Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Parking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves temporary $24K parking fix at Heights after debate and failed tabling motion
Summary
The Hazleton Area SD board approved a temporary parking fix (item 69) for Heights Terrace Elementary/Middle School after debate about whether busing or surveys should precede construction; Dr. Childs voted no and unsuccessfully moved to table the item.
The Hazleton Area School District board voted to approve a temporary parking fix at Heights Terrace Elementary/Middle School, rejecting a motion to table the item for further study.
Board discussion centered on whether laying a temporary stone surface would ease hazardous drop-off and pickup circulation and whether the district should instead survey families or expand bus service. Dr. Childs moved to table item 69, saying the board should first survey parents and explore increased busing; that motion failed on roll call. The meeting record notes an abstention by Mr. Zeller on item 63 and a recorded "no" vote from Dr. Childs on item 69.
Administrators said the proposed interim measure would allow parking on a previously grassy area and enable plowing in winter while the district evaluates a permanent paved lot with lines and lighting. An administrator described earlier Safe Routes to School work—sidewalks, blinking lights and crossing guards—that expanded walking access and reduced some bus ridership. The district cited an estimated bus cost of roughly $60,000 when board members discussed bus service feasibility.
Dr. Childs framed the choice as one of timing and evidence, urging a simple parent survey to determine willingness to use buses. In response, a district official said the temporary fix is intended to be a low-cost, short-term test to see if circulation improves before committing to a larger capital project. The administrator said, "So for about $24,250, we're gonna be able to see if this works before we go to the big project of making it a parking lot with lights and lines and all that good stuff." (phraseology from meeting record; amount described in the record was ambiguous and is reported here as roughly $24,250.)
The board recorded that finance items 49–69 passed overall; the record shows Dr. Childs cast a lone "no" on item 69 and Mr. Zeller abstained on item 63. There was no formal amendment to item 69; the temporary surface work is approved as presented. The board indicated it anticipates revisiting long-term circulation improvements, including potential bus options and permanent lot design, in a future meeting.
Next steps: the district will proceed with the temporary surface work and return any additional proposals or survey findings to the board for further consideration.
