Molly A. Catanzarite – 3/30/08

This page was last updated on March 30, 2008.

Closing school a bad move; Molly A. Catanzarite; Beaver County Times; March 30, 2008.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Kudos to the Hopewell Area School District. Not only has it managed to tear the heart out of our tightknit [sic] community, but it has also managed to contribute to the nation’s current housing crisis.”

[RWC] Closing a single elementary school is contributing “to the nation’s current housing crisis?” Hyperbole much?

“Good luck to all of the Raccoon Township residents who currently have their homes listed for sale and to those with plans to sell their homes. Any potential homebuyer who has a school-aged child is going to drive right by Raccoon Township in their search for a home.”

[RWC] Potter Township (adjacent to Raccoon and part of the Center Area School District) hasn’t had an elementary school for many years and the world didn’t end for Potter.

“I know that I would have thought twice before building my home here seven years ago had I known then that our wonderful elementary school was going to be boarded up.

“What a shame.

“Although we as residents have been faced with this threat for the past year without much hope, it still was a sad day when the words were finally spoken that the school was going to close.

“School board members should be so proud of themselves for putting money first instead of the best interest of children.”

[RWC] I don’t know the financial details, but nearly all decisions eventually come down to money. Unless Ms. Catanzarite was willing to accept tax increases and/or cuts elsewhere (neither of which would have made living in Raccoon more attractive), what did she want the school district to do?

“If they think they have money problems now, just wait a couple of years from now when they will scratching their heads at the school board meetings wondering why so many parents from Raccoon Township are pulling their children out of the district and sending them to the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.”

[RWC] Since she specifically mentioned the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, I wonder if Ms. Catanzarite is related to Stephen Catanzarite. Mr. Catanzarite is Managing Director of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, home of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, and the Henry Mancini Arts Academy.

“The residents of Raccoon Township will remember our school board representatives in the next election. Enjoy your last term.”