Opinion
OUR VIEW: Taxpayers should demand best use of school buildings
When are Sharon taxpayers going to take a lead from the movie �Network� and stick their heads out their windows and yell: �I�m mad as hell and I�m not going to take it anymore!�
This might be a good time to do it and then show up at the next Sharon School Board meeting and scream the same thing.
The board last week announced its decision to build a new elementary school on the site of the current Case Avenue school, after tearing down the current building. The board considered two sites: the current school location or the the former Hadley School property.
Either decision was wrong. Wrong and very costly.
Sharon Middle/High School has undergone millions of dollars in renovations the last few years. The same with Farrell High School. It�s time to take advantage of the facilities that taxpayers have already funded.
Sharon school directors� decision should have been to meet with Farrell School Board and combine the two districts. All high school and junior high students from both districts should be moved into the current Sharon building with all elementary students going to Farrell.
The cost of busing students would be minimal, compared to constructing and maintaining a new school building.
The biggest expense for every taxpayer is the school district. And the level of taxes and sewer bills for Sharon residents is already outrageous.
Board members indicated that they can only spend $20 million on the project.
ONLY?
Where are they going to get that kind of money? When you float a bond for construction, somebody has to pay for it. How much will that increase taxes of Sharon residents who already pay the highest taxes in the county?
Sharon�s population and its number of businesses have steadily declined the last few decades. Houses are for sale on just about every street. But it�s difficult to sell a property at this time anywhere, especially in an area where taxes are so high.
Let�s be realistic. With fewer jobs available in western Pennsylvania, there will not be any influx of new taxpayers into Sharon or Farrell.
It is also difficult to attract more businesses, let alone keep the ones that are here. Every time there is a boost in taxes, every business has to consider its bottom line. If profits drop, it may be time to move.
The enrollment in both districts is a fraction of what it was decades ago. Sharon graduates fewer than half as many seniors as it once did.
Also consider that as jobs get scarce here, younger parents will need to move their families elsewhere to support them so enrollments will probably continue to decline.
Now is the time to pull the word �consolidation� from the dreaded �wish list� and move it to the realistic �need list.� But taxpayers have to show up at the next board meeting and make their needs known.
Combining Sharon and Farrell school districts right now makes sense and cents.
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