Elementary school debate continues

Westfall — Architect Doug Flynn was not going to win, no matter what school plans he presented to the Delaware Valley Board of Education on Nov. 13. One of the major campaign issues in the last board elections remained a divisive point as an apparently growing number of opponents to new construction on the existing Westfall campus were joined by other board members who expressed concerns about project add-ons and the uncertain national economy. How much and how big As presented in this latest option, Flynn estimated construction costs at $160 per square foot, or about $22.7 million. He said cost per square foot figures could fluctuate up or down. Last week’s plans added almost 7,000 square feet to the school plans (figure B) presented in September and some 3,600 square feet to the administrative office portion of a gymnasium addition (figure A) to the high school. Where they stand Westfall campus opponents remained firm. Sue Casey looked at expanded population projections and said the board will find “We’re building the wrong building in the wrong place.” New member Sue Schor noted that the DV middle school has no recreation fields, other than Matamoras Airport Park. “I’d feel better if we had an alternative should Airport Park’s uses change... We’re cutting ourselves short, ” Schor argued. In tearing down the existing 28-year-old administration building, former board member Jack Fisher said the district was losing property he valued at $2 million. Diane French questioned where the directive to add the new high school gym to the project came from. Superintendent Dr. Candis Finan said the board had directed the inclusion of the gymnasium in project plans. “I’m not supporting a high school gym in this economy... I’d like to see the plans without the gym,” French said. John Wroblewski wanted to know if other building sites the board considered are still available. He noted that the district had a $21 million cost estimate one year ago, including the land. French rebutted, asking about the costs already incurred in researching the Santos and Biondo properties. Board member Ed Silverstone said the news he’s been reading about the near term economic prospects was giving him concerns about the new building. “The whole thing is making me nervous. Twenty-two or $23 million - pretty soon we’re talking about real money.” Finan said the choices are to stop the current planning or move ahead with construction. Noting the lack of consensus Finan said she didn’t want to waste the architects’ time if the board could not decide. And if no new construction is to be approved, $3 to $5 million should be allocated to upgrade the existing sub-standard building. “If we don’t, it’s not fair,” she said. Flynn was asked to prepare another option for the board, which was scheduled to meet again on Nov. 20.