At the Southern Lehigh School Board Meeting on March 10, the School Board voted to rebuild Hopewell School and close Lower Milford Elementary. Only three Board Members, John Quigley, Kathleen Parsons, and Willian Lycett voted to keep Lower Milford Elementary open. Mr. Quigley voted for shutting down Hopewell and repairing LME, and adding capacity to Liberty Bell. The other two Board members voted to repair LME  and rebuild Hopewell. Mr. Quigley argued that LME could be repaired and extra capacity added to Liberty Bell for $6M less than the alternative chosen, continue to provide excellent neighborhood schools for all three communities in the District,  provide a focal point in each community, and provide the same capacity as the alternative chosen. The alternative chosen by Ms. Parsons and Mr. Lycett would be about $1M less than chosen alternative and provide slightly less capacity. Ms. Parsons agreed with Mr. Quigley for the need of neighborhood schools. This differed from Superintendent Christmans belief that there was no such evidence. In fact, school size and neighborhood schools have been shown to enhance the educational experience in the first few formative years that lasts through college. Mr. Lindsay led the faction to build a new school with a significant tax increase stating the Board should be proactive in building a new school about the same size as the alternatives others suggested but at a very high cost so that the Board would not have to revisit the issue in 5 - 10 years if their demographic study proved wrong and growth was substantially higher.  In comments to the Morning Call, Ms Gunkle, Chairman, was quoted as saying that the closing should not take effect for many years. This seems to contradict the need for maintenance that prompted this decision. Mr Bergey, Director of Support Services, is quoted that the new school could be ready as soon as 2015 directly contradicting the Board Chairman

Donna Wright, our Supervisor, and Lowell Linde, a previous school board member, both asked to give the Township an opportunity to present LMT's findings of serious defficiencies in the Board's analysis before making a decision. It was denied with disrespect by Mr. Lindsay who indicated that the time for presentation was a lot more than afforded to any other citizen or entity; the Township could have broken the presentation into 10 three minute statements and given one at each of the Board Meetings prior to this meeting!

Thus, the Board voted to spend over $17.75M to rebuild Hopewell resulting in about the same capacity as we have today. But, the decision has other consequences. 

• It eliminates neighborhood schools which have been shown as important factors in the success of students. The literature is at odds with the opinion expressed by Superintendant Christman who concluded the that they werenot important, based on her findings from the papers she cited but often misinterpreted.
• It deprives Lower Milford Township of an emergency shelter and a community rallying point. 
• It further isolates Lower Milford Township residents from the rest of the District. 

It closes a school that all agreed was in "excellent" condition to rebuild a school where no increase in capacity is provided to accomodate future growth over less expensive alternatives.

We regret that this LOSE-LOSE decision will end our tradition of neighborhood schools that well served our community and our students since the 1700's. 

Meals on Wheels sent LMRA a Certificate of Appreciation for helping in the Blizzard Bag campaign. This was a tough year for them in they had to add $2000 to send Blizzard Bags to their shut-ins. Nonethe less, donations such as LMRA's and other groups enabled Meals on Wheels to send out 1550 hot meals with the money they saved.  Again, thanks to LMRA members.