Village Park Elementary School to Close, Board Rules

During its public meeting on May 9, the Pennsbury Board of School Directors approved a motion to close Village Park Elementary School effective as of the commencement of the 2013-2014 school year.

The school closure had been recommended by the Elementary Enrollment and Space Utilization Committee—a stakeholder group of parents, administrators, and community members – that had convened last fall. A public hearing on the matter was held on Jan. 31.

“As a result of decreasing enrollments on a district-wide basis, along with severe budgetary constraints, the board took this action on the recommendation of the EESU Committee,” said Sherwood Taylor, director of administrative services, who co-chaired the stakeholder group with a parent volunteer.

Village Park families were notified of the Board motion to close the school through a phone message delivered by Village Park Principal, Helen Stopper, the following day.

Associated with this school closure was the subsequent approval by the board of a motion that established new elementary school attendance boundaries recommended by the Elementary Redistricting Committee, another stakeholder group of parents and administrators. This action, impacting nearly every elementary school in Pennsbury in some way, is effective for the start of the 2013-14 school year.

“Families affected by this redistricting plan will be notified by letter,” Taylor said. His office will oversee the implementation of the adjusted school attendance areas.