Schools issue

Cheryl Clarke's article about the Monday, Nov. 9 Southern Tioga School Board meeting framed the core question as, "Do they close the school at North Penn for financial reasons or keep it open and renovate it for the community's sake?"

The implication is that it's only community members' feelings that are at risk of being hurt, when actually, the community's tax base and therefore the school district's tax base is at risk. Small communities without schools do not attract new residents or new business, and are likely to lose population, jobs, retail, and tax base. The lack of a school will create a strong disincentive against investing in Blossburg's future from the perspective of small business owners and residents. The resulting loss of property tax base should be a large factor in the school board's decision-making process; without a strong Blossburg, the school district is weakened. Additionally, Blossburg's loss of tax revenue will impact its ability to maintain and enhance the Island Park recreational complex, which the school district currently rents for a sum absurdly below market value.

Healthy communities and healthy schools are closely intertwined. Smart renovation is the only option that will sustain the school district and save Blossburg. For more information about the community effort to save North Penn High School, visit www.blossburg.org/sos.

Heidi I. Jones

Blossburg

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom