L. Milford Supervisor, Engineers Reviewing Elem. School Information

According to an update posted on the Lower Milford Township website, supervisor Mike Snovitch and township engineers are currently reviewing engineering information about Lower Milford Elementary School that could be a factor in the Southern Lehigh School District's decision about whether or not to keep the school open.

Snovitch—who is himself a professional engineer—publicly requested the information at a school district public hearing held late last month.

The hearing is required by the state Department of Education whenever a district is considering closing an elementary school.

Either Lower Milford or Hopewell Elementary School in Upper Saucon Township could be considered for closure, since both will need millions of dollars in repairs and upgrades in the coming years, according to district officials.

Lower Milford Township officials and residents have been vocal in urging school board members to keep the only public school in their township open, in spite of its small size and distance from the other schools in the district.

Snovitch has also cited the fact that the school is Red Cross-designated for use as a township emergency shelter as another reason the board should try to keep it open.

"Hopefully, when this [engineering] review is done the school board will have the correct information to make an informed decision which leads to keeping our elementary open," the news update posted on the Lower Milford Township website stated.

Visitors to the website were encouraged to "look for additional updates" on the subject.

The earliest a decision about closing either Lower Milford or Hopewell could come is late January, since the state requires a three-month waiting period after the public hearing.

At the Nov. 11 Southern Lehigh School Board meeting, president Jeffrey Dimmig said the board and district officials had provided Snovitch with the contact information for the engineers involved with the school reports.

"We did certainly provide him, as far as I know, with all of the information we can," Dimmig said.

He added that the district would do the same for any member of the public.

Photo: Lower Milford Township municipal building (Patch file photo)