Future of Marion, Coldbrook elementary schools to be discussed ...

The potential closing of Marion and Coldbrook elementary schools will be a discussion item on the agenda of tonight's Chambersburg Area school board meeting.

[Reader]

With the district already in debt to the degree that it's considering furloughing teachers in the spring, it's time to move Marion and Coldbrook students into other buildings and not put money into repairs of these old schools.

[Disco DJ]

What you don't realize is that the schools they want to send Marion and Coldbrook to are almost at capacity without adding Marion and Coldbrook. Once they move these 2 schools they will have to build a new school or add on. It is much more economical to keep one of these schools open. Marion does not have any repairs at the moment that need immediate attention. They would "like" to put a new roof on part of the school and would "like" to put in new windows but neither or these repairs need to be done right away. The windows are not broken anywhere or the roof is not leaking, so they could be held off.

[Concerned CASD parent]

Instead of concentrating so much of their budget on things like a brand new football field at CASHS, maybe their money would be better spent on improving that which needs improving (i.e. the quality of education at our schools). I'm sick of hearing how wonderful the new facilities at the high school are when my children are receiving a substandard education that just seems to get worse every year. I don't blame the teachers...their hands are tied. I blame the administration for coming up with ineffective policies on curriculum just so they can look as if they're earning their paychecks by "doing something."

[the seer]

Go ahead and close 'em---in two years we will see "the need" for an addition or a "whole new school" somewhere----then I can say I TOLD YOU SO---

[anonymous]

There is no room at ben chambers or fayettville elementary schools for that matter. They were just built and are already over populated. Does that make any sense? And now they want to close 2 more schools and move them where there is no room. There will definitely be no more one on one teaching for these kids.