SCCTC expansion faces opposition
Published: October 14, 2009
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Elk Lake superintendent William Bush explains the reasoning behind the proposed SCCTC expansion. STAFF PHOTO/MIKE RUDOLF
Residents of the ElkLakeSchool District were extremely vocal in their objections to expanding the Susquehanna County Career and TechnologyCenter.
About a hundred people attended a public hearing before the school board on Thursday. Of the nearly two dozen who chose to speak out, the vast majority strongly opposed the $8.6 million project.
Melanie Hanjaras said the proposal to expand the building and nearly double the number of educational programs offered is too grandiose.
“This area has been depressed for a long time,” Hanjaras told the school board.
“If we do this, you think it’s going to be great. But some of your neighbors are going to be losing everything they have,” she said.
Hanjaras, a real estate agent and school bus driver, disputed the board’s claims that the new programs aren’t needed. She said enrollment in area schools is dropping.
“That tells me there’s not enough kids in this area to fulfill this,” she said.
Mike Bunnell, who said he has three sons attending ElkLake, told the board the district can’t afford the project.
“There comes a time when the money situation has got to stop,” he said.
Before the public portion of the hearing, the school district presented a detailed overview of the project.
According to Superintendent William Bush, as the owner of the career center, the ElkLake district is ultimately responsible for the construction and operation of the facility. However, he said much of the cost would come back to the district through tuitions paid by students in the six other member districts.
In addition to ElkLake, member school districts are Blue Ridge, Lackawanna Trail, Montrose Area, Mountain View, Susquehanna Community and Tunkhannock Area.
Bush estimated that ElkLake’s costs would result in a property tax increase of about one mill. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value.
The building project is necessary, Bush said, to house educational programs that will benefit students.
Those programs include auto body collision and repair technician; vehicle maintenance and small engine repair technology; electrical, electronics and communications engineering technology (nanotechnology); health information and medical records technology; and criminal justice / police science.
Bush said the traditional education model no longer fits today’s world. The expense of college isn’t necessarily the right thing for many students, he said.
“There simply isn’t the need for all students to go a four-year (college) track,” he said.
Bush noted that the courses proposed for the career center were selected based on input from business leaders, educators and students themselves.
Architect John Kropcho, who has designed most of ElkLake’s previous projects, presented some preliminary designs for the expansion.
Kropcho said the project would more than double the space the career center has through a 37,000-square-foot addition.
Tentative plans call for the addition to be on the opposite side of the parking lot by the career center’s current entrance, in the area of the pavilion behind the school, he noted.
Among those who spoke out against the project were several ElkLake employees. They objected to the fact that the career center was getting new facilities when the main school still needs upgrades.
Marie Moore, the district’s cafeteria manager, said her department is sorely in need of improvements.
“I can’t even keep the kids’ food warm because my cafeteria hasn’t been renovated in years,” she said.
Moore claimed there are many others from within the school who didn’t show up.
“Most of the people who were opposed to this were afraid to come here because they know what will happen to their jobs,” she said.
Penny Stockholm, a special education aide, stated that repairs to the high school’s heating and ventilation system should come first.
“Why can’t the school get something instead of the vo-tech?
she said.
she said.
Stockholm was among several who suggested the district wait until it starts getting revenue from a natural gas well on the property.
“Until the money comes in from the wells or something, I don’t think we should be spending all this money,” she said.
“That could affect the millage rate for the ElkLakeSchool District,” said resident Charles Groley.
The district has leased some property behind the elementary school to Cabot Oil & Gas. A well is currently being drilled.
Bush said district officials did take gas revenue under consideration, but because there is no guarantee of any production that money can’t be counted on yet.
Although the voices in favor of the project were few, there were some.
Steve Reinhart, a teacher at the career center, said he currently lives in the Blue RidgeSchool District, where he claims taxes are out of control.
“I’m looking real hard to relocate to this district,” he said.
Reinhart also addressed the educational issue, saying the career center must keep pace with those in other areas.
“If we don’t do more for our kids, how are they going to compete with the kids in the valley who are trained?” he wondered.
Teacher Will Squier said even with just the current programs the facility is overcrowded. He added that he has received positive comments from the other school districts.
“I have met with nothing but enthusiasm from the sending schools for this expansion,” he said.
Bush noted that the school board must review the public testimony for at least 30 days before making a decision.
