YOUNGSTOWN Protests fail to alter site of school

City school officials said student safety is a top reason for changing the proposed site.
By RON COLE
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city school district still plans to build a new West Side elementary school at Schenley Park, despite objections by some neighbors.
"Our position is unchanged," said Anthony DeNiro, executive director of business affairs for the school district. "We appreciate people's input, but we have to do what's best for the children."
A public hearing on the school system's plan drew about 40 people to Chaney High School Thursday evening. Many of them said they didn't want the school built on the Schenley Park property, said city Councilman Ron Sefcik, D-4th.
Plans letters: Sefcik said he will send letters to the school board and the city's park and recreation commission opposing the plan.
The new elementary school, part of the school system's $163.5 million building project, originally was slated to be built behind the West Elementary School on North Hazelwood Avenue. The old school would have been demolished.
Now, however, the school district wants to build on about nine acres at Schenley Park, where the school board owns five acres and the park commission owns four.
Sefcik said Schenley Park area residents think increased bus and car traffic created by the new school would disrupt the neighborhood.
Wants original site: He said he wants the school system to build on the original site behind the old school, as was outlined in the bond issue that voters approved to make the construction possible.
"That was the intent when the levy was passed," he said. "I still think they can do that."
But DeNiro said the school district remains committed to the new site at Schenley Park.
He said the site would have playground equipment, which the old site does not. Traffic has been a major problem at the school for years and would only get worse during construction of another school nearby, he said. He also said the safety of pupils would be at risk during construction.
"So, do we continue doing business the way we did it before, or do we look for a better way to do it?" he said. "That's what this all comes down to. We found a better place to put this school."