Politics & Government

Future of Regency Park Elementary Could Impact Cost of Millers Lane Improvement Project

At a Plum Borough and Plum School Board intergovernmental meeting last week, officials discussed a road project on Millers Lane and how Regency Park Elementary could affect the cost.

The future of has not been determined.

that the school is going to close, school officials once again addressed concerned residents and said the issue hasn't been discussed publicly or behind closed doors.

Plum Borough officials also have heard the rumor, which is what prompted borough manager Mike Thomas to add the item to the school/borough intergovernmental meeting agenda last week.

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Thomas said he didn't want to cause alarm, but his staff has heard the school is going to close, and that could have an impact on a future road project on Millers Lane.

Thomas said borough officials are in the process of creating a five-year project plan. Improvements to Millers Lane—including sidewalk installation and school zone lighting—are mapped out in the plan. They are set to occur in 2014 or 2015.

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However, if Regency Park Elementary were to close, there wouldn't be a need for sidewalks or school zone lighting, which could result in a "six-figure difference" to the overall project cost, according to Thomas. The installation of sidewalks also would require some condemnation of property.

School Board President Andy Drake said school officials haven't discussed the future of the school, and there continues to be no discussion. Drake said district officials must consider performing a study on the district and the possibility of redistricting.

"It's not something that'll happen in six months," he said. "It may be a year or two before we have an answer. We have to let the planning process work its way out."

Thomas asked that the borough be kept abreast of all plans.

"I would hate to see us do all these renovations for the school in 2014 and then see it close in 2015," he said.

Parent Lisa Callaghan, who has two children at Regency, urged the board to commit to a plan. She and about a half dozen parents attended the meeting to support the school.


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