by justin strawser
MANDATA - The elementary schools at Leck Kill and Dalmatia may eventually meet an inevitable end, according to the Line Mountain School Board Tuesday night at the high school.
Superintendent Dave Campbell said he expects even more drastic state cuts by Gov. Tom Corbett to education funding next year, prompting the discussion.
"I'm beyond trying to save these schools. I'm concerned about saving Line Mountain," said Campbell.
He said it is no longer a matter of Trevorton, Dalmatia, Leck Kill or the former West Cameron pride; it should be about district pride.
Director Lauren Hackenburg expressed her frustration with the board's inability to make a decision and stick with it.
"It's almost becoming a joke," she said.
The first option is to continue with the current plan of demolishing the existing building at Dalmatia and rebuilding it approximately 100 feet back, bringing it up to date. The board had originally planned to renovate, but the costs of doing so would have been $6.5 million compared to the new plan of $8 million for a new school.
This option provides extra room for classrooms and expansion in the event that Leck Kill Elementary School closes, which is likely.
The second option is to take the current blueprints, purchase land in the Red Cross area and build a new elementary school in the centralized location. Dalmatia would close and students would be moved there with the likely scenario of Leck Kill closing soon after that.
The third option is to close both schools immediately and build the school in the Red Cross area. All kindergarten through third grade students, including Trevorton Elementary School, would be sent to the new school and fourth through sixth grade would attend Trevorton.
The fourth option is to build the new school and have two sets of kindergarten through sixth grade, one at the new school and one at Trevorton.
"If it makes sense, do we have enough votes to move forward?" said Hackenburg. "If we don't, let's put the building up (option one). I'm just tired of wasting time."
However, because four members were absent, the board members decided to wait until another board meeting to make any decisions. The absent members will be briefed on the options before the next meeting.
"I think it's foolish not to explore these ideas," said Campbell.
Once the board makes a decision, studies must be conducted according to regulations from the Department of Education.
In 2006, the school board was presented with the elementary school consolidation idea, but the board at the time eventually voted it down.