The local news has been covering Nat Hyman's lawsuit against Pennsylvania's plan to sell the State Hospital parcel. Also covering the case today is fellow blogger Bernie O'Hare. I take exception to one premise in his otherwise excellent piece, that another middle school isn't needed on the east side. While I don't know the student figures for the existing middle schools, or even if they are overcrowded, I do know that no east sider can easily walk to Harrison Morton, which is the closest middle school to the east side. Now as the crow flies, perhaps Harrison isn't that much farther than Raub is to the west end, but there is only one practical route across the Lehigh River.*
Community activist Dennis Pearson has long said that the east side always gets shortchanged.... I believe that there is a lot of evidence for his accusation. Allentown city council has also asked the state to put the planned sale of the property on hold, so that they can hold a hearing, and get community input on the parcel's future.
* Only the Hamilton Street Bridge connects to a populated area of the east side. Both the Tilghman and the new American Parkway Bridges are of little use to students.
Mike, the entire conversation about a new middle school may be a mute point. Look at the financial picture and related fiscal shenanigans of the ASD. They have apparently "under budgeted" for "several" years. The Morning Call bought this line hook line and sinker very willingly.
ReplyDeleteIf any entity under budgets and as a result overspends heads usually roll. Is that happening here? Of course not. By the way, those who brought on the current superintendent smeared the former one for having some minor problems with the business office. The new administration under Parker not only has big problems in the business office, it can't put together a sound budget, overspends routinely, can't meet payroll soon, and now want to borrow money to cover current operating expenses.
So new middle school anywhere? Not likely under this crowd.