The Neshaminy Board of School Directors met in public session on August 28, 2001 at the Tawanka Elementary School.  The following persons were in attendance:

Mr. Schoenstadt called the hearing to order at 7:00 p.m.  He explained a one hour hearing would be held regarding the closing of the Tawanka Elementary School.  The time limit was two minutes per speaker.

Dr. Bowman reviewed the enrollment and facilities data public information packet, which was available at the meeting.  The public information packed included the following information:  1970-2008 elementary enrollment graph, K-5 elementary enrollment 1993-2011, five year elementary enrollment projections, no changes in September 2002, 2002 closing smallest elementary school, Neshaminy alternative school data and elementary census grid-present boundaries.  See enrollment and facilities data public information packet for detailed information (attachment I).

Dr. Bowman explained there would be 52 regular education placements in the alternative school the first year.  The students would be Neshaminy students who need a smaller environment, more control and a setting that is different than a traditional classroom setting.  Currently, the District pays $758,160 to send Neshaminy students to alternative schools.  It is anticipated the second year Neshaminy special education student placements could be made at the alternative school.  The second year of operation a $285,000 savings is anticipated, because additional slots will be available for students from other school districts to attend Neshaminy’s alternative school.

Dr. McKee, Tawanka Elementary School principal, stated she was saddened by the prospective closing of the Tawanka Elementary School.  She presented the following statement:

In the eight years I have been privileged to be on the terrific Tawanka team, I have seen beauty in the art and science of teaching and learning in the community, and in the concern for children that goes so deep I would be accused of boosting if I gave you real life examples that occur on a daily basis.

If, indeed, the school is to be closed, I accept the challenge of helping my boys and girls and their families make a smooth transition to new schools.  It is my hope that students, parents and staff will join together in this regard.  I have already asked Mr. Marotto and other principals to support activities designed to reach this goal.  I have contacted the National Association of Elementary School Principals to ask for input.  I have posted a question on their Principal Exchange Web Page and have spoken with a principal in another state who had a similar experience.

Parents fear not.  Your children are wonderful and resilient.  Should this change occur, they will take their cue on how to accept it from you.  Throughout the year please share your concerns with me so we can address them together.  This year you will require more from my colleagues and me.  Regardless of personal feelings, I am confident that we will continue to commit ourselves to providing a quality education with all the trimmings.  Frankly, we don’t know how to behave in any other way.

Thank you Dr. Bowman.  I enjoyed the opportunity you gave me to be part of the Tawanka community.  There have been years of personal and professional growth, of laughter and tears, of supporting others and being supported.

To my colleagues on the terrific Tawanka team, be joyful.  Thank you for caring so intensely about our students and our school.  We have always put the students first and like me you came to think of Tawanka as your home away from home.  My friends, no matter what occurs in the future, I will always be proud to say that I was part of Tawanka when you were too.  Together we made our little corner of the world a better place for children, families and for each other.  Join me in giving that gift for one more glorious year.  Then if we must say goodbye, lets take that Tawanka magic and share it with the world.

Mr. Stack requested public comment.  There was a two minute time limit per speaker.  Mrs. Pulcinella, Langhorne, stated she has been a District taxpayer for the last 29 years and has yet to see any savings in her taxes.  She indicated rather than close a school and receive a $50.00 savings in taxes, she would prefer to keep all the schools open and  buy one less bottle of water a week.  She noted in the past, the Board has closed schools and reopened them.  It cost more to reopen the schools than it did to build the schools.  She pointed out since she does not have any children or grandchildren attending Neshaminy Schools, she gains nothing from her school taxes.

Mrs. Pulcinella said if the Board is determined to open an alternative school in the District, it should open such a school in the high school as the Pennsbury School District did.  She inquired about the cost of retrofitting an elementary school to accommodate secondary students.  She said put the children and education before the mighty dollar.  She said at a previous meeting, Dr. Bowman had stated a Pennsbury School had only 22 students in a classroom and the Pennsbury School District is not closing a school.

Mrs. Pulcinella questioned the savings projected as a result of closing the Tawanka School.  She felt sending the Tawanka School students to another school will not save the District money.  Due to additional students attending another school, it may be necessary to hire an elementary school assistant principal.  Since additional busing will be necessary, transportation costs will increase.  Currently, the buses do not take students home on time.  The students are dismissed at 3:30 p.m. and the last bus arrives at 4:00 p.m.  If the Tawanka students are transferred to the Hoover School, what time will they get home from school?  She stated she was disappointed in the school closing issue position of the School Board members she voted into office.

Mrs. Davis, Langhorne, stated she was speaking on behalf of the Executive Home and School Board.  She noted the Bucks County Courier Times used statements in their August 10 editorial article such as the  Neshaminy School Board chose the remedy that would inflict the least pain and it is the path of least resistance.  Mrs. Davis stated these comments seem to convey the notion that the Tawanka community does not care whether the school is closed or stays open.  This notion is far from the truth.

Mrs. Davis pointed out the Tawanka School is a small school, however, it is a close-knit community.  This community has always worked together to provide the children with a secure, well-rounded education by a team of teachers and staff who take personal pride in our children’s accomplishments throughout their elementary experience.  She stated many of us chose not to take an adversarial approach out of respect for our elected officials.  We put our faith in a system that we believed would do the best for all concerned and not bow to political pressure.  She pointed out since the Tawanka community did not choose a special ribbon color and tie ribbons half way across town or shout from the rooftops that the Tawanka School is the best school, does not mean the Tawanka community members are any less proud of their school nor are the children any less distressed about losing their school.  Tawanka community members attended Board Meetings and spoke respectfully of their school.  Is being respectful to imply we are the path of least resistance?  This statement is a callous insult to the small Tawanka community and conveys the message that we just do not care.

Mrs. Davis stated the Tawanka community questions the Board’s decision for many reasons.  She noted the senior citizens, especially those in the Village of Flowers Mill, have been complaining their school taxes are too high.  Haven’t senior citizens always paid school taxes wherever they lived and whether they had children of their own or not attending school?  This group of individuals knew what their school taxes would be before they chose to move to their new community.  Why should the Tawanka children pay for their ignorance by being forced out of the small nurturing environment they are accustomed to and their neighborhood to attend, in many cases, a school not in their own town but across several towns, and only to become one of numerous students in the largest elementary school in the District?  For even the best students, this will be a major adjustment going from being recognized by most of their fellow students and staff to being just another student in a school with five classes at each grade level.

Mrs. Davis expressed concern that the school the Tawanka School students will be attending will have to utilize modular classrooms to accommodate the increased enrollment.  She said in a time when families are turning away from the public school system, is the message we want to convey that of when times get tough we just close up.  Closing a school only serves to reinforce people’s need to look elsewhere and the District will continue to lose students.  She stated the District has many problems with the Transportation Department.  Especially, more recently, with staffing shortages and turnover. 

Mrs. Lanhan, Trevose, speaking on behalf of the Executive Home and School Board inquired if any research has been done regarding the potential savings of contracting out student transportation.  She felt more transportation problems will be created by closing a school that has a large percentage of students walking to school.

Mrs. Lanhan stated in past discussions, Dr. Bowman has been quoted as saying he was concerned about closing a middle school with a net effect of warehousing students.  Wouldn’t the same affect happen when a small, community based school is closed and the students are sent to larger schools?  A few short years ago, the parents in the elementary schools were screaming their children’s classrooms were too crowded.

Mrs. Lanhan stated three of the School Board members will be retiring from the Board effective this December.  Two of the three retiring Board members have voted to close the Tawanka School.  Is the decision to close the Tawanka School in order to cut taxes rushed, because the Board members are running out of time in their present positions to research other options?  Would the Board consider making a number of cuts which potentially would add up to the total savings needed?  How many other options did the Board really consider?  Wouldn’t it make more sense to consider all of the options available prior to making a decision of this magnitude even if it meant the decision would be made by a newly elected School Board after January 1, 2002?  In that case, the 90 day waiting period prior to the closing of any school, if necessary, would be satisfied well before the end of the school year.  Since the District already has student placements planned for each possible school closing scenario, it could be implemented immediately.  She noted three Board members are adamant about not closing a school.  She questioned if their reasons for not closing a school fell on deaf ears because of the time limit and a need for a quick fix.

Mrs. Lanhan stated Neshaminy is one of the best school districts in the area.  She urged the Board to consider the message it is sending to the community, both inside and outside of the District.  She expressed concern about the Board choosing to close a school and then in the future resorting to another drastic measure because the savings of this action were not great enough.  She said our children are our future.  What are we teaching them when we do not consider all options possible, especially when the decision will directly affect them?  Mrs. Lanhan urged the Board members to reconsider their choice.

Mrs. Hogg, Langhorne, stated the decision to close the Tawanka School is heartbreaking to her personally.  She questioned the statistical information provided.  She said the Schweitzer School’s enrollment statistics are lower than the Tawanka School’s statistics.  She pointed out Schweitzer School students could be transferred to three area schools.  The Schweitzer School is located 1.4 miles from the Hoover School, .9 miles from the Everitt School and 1.2 miles from the Buck School.  She stated the Lower Southampton Elementary School will not be able to accommodate all of the Tawanka School students.  Therefore, the rumor is that some of the Tawanka School students would be transferred to the Hoover School, which is not a local school for the Tawanka School students.  She felt the Board has selected the school for closure that was the path of least resistance and was politically an easy target, because of the low number of parents protesting at the meetings and no close neighbors to protest an alternative school being operated at the site. 

Mrs. Hogg felt her daughter has a right to attend a neighborhood neighbor.  She said the Heckman School is 1.5 miles from her house.  It does not make any sense for her daughter to travel six miles to attend the Hoover School.  She expressed concern about the busing situation.  She felt it would not be fair to send the students from the smallest elementary school, Tawanka School, to the largest elementary school in the District, Hoover School.  Unless redistricting involving other elementary schools takes place and the Tawanka School students attend local schools, she cannot be convinced the School Board has the children’s best interest in mind and is instead more interested in the path of least resistance.

Mrs. Hogg referred to the following statement which she said is included in the Mission Statement:  “A community joined together to integrate its people.”  She said moving the Tawanka students to the Hoover School would work to further divide the community. 

Mrs. Cronin, Feasterville, thanked Dr. Frank, Mr. Eccles and Mr. Mecleary for their vote not to close the Tawanka Elementary School.  She said Neshaminy is about educating children in grades K through 12.  Tawanka, which means willingness to achieve, is the only elementary school with a Native American name.  She pointed out that every day Dr. McKee, Tawanka School principal, interacts with the students.  Mrs. Lenahan, counselor, each day has “A Lunch with Lenahan.”  Each day a group of students has lunch in her office and they are free to discuss any topic they wish.  The Tawanka School is the only elementary school in the District with peer mediation.  The school is handicap accessible.  The two Intermediate Unit classes are one with the Tawanka School.  The Tawanka School has over 100 parent volunteers who volunteer because they want to be at the school.  She inquired if the Tawanka School is closed, where will the students attend school, how long will it take to transport the students to school, how long will the students be on the bus and how long will it take to transport the students home on snowy days?

Mrs. Cronin said she sympathizes with the senior citizens’ tax situation.  She said it is easier to bear the taxes when your children are being educated and you see the services they receive.  Is it truly in the interest of the students to close the Tawanka School or is the school being closed due to taxpayers’ complaints?  Taxes will not go down.  How soon until a new elementary school is built and taxes are increased again?  She urged the Board to find another way to deal with the situation.

Mrs. Parssinen, Langhorne, noted the behavior of community members representing the various schools at previous Board members.  She stated she hopes the School Board makes decisions based on facts and not upon who throws the most impressive tantrum.  She requested the Board convince her that it has not listened to tantrums, the Tawanka School is the best choice for closure based on facts and the Tawanka School is not merely the path of least resistance.  She noted Mr. Stack had stated at the August 8 Board Meeting that consideration is still being given to closing a middle school in two to three years.  She felt perhaps this is a diversionary tactic.  She expressed concern if the Board is seriously considering closing a middle school in two to three years, her family would be affected by school closings twice, Tawanka elementary school and in three years a middle school.  She said the Board has indicated closing the Tawanka School is appealing, because it requires redistricting fewer students than other options.  Assuming the Tawanka School is closed, will enrollment be distributed evenly among the elementary schools or will the Tawanka School students be crammed into new schools while others still enjoy under enrollment?  Which school will the Tawanka students attend?  She said if the Tawanka students will be attending a school other than the next nearest elementary school, it is not acceptable.  She felt more students than just the Tawanka students need to be redistricted.  She said the Board is asking the Tawanka community to give up its neighborhood school.  The Board can give back to the community by keeping the children close by. 

Mrs. Kline, Langhorne, explained when her children were in elementary school, they experienced a similar situation and were transferred to a different school further away from their home.  The change did not adversely affect her children.  She indicated she was in favor of transferring the students to another school/s to better utilize the facilities.   She felt when transferring students, they should be kept as close to home as possible. 

Mr. Menarde, Oakford, questioned the elementary student enrollment graph indicating the elementary enrollment will continue to decline.  He inquired how the enrollment projections were calculated.  He stated in 1996-1997 there was an enrollment increase of 29 students.  He asked why a projection was listed for the 2001-2002 enrollment rather than an actual enrollment number. 

Mr. Dickler, Langhorne, explained he is a senior citizen living in the Village of Flowers Mill.  He said he resents the slurs being made at the meetings about senior citizens not being interested in paying taxes.  He stated the Village of Flowers Mill residents are paying higher taxes than over 70 percent of  the residents in the county.  The Village of Flowers Mill homes are taxed on a 100 percent basis of not only the price paid for them, but the price they sold for within a six month period after the residents purchased their homes.  There has been no reassessment in the county in 30 years.  The majority of the Village of Flowers Mill residents agree that everyone should pay their fair share in taxes.  It is not fair that the Village of Flowers Mill residents are being penalized tax wise and publicly accused of not doing their fair share.  The Village of Flowers Mill residents want to be equal with what everyone else is paying.  He asked the Board to explain this situation to the community. 

Mr. Riegal, Village of Flowers Mill, stated more senior citizens are living in the area than there are families with young children.  In order to keep all the schools open and fill the schools to capacity, more families with young children need to move into the area to raise their children.  More needs to be done to attract families with young children to the area.

Mrs. Flannery stated she has been a resident in the District since 1953.  She enjoys bringing her children  to the school’s playground and walking the grounds.  She indicated she was in favor of keeping the Tawanka School open. 

Mr. Graeber, Oakford, indicated he was opposed to the Tawanka School being closed.  He said he would be willing to pay an additional $100 in taxes to keep the Tawanka School open.  He stated he preferred smaller class sizes because it is more conducive to learning.  He questioned the need for an alternative school in the District.  He expressed concern about the type of students who would be attending the alternative school and their possible affect on the neighborhood. 

Miss Ignasiak, Tawanka School student, felt none of the schools should be closed because everyone needs to think of all of the students and teachers who will be disappointed.  She felt all the Board cares about is saving money and some things are more important than that.  She urged the Board to think of all the students who could lose their friends and the teachers that will lose their jobs.  She said we love our schools.  They are like family.  Please keep our family together.  If you think about it, you will know you should not close down any schools.

Mrs. Reboh, Langhorne, inquired what is the Board’s intention.  Is it to ensure there is enough money to run the School District?  Is it to make the Neshaminy School District the best it can be?  Shouldn’t it be both?  She stated moving the students out of the Tawanka School will have a great impact on the community.  Some students may have to be bused a considerable distance from their homes.  She explained when her family moved to the neighborhood, she was concerned there were no children for her son to play with.  Now, six years later, the neighborhood is crawling with children.  She noted in the past, two District schools have been closed and it cost more to reopen them than the cost of building them.  She felt the drop in elementary enrollment is just a lull.  She invited the Board members to visit the Tawanka School’s surrounding neighborhoods and see the new, young families living in the neighborhoods.  She pointed out she does not have any children who will be attending the Tawanka School any more, but she still feels it is important to fight to keep it open as an elementary school.  She felt it is important to have elementary students attend a school close to their home base.  It is their security.  She explained since she lived close to the school, she was willing to help with projects such as the Harvest Fair and attend many school functions.   She said she has heard people say if their children have to attend a school outside of the community, they would look into private schools.  Charter schools are opening up all over the country, because parents are tired of School Boards, who they elected, not listening to what they are saying.  Mrs. Reboh said what she has heard at the Board Meetings is people saying do not close any of the schools. Find another way.  Raise our taxes even.  Just do not close our schools.  This is our community. 

Mrs. Reboh read a statement her son wrote, which stated he has been at the Tawanka School for six years.  Those six years were really good years.  When I had some trouble in school, the teacher I was with that year helped me get through that trouble and move on.  The Home and School Association and a lot of helping moms raised enough money to build a $30,000 playground.  Tawanka is a great school for kids who have disabilities or who are just fine.  Even though I do not have any younger brothers or sisters, my friends do.  If Tawanka closes down, some of my friends might move.  So if you do close down Tawanka, you would not just be closing down a great school, but closing down a lot of adults’ past history. 

Mr. Winther, Langhorne, felt the Tawanka School’s teaching staff and principal are probably the best in the state of Pennsylvania.  He said the Board wants to take a good school and bring 52 disruptive children from Neshaminy to the Tawanka School, and in the second year bring disruptive children from other school districts into the school.  He expressed concern about security issues and the affect the alternative school will have on the neighborhood. 

Mrs. Riehl, Langhorne, expressed concern if the Tawanka School is closed, 45 to 60 elementary students will be standing on Brownsville Road every morning waiting for the bus.  She said what steps will be taken for the students’ safety?  Even now with the flashing school zone lights, the cars do not drive at 15 miles per hour. 

Mrs. Horton, Langhorne, asked how the Board can justify closing an efficiently run, neighborhood school where approximately one-third of the students are walkers, where two new classes were added to accommodate the increased number of students in two different grades and will be operating at 81 percent capacity in the year 2002 while five other District schools will be operating at less than 76 percent of their capacity.  She pointed out the District still has 18 modular classrooms.  The modular classrooms were designed and originally purchased as a temporary solution to overcrowding.  If the overcrowding no longer exists, why are they still being used as classrooms?  She stated no child should have a portable trailer as a permanent classroom.  She challenged the Board members to spend a day in a portable classroom.  Mrs. Horton said delegating the special education students to the portable classrooms, as was previously suggested, is totally unacceptable.  These are the very children that do not need to feel isolated and different.  One of the many things she loves about Tawanka is the total inclusion of the Intermediate Unit special education students in classes housed at the school.  Every child is an equal and cherished member of the Tawanka family. 

Mrs. Horton stated the Tawanka School was designed and built as an elementary school.  The Board’s plan is to have secondary level students housed at the school.  What will be the cost to bring the physical facility up to standards for teenagers?  How much will it cost to retrofit the facility?  Will the District be able to meet the state mandated courses for secondary students without physically changing the building at an expense?  Should the Tawanka School need to be reopened as an elementary school, what will be the cost?  Mrs. Horton asked which school the Tawanka students will attend.  She urged the Board to think hard and carefully about their final plan and the long-term impact on the District and the children.  She said removing just one piece diminishes the whole.  Keep Neshaminy whole.  Do not remove the Tawanka piece of the patchwork quilt that is Neshaminy.

Mr. Rudolph, Tawanka School parent, questioned the rationale for closing the Tawanka School.  He questioned the basis for the statistical information provided.  He inquired where he can obtain information to determine what the projections are based on and determine the cost of converting the school for use as an alternative school.  He said what are the sources for the enrollment projections?  He asked why the enrollment is decreasing.

Mrs. Rakita, Langhorne, indicated she was opposed to the Tawanka School being closed.  She felt it was unfair to hold the meetings during the summer months when half of the residents are on vacation and unaware of what is taking place.  She was opposed to alternative students being placed at the school and the elementary students being transferred to other District schools.  She urged the Board to hold meetings and hearings after the new school year begins to make everyone aware of the situation.

Ms. Pennypacker, Langhorne, stated she was representing the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers.  She stated if the purpose is to save money, the Board will, of course, close the Tawanka Elementary School.  However, if the main objective is the students, their education and safety, then the Board will follow the suggestion of the NFT, which has been given to the Board many times since early spring.  That is to keep all elementary schools open and get rid of the modular units.  Moving classes from the modular classrooms into the buildings along with redistricting will equalize building capacities and utilization will be 80 percent, which is agreed to be an optimum number.  Nine smaller schools are more educationally sound than eight larger ones.  There is no running water in the modular classrooms.  In the aftermath of Columbine, how safe is it for the children to leave the modular classrooms and cross the playground to enter the building to use the bathroom facilities, get drinks or see the nurse?  She urged the Board members to examine their consciences.  She said what is more important money or people?  Listen to those who elected you.  Keep Tawanka open.

Mrs. Heuer, Langhorne, said her children received a private school education at a public school price.  She has always been pleased and proud of the education her children received in the Neshaminy School District.  She referred to comments made earlier in the meeting and said if you want to encourage young people to move into the area, what better way to do it than by having a neighborhood school.  She felt if the Tawanka School is closed, young families will not want to move into the neighborhood and property values will go down.  She recommended the Board eliminate some of the administrative positions, which are so costly.  She said how many Superintendents does the District need?  She urged the Board to compare how other school districts operate administratively.  She thanked Dr. Frank, Mr. Eccles and Mr. Mecleary for realizing community is important and it is not just about money. 

Dr. Bowman explained the data for the enrollment projections were generated by the following three different sources:  Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Economy League and the District.  The three data sources were used to arrive at the projected enrollments for the District.  There was a high degree of common data among the three sources.  The data was not that far apart to suggest that any one source was bad information. Based upon this, the administration and Board felt comfortable with the enrollment projections. 

Dr. Bowman explained when the District had high elementary enrollment, the live birth rate was over 1,200 children a year.  It is now down below 700 births a year.  The live birth rate is obtain from area hospitals as reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. 

Dr. Bowman stated when the new attendance boundaries are developed, the attendance boundaries will probably be changed for most of the buildings, and students other than Tawanka students will be relocated.  The goal is to balance out the capacity of the buildings, and not overtax any one building.  Probably over 20 percent of the elementary school population will be relocated into another building.  This will include children in schools other than the Tawanka Elementary School.

Dr. Bowman explained if the Board continues to move in the direction of an alternative school, there is a commitment that the school will not be for juvenile delinquents.  It will be for students who need a different kind of learning environment that is more controlled, smaller and more structured than the traditional classroom provided in the regular secondary schools.  Every school district provides alternative settings or pays for students to attend alternative schools.  The students attending the alternative school will be Neshaminy children. 

Dr. Bowman stated no one has discussed selling the Tawanka facility.  Over the years, it has been learned that buildings will be needed down the road.  The Board is committed to maintaining the Tawanka School as a first class facility, which includes the property and physical plant.  It will not cost a huge sum of money to open the facility as an alternative school.  The alternative school will be staffed properly with District employees.  The Board has been advised that the school will need a principal.  It will be properly operated and managed. It will not be a stepchild alternative school to anyone. 

Mr. Stack stated the Tawanka facility will be a resource to the community.  He pointed out the certified staff contract agreement provides for reduced class size within all of the elementary schools.  Class sizes will actually be reduced.  The eight elementary schools will be able to accommodate the reduced class size.  The Board will be closely reviewing the use of modular classrooms to determine those currently utilized for regular classroom use that can be taken off line and the students accommodated within the District’s buildings.  The question is what degree of realignment will be necessary to accomplish this. 

Mrs. Butville pointed out that the District is already under contract to rent out to a nursing school the four modular classrooms located at the Heckman School.  This will generate income for the District.  She noted the Board has been studying the declining enrollment issue for over two years.  Over the two year period, many options have been reviewed.  The possibility of closing a middle school was discussed.  However, after further review it was determined a middle school could not be closed without severely affecting the educational value for the students.  At the elementary level, there is a lot of empty space.  To be responsible fiscally and educationally, the schools cannot be operating at 50 to 75 percent capacity.  It is better to take the dollar and put it into educational value for the students rather than heating a half empty building. 

Mrs. Butville explained in the past, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Economy League and the District’s enrollment projections have been fairly accurate.  Since there was a high level of agreement among the three studies, the Board is using the data for the basis of its decision.  She pointed out the Neshaminy student population goes in 10 to 15 year cycles.  Currently, the student population is on the decline, and a school needs to be closed  In another ten years it may be necessary to reopen the school. 

Mrs. Butville noted several members of the community had commented on the cost of reopening a closed school.  She pointed out when the Maple Point School was built, it was built as an open class facility.  When it was closed, it was not used as an educational facility.  When it was reopened, a lot of construction/renovation was necessary to bring the facility up to code and change it from an open classroom facility to a more traditional school setting.  The Board wants to keep the Tawanka School as an educational facility and use it as an alternative school for Neshaminy students.  When the Tawanka School is needed as an elementary facility in possibly ten years, extensive renovations will not be necessary.  She pointed out information regarding the school closing issue is available for review on Neshaminy’s Web Site. 

Ms Drioli asked all the Neshaminy communities to support and applaud the fact that the District does not want any children falling through the cracks.  She emphasized the importance of  the District being able to open its own facility to house Neshaminy students who have special needs.  She said it takes a village to raise a child.  It also takes a village to raise a child that is not receiving what he/she needs.  Ms. Drioli stated she will fight hard for the Tawanka students not to attend the Hoover School. 

Mr. Stack thanked the members of the public for attending the public hearing and presenting their comments.  He announced an Executive Session would be held following the public hearing to discuss personnel items and contract issues.  Mr. Stack adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.  An Executive Session was held.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol A. Calvello
Board Secretary