Municipal News
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 February 2013 21:19
By Jill Brown
The Monongahela council meeting on January 9th opened with Mayor Bob Kepics leading the Pledge of Allegiance, then City Clerk Carole Foglia took roll call. Later, there began an ongoing discussion with city officials and Ringgold directors speaking about reopening Monongahela and Donora elementary centers, public schools in the Ringgold District.
The Monongahela council meeting on January 9th opened with Mayor Bob Kepics leading the Pledge of Allegiance, then City Clerk Carole Foglia took roll call. Later, there began an ongoing discussion with city officials and Ringgold directors speaking about reopening Monongahela and Donora elementary centers, public schools in the Ringgold District.
Ringgold board president Mary Ann Bulko informed those in attendance of the likelihood of the district now building a middle school on the Carroll Twp. campus where the high school is located.
School directors Chuck and Bob Smith, with Bulko, spoke of the importance of renovating the two elementary centers for grades 5 - 8 as opposed to building a middle school.
Councilman Tom Caudill, former principal of both elementary buildings, said city officials want Monongahela Elementary Center to be reopened.
Chuck Smith stated, “I’m a firm believer that success is no more than education and opportunity coming together. We need to prepare our children for the future. It takes a community to raise a child… We’re in the bottom 50% of our state.”
He blamed the closing of community schools for the “downfall of the Ringgold School.” He compared Mt. Lebanon School District, stating their high test scores could be due to “environmental factors.”
Caudill said the school board should renovate buildings, and said taxpayers cannot afford to build new school buildings. Councilman Ken Kulak said the best solution is to reopen MEC and DEC. However, Bulko reminded them that the board had voted and the issue was decided. “The bottom line is this board voted to build and that’s the direction we’re going in,” Bulko said. “The people said make a decision and do it. They could not stand being in limbo.”
Bulko stated district officials are seeking public or private interest in the MEC and DEC buildings to put them back on the tax rolls suggested.
Bob Smith said the board should consider delaying moving forward with construction until after school board elections are held this year. He noted, “Those elections would serve as a referendum on the buildings issue, with the voters having the last say.”
Caudill returned, “This Council urges you to reopen Monongahela Elementary Center and Donora Elementary Center.”
Bulko concluded the meeting by stating, “I am here to ask for your support, which I’m not going to get. The discussion is already over.”
