Residents urge Harrisburg board to preserve William Penn building, call for more public input

Two residents told the Harrisburg City School District Committee of the Whole on Nov. 18 that the board should prioritize saving the William Penn campus and give the public more time to weigh proposals.

Melanie Cook, a Riverside resident, criticized how the Nov. 13 special meeting was run and said three minutes per commenter was inadequate. "Three minutes is insufficient time to go through all the comments that need to be spoken of," she said, and challenged the administration’s summary of the options presented at that meeting, arguing the CTE option was a reflection of submitted comments rather than an official proposal.

Cook also said one proposal under consideration appears to come from an entity that "is not a nonprofit" and "is not a corporation," and that the board should not treat that submission as legitimate without verification. She urged the board to provide additional public-comment opportunities.

Kelly Summerford, director of the Goodrich Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum, told the board the building has historic value and said preservation should be the first priority. Summerford said funding and security are central concerns and that, during earlier meetings, she heard only one company claim it could secure necessary financing. "My goal is first to save the building. We can negotiate what happens inside," she said.

Board members did not take final action on the campus at the Nov. 18 meeting; the William Penn matter was discussed during public comment and several related proposals were on the agenda for referral to the Nov. 25 consent agenda for formal consideration. The board did not adopt or reject any campus proposal during the Committee of the Whole meeting. The Nov. 25 board meeting is the next scheduled opportunity for formal action on consent items.