And so it begins, again.

The title above, taken from Adam Smeltz's cover story in today's CDT, summarizes both the reality and the vision.

The reality:

The Act 34 hearing process begins again after a botched attempt by the State College Area School Board. Public concern had been raised about the hearing prior to it being cancelled. Concerns about a lack of parking, the size of the facility, the time frame, and the ability of the community to be heard were all raised at the May 8th School Board meeting. (Of course, some school board members want to ignore the state-mandate Act 34 hearing all together) - a fact which is not only extremely arrogant (after all, who would want to allow taxpayers the ability to comment when over $100 million dollars of their tax money is being spent to renovate a high school), but illegal as well. Keep in mind, that at this same May 8th meeting, school board members, when polled informally, unanimously opposed a referendum (a legal alternative to the potential 14 hour hearing now scheduled for July 8th), claiming that voters are not "educated enough" to understand the project.

Thankfully, the state Department of Education stepped in and informed the school board that their actions were illegal and the school board had to back down, canceling a public event with about four hours notice, to which, 285 people had pre-registered to speak.

So the school board goes back to kindergarten - they get a "do-over" to try again to get it right.

The Vision:

State High Vision is asking for a new beginning - a chance to stop and reevaluate the current plans. They are not advocating a plan of their own, but rather, asking the board to slow down and question whether or not the current plan is the best one, especially in light of the manner in which the current plan was derived - a hasty decision 28 days after it was originally presented.

My advice:

This is a complicated issue that will not only effect our children's education, but will effect each and every taxpayer in the school district. So get informed, ask questions, and let you opinion be heard.

To register to speak at the Act 34 hearing on July 8, send e-mail to Mary Jenn Dorman at mjp11@scasd.org or call her at 231-1016. Or mail a written request to her at 131 W. Nittany Ave., State College, PA 16801. The hearing will begin at 8 a.m. at the State High North Building, 653 Westerly Parkway.