Goshen school expansions now in question

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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The Goshen Community School Board will consider putting expansion plans

The Goshen Community School Board is considering putting the district's expansion plans on hold. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Oct 27, 2008 at 3:45 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 1, 2008 at 5:28 PM EST

GOSHEN — School board members may decide Monday night if they have to put major expansion plans in Goshen on hold because of the economy.

'We had to approach this in terms of, ‘Is this the right decision for us to make at this point?’” said Dr. Bruce Stahly, superintendent of Goshen Schools.

Stahly says he's given the matter considerable thought, and now feels the corporation should put plans on hold to build a new intermediate school.

As it was set up, the new intermediate school would house all fifth graders from elementary schools around the city and sixth graders from the middle school, to alleviate overcrowding in those buildings.

But taxpayers would have to shoulder the bond issue to pay for it. Stahly and some school board members say the credit crunch and local layoffs would put even more stress on people already struggling financially.

“We know that we have a lot of members in our community that are working reduced hours, if they still have jobs, and maybe one parent doesn't have a job,” said Randy Robertson, school board member. “And that would be a burden on our community as a whole, and that is not what our intent was to do."

“When we looked at the question that way,” Stahly added, “we said at this point in time for our local community and our local economic crisis that we're facing, that the right decision is to delay the project at this time."

The $42 million building project would also include expanding music education classes at Goshen High School, and rebuilding some high school offices. The school board will consider the plan's withdrawal at its Monday meeting.

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