov 5 and Nov. 24, both at the intermediate school auditorium.

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