SLSB Hearing About Elem. School Closure Set for Oct. 24

A special Southern Lehigh School Board hearing that's mandatory when a school district is considering closing an elementary school has been scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Southern Lehigh Middle School auditorium, according to an announcement posted on the district website's homepage.

Both Hopewell and Lower Milford elementary schools need millions of dollars in repairs, board members and the public learned recently, and various options that could ultimately involve closure of one of the schools have been discussed.

Lower Milford teachers, parents and local officials have been emphatic and outspoken about keeping their school—which is the district's smallest, oldest and most remote elementary school—open.

Board members are already in agreement that Hopewell won't be repaired—because it would cost almost as much to fix it as to build a new school.

At the most recent school board meeting, the option of housing some elementary students in the Joseph P. Liberati Intermediate School was also discussed, and more information about the feasibility of that option was requested by board members.

The Oct. 24 hearing "will review information previously presented and additional data will be shared," according to the announcement posted by the SLSD. "After the presentation, time will be set for public comment."

"This hearing does not guarantee the closing of a building—either Hopewell or Lower Milford Elementary, although that could result," it said. "The hearing provides an opportunity for the public to become informed of the details surrounding a decision on how to plan for our school building needs."

A decision about whether or not to close an elementary school will not be made at the Oct. 24 meeting, since a mandatory three-month waiting period must elapse after the hearing before any decision is made.

"A decision on future plans for the elementary buildings will be made after a minimum 3 month waiting period," the district's announcement said.

More information about the options under review is posted on the Elementary Buildings-Planning page of the SLSD website.

Photo: Patch file photo