With the worst economy in 85 years it is time for the Board to consider modifications in the Grandview plan to save the taxpayers money. Retain Loyalhanna and New Derry Elementary school and make the minimum repairs to Grandview to bring it up to code.New windows, HVAC, asbestos removal etc.. That is it!

I really think they need an indoor stadium and eventually they can host the Superbowl.

I'm not sure I know enough about the condition of the schools and/or what needs to be done about that situation. But I certainly do know this is where our concentration should be and NOT in a new field house! My goodness people, let's use our heads. We have these facilities in place. Update them if need be but to take this on especially now is just irresponsible. And as far as the press box is concerned, there are enough independent contractors and those who have children in the school system who would be more than happy to volunteer their time and replace the existing press box. Actually, I understand this was offered as a remedy and was turned down because of contractural obligations. This may or may not be true but certainly should be looked into. Both I and my husband and my children graduated from Derry Area. I'm very proud of that. We all got wonderful educations and are living wonderful lives because of that. I'm at every sporting event that I can get to and will support Derry in any way I can. But let's be realistic and do the right thing for the residence of Derry Township. If we are going to spend any money, let's make Derry the best academic school we can. Of course it would be wonderful to be able to offer all things to all people. That just can't and shouldn't happen right now.

As opinions go wrote:

I'm not sure I know enough about the condition of the schools and/or what needs to be done about that situation. But I certainly do know this is where our concentration should be and NOT in a new field house! My goodness people, let's use our heads. We have these facilities in place. Update them if need be but to take this on especially now is just irresponsible. And as far as the press box is concerned, there are enough independent contractors and those who have children in the school system who would be more than happy to volunteer their time and replace the existing press box. Actually, I understand this was offered as a remedy and was turned down because of contractural obligations. This may or may not be true but certainly should be looked into. Both I and my husband and my children graduated from Derry Area. I'm very proud of that. We all got wonderful educations and are living wonderful lives because of that. I'm at every sporting event that I can get to and will support Derry in any way I can. But let's be realistic and do the right thing for the residence of Derry Township. If we are going to spend any money, let's make Derry the best academic school we can. Of course it would be wonderful to be able to offer all things to all people. That just can't and shouldn't happen right now.

The updating of the press box would be a be a good project for our students at Eastern Westmoreland Vo-Tech.

The main issue is Grandview and there is still time to modify plans in light of the fiscal mess we are in. The Board must reduce the scope of the renovation and keep the 2 elementary schools.

I was a student at Grandview 10 years ago. It was a hellhole. It was too big then and students were out of control. Of course the helicopter parents did not help out at all. The teachers at Grandview took too much abuse. The administration back then was asleep to the problems. I am an education major at IUP and now look back at Grandview with a better understanding of what was wrong. The superintendent at the time had his eyes closed.

maybe you would get a real feel how people feel about this if you put in in the right forum instead of Latrobes. www.topix.com/forum/city/derry-pa

former student wrote:

I was a student at Grandview 10 years ago. It was a hellhole. It was too big then and students were out of control. Of course the helicopter parents did not help out at all. The teachers at Grandview took too much abuse. The administration back then was asleep to the problems. I am an education major at IUP and now look back at Grandview with a better understanding of what was wrong. The superintendent at the time had his eyes closed.

The board should acknowledge this information from an insider and future educator.

The teachers at Loyalhanna and New Derry are praying that their schools are not closed. They are aware that Grandview is too big to be managed.
The Board should here from the educators in the field not the administration before they close these 2 venerable schools

Call Joe Petrarca about this issue. He needs to here this. School Boards in Kiski, Derry and Latrobe are out of control. Petrarca should call the Pa Dept of Education on the carpet for allowing Derry to expand Grandview in the first place. They are taxing us to death in the Kiski Valley also. Voters should have the legitimate right to vote on school tax increases, not that silly law with the innflation index!

The problem is that none of the politicians are hearing the voices of the taxpayers. God forbid what will happen when there is no more stimulus money being thrown at education. Public schools can not live within their means.

A group called ROC in Blarisville SD has a hearing on construction plans in their district. They hired an attorney to challenge a tax increase for a building project and will meet with Education Department officials for fact finding. There contention is trumped up assessment of the physical plant. Sound familiar?

Blarisville SD wrote:

A group called ROC in Blarisville SD has a hearing on construction plans in their district. They hired an attorney to challenge a tax increase for a building project and will meet with Education Department officials for fact finding. There contention is trumped up assessment of the physical plant. Sound familiar?

You are talking about plan con. School districts must provide a report to PDE in Harrisburg to rationalize construction. As a contractor I can tell you that the plan Derry submitted was fiction, not based upon the true condition of the buildings.

Plan Con wrote:

<quoted text>
You are talking about plan con. School districts must provide a report to PDE in Harrisburg to rationalize construction. As a contractor I can tell you that the plan Derry submitted was fiction, not based upon the true condition of the buildings.

isn't that fraud? how can you submit a plan based on fiction. doesn't anyone check these things out. as a tax payer i'd like to know what the plan that they submitted said. thanwe as tax payers could decide what repairs need to be done. such as ousting the school board and hiring people with who understand the meaning of DEPRESSION derry/township is far from being a wealthy town and its time for the school board to except that fact. i don't know about you but money doesn't grow on my trees or for in my garden. we work for what we got and lately its getting harder to keep it. wisen up people its only gonna get worse.

There is a meeting this week with the archictects; June 6th. I think. They will be accepting bids this fall. My best friend lives in Derry Twp., and has been unemployed for almost 2 years from the Chestnut Ridge Plant. His wife left for a job in DC with the federal government. They are trying to sell the house but no buyers for Derry School District

There is a school board meeting tonight at 6 pm on the subject of Grandview.

As a teacher in State College the union and a citizens group won a LAW SUIT to kill a proposal like Derry to consolidate elementary schools into a mega school like Grandview. Good luck in your struggle with the SD

State Colege wrote:

As a teacher in State College the union and a citizens group won a LAW SUIT to kill a proposal like Derry to consolidate elementary schools into a mega school like Grandview. Good luck in your struggle with the SD

We need an industry or a taxpayer with the financial means to replicate the success in killing the 22 million Grandview project!

My husband lost his job at Kennametal after 22 years and now we get this big school tax bill. The Board and Administration should feel the pain! Kill Grandview and the athletic expenditures!

I say merge Latrobe and Derry.