Delanco officials, school and library spar over proposed 2039 agreement and new weekday hours

Delanco Township Committee members, school officials and residents spent the bulk of the Nov. 17 meeting debating a proposed agreement that would formalize the town’s use of the Pearson School library through 2039 and make weekday hours available starting at 12:30 p.m., a shift advocates say will cut vital morning programs.

The dispute centers on a unique arrangement: the public library occupies space in a school building under an old 1989 agreement tied to a referendum. Committee members said the current agreement has been operating without extensions since 2020 and that negotiations with the Board of Education produced a compromise aimed at addressing state safety guidance while preserving daytime access.

“This is a compromise,” Township Committee member Eric Moss said, describing the 12:30 opening time as an accommodation to both the school’s safety requirements and the community’s need for library services. He said the change was more moderate than a statewide Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QAC) recommendation that public access be restricted until after instructional hours.

School Superintendent Dr. Tartici told the committee that the district’s priority is student safety: “You can’t have outside individuals coming into a school district while schools are in session,” he said, and described negotiations that aim to keep kindergarteners from being outside when the public uses the library. He said the parties arranged shared custodial coverage for expanded Saturday hours and intend to contract a library media specialist who would be present for morning student needs when feasible.

Library volunteers, trustees and frequent patrons pushed back at the mic. Moren Barrett, president of the Blanco Public Library Association, warned that shortening morning hours and adding a 2039 renegotiation date would jeopardize county and state funding and “be a first step in closing the public library.” She asked the committee to “guarantee space the library through 2062 and beyond,” pointing to the 1987 referendum attendees cite as the library’s long-term foundation.

Other longtime volunteers and seniors said morning hours are critical for preschool story time and programs relied on by older residents who avoid evening trips. “Losing our weekday morning hours would have significant impact,” Linda Y, a Friends-of-the-library member, said. Multiple speakers also noted the library draws patrons from neighboring towns and that program attendance directly affects grant eligibility and fundraising.

Officials and residents differed on the extent to which limiting access reduces security risks. Police Chief Warren said officers do daily walkthroughs and perimeter checks and that the township is exploring a class-three school resource officer to improve campus safety. Residents countered that a closed library would not stop people from driving into the parking lot and that alternatives to relocation must be part of any plan.

The committee did not vote on the agreement. Members removed Resolution 2025-160 from the consent agenda and announced it would be tabled for further discussion and negotiation; the item was rescheduled for Dec. 1. Committee members emphasized they do not want to see the library close and said they intend to continue talks with the school board and library association.

Next steps: the township will continue negotiations with the Board of Education and the library association; the postponed resolution will return to the committee on Dec. 1 for further consideration.