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Residents and students make final appeals ahead of May 20 referendum on new Abington middle school
Summary
Dozens of residents, parent groups and students urged support — while opponents asked for a slower, lower-cost plan — ahead of the May 20 referendum to borrow $285 million for a new middle school campus that would replace the existing building and add athletic and site improvements.
Dozens of residents, parents and student groups spoke at the Abington Board of School Directors meeting on May 13, delivering sharply divergent views ahead of the May 20 referendum on a $285 million bond to build a new Abington Middle School campus.
Supporters described the proposal as a long-term investment in safety, accessibility and learning space. “This project is more than just a building,” said Ashley Bridal Johnson, a volunteer with the Yes To Invest group, listing a new campus, athletic fields, parking, tennis courts, a theater and construction contingencies that she said are included in the bond estimate. Several speakers urged residents to use the district website (1ASD1Future.org) for detailed plans and to vote yes.
Opponents criticized cost and process. Joe Rooney, a longtime resident opposing the referendum, said materials mailed by the district had crossed a line into electioneering and accused the administration of “election interference,” a claim the superintendent disputed. Other critics urged the board to consider renovation and phased alternatives, and to slow the timetable so taxpayers could review options.
Students and school staff also spoke. Multiple students from the high school GSA urged greater student involvement in district decisions after a children’s book was quietly removed from an elementary library (see separate article). Student speakers and parent advocates emphasized crowded hallways and accessibility problems at the current middle school; several said the building’s layout limits modern instructional models and small-group interventions.
Financial and process points raised at the meeting - Bond amount on ballot: $285,000,000, as described by multiple proponents. - Supporters said the bond covers full campus replacement, demolition of the existing building after the new school opens, athletic fields, parking, theater, design and contingency costs. - Opponents noted ongoing local tax increases in recent years and urged consideration of renovation alternatives and better transparency about campaign materials and district involvement in outreach. - District officials and proponents said demolition and site work are built into the project budget and that the district provided extensive public information, including a tax calculator to estimate homeowner impact.
Board and administration response Superintendent Dr. Fetcher defended district outreach and said the administration provided information, not advocacy. “Our goal from the outset of this process was not to tell people how to vote, but to provide information for the community to be able to make an informed decision,” Fetcher said. The superintendent added that postcards and other mailings were intended to inform residents who said they were unaware of the proposal.
Several members of the public and board members urged voters to turn out on May 20. The referendum is a public ballot question; the board does not decide its outcome.
Ending The May 20 election will determine whether the district may borrow $285 million for a new middle school campus. The board and administration said they will continue to provide information to voters and prepare for either outcome.
