In the article “A mission to ‘Save Our Schools,’ Neshaminy School Board candidates seek to reverse consolidation” from March 4, the candidates accuse the board of a lack of transparency in the consolidation process. On behalf of the District, I would like to answer some of these accusations.
The process of formulating this plan has been underway for more than eight years, and included consideration of multiple options, professional studies and reports, lengthy discussion in ad hoc committee and Board meetings, updated studies and public participation at every stage. The debate over these plans was covered extensively in local media, and exhaustively discussed in social media.
Board meetings are advertised on the District website (www.neshaminy.org), in local media, and more recently on social media. While it is true that committee meetings are not televised, summaries of the activity and recommendations from those meetings are part of regular Board meetings, and committee members are usually available at those meetings to answer questions from the Board or the public about their recommendations.
Documents, study results, Q&A and other detailed information about the plans have also been made freely available on the District website throughout the process. The superintendent holds regular, well-advertised open-house breakfast meetings where anybody can attend to ask questions in an informal setting.
If these candidates do not like the District consolidation and grade configuration plans, they certainly have the right to make their case and build support on the facts as they see them. But to blame some perceived ‘conspiracy of silence’ for their failure to build momentum is simply not a valid argument.
Chris Stanley
Community Relations Coordinator
Neshaminy School District
