MEADVILLE — By a margin of more than two to one, speakers expressing opinions during Crawford Central School Board’s recent public hearing on the possibility of closing of East End Elementary School supported saving their school.

In most cases, “their school” was the operative phrase. With few exceptions, the more than 20 individuals expressing support for not closing East End had personal connections to the school.

Ditto for one school board member. His eight colleagues were seated on the stage of Meadville Area Senior High School’s auditorium facing the audience of more than 100 students and adults, but Richard Curry took an aisle seat half a dozen rows from the front, facing the stage.

“I sat with the audience because I completely support the people of East End,” said Curry, who lives in the East End attendance area. “I know their involvement in saving East End school and I thought I was probably more in alignment with them than with people up on the stage.”

The people on the stage listened without comment to the testimony presented. A three-month “cooling-off” period has not begun; before the full three months have passed, school board members cannot make a final decision on the fate of the school.

The testimony presented by more than 30 individuals fell into several broad categories.

“The community is passionate,” observed North Street resident Mike Litzinger, who attended East End himself and now has two children following in his footsteps. “Depending on what school was being closed, there would be different people here,” he told the board. Last year, he added, when people believed that Second District Elementary School would not be re-opened, there was not a lot of public outcry from Second District students and parents. “That speaks volumes about the kind of neighborhood East End is,” he said.



Shattered expectations

Many families chose the East End neighborhood because all three schools, East End, Meadville Area Middle School and Meadville Area Senior High School, are within walking distance, Maple Street resident Patience Laub observed.

“What’s to keep me from moving to Vernon Township now?,” Chestnut Street resident Marty Decker wanted to know. “How many East End families will move to cyber or private schools?”

“I wanted my kids to be in a small community school,” Julie Panchura agreed. “If East End closes, we’ll entertain the thought of moving or going to cyber school.”

“If property values decrease, will our property taxes decrease, too?” Jill Tucker wanted to know. “Has the school board considered the long-term effects on the community of closing East End?”

“I don’t want it to go,” East End first-grader Holden Brown said.

“If East End closes, we will refuse to stay,” his mother, Leslie, agreed, noting that the family is already investigating options such as Saegertown or Neason Hill if the closure takes place.

“Property values will plummet. Children will go to cyber schools,” said East End resident Jenny Basco. “It sounds like the decision has been made,” she continued. “Our little sweethearts who have grown up together will be going to some inner-city school where they don’t know anyone. More than $7 million was spent to renovate our school — we have the best school.”



Throwing money away

The $7 million dollars the district recently spent to update and expand East End also drew numerous comments. When one resident, mentioning the $2.2 million the district expects to receive from Pennsylvania Department of Education as reimbursement for the recently completed renovations, asked if they’re “going to end up with a $4.8 million pile of bricks sitting on Walnut Street,” Superintendent Charlie Heller had a one-word answer: “Yes.” Pressed for an explanation, “The decision (to update all of the district’s elementary schools) was made years ago,” he continued. “We can’t afford the buildings we’ve got.”

“Close Neason Hill (which has not yet undergone renovations) if you’re going to close anything, and keep East End open,” Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community resident Ronald Harned said.

“What are the plans for the building?” Chestnut Street resident Amy Decker wanted to know. Heller replied that that will be a topic of discussion once the decision has been made to close the school.



Close it down and move on

“East End is a common-sense choice, district resident and retired Crawford Central teacher Ray Inman observed. Commending Heller for making the recommendation, “We need to do this as a community,” he said.

“We need direction,” said Mike Kalustian, a resident of the First District attendance area. “We need to get behind our superintendent and help him. We need to get behind Charlie and let him make hard decisions,” he added. “He’s trying to make a better school district for everyone.”

“If Neason Hill was closed next year, I’d be disappointed — but my daughter will be fine,” Nancy Frambes said. “It’s not about ‘my school.’ It has to be about what’s best for the school district.”

“We have to remember that we are all one community — all of us,” said Tammy Adams. “Thank you, Charlie Heller. If closing a school will make us a stronger community, then that’s a decision that has to be made.”

“You wasted millions,” East End resident Jim Roha said. Stressing that this is an aging community and taxes are key, “you have a tough decision to make,” he said. “I think you’re on the right track.”

“A school must close,” Neason Hill attendance area resident Kinta Alizzeo said. “It’s not popular, but it’s necessary. Renovating (East End) was a short-sighted decision but what is done is done. You have to move forward.”

“Unfortunately, a lot of emotion and loud voices have put us into this position,” Neason Hill resident Allison Palmiero Brady said. Noting that she has lived in several large cities, “I know what inner-city is,” she said. “This is not inner-city. If end up appeasing a few people and we have to cut programs, we’re saving something small in exchange for something much bigger. Please make good fiscal decisions.”

“We have to take out the passion and look at it fiscally,” said Kelly Clark. “We are all part of Meadville. Immerse yourself in whatever school your student attends. We aren’t going to lose community closeness by closing one school.”

Referring to herself as a kid who moved all over Meadville as a child, “I never attended East End — and I think I turned out OK,” said Carolyn Brown. “I think your kids will be fine.”



Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com.