NEW HANOVER — Eight years after the planetarium at Boyertown Middle School East was shuttered, some members of the school board want to see it reopened.
Superintendent Scott Davidheiser addressed the issue with the board during Tuesday’s meeting with a recommendation that the facility remain closed. However, several board members remain unconvinced and would like more information on what it would take to begin programming there again.
“On this, we don’t agree,” board member James Brophy told Davidheiser after reviewing the information he provided. “Schools today are trying to stand out, to be better and differentiate themselves from other districts. I think we should pursue this,” said Brophy, who had led the charge to re-open the planetarium, which first opened in 1973.
“I would have preferred to see something that says ‘yes we can,’ not more of ‘why we can’t,” Brophy said.
One obstacle is cost. According to information provided by the school district, it would cost more than $260,000 upfront to get the facility back up and running with upgrades and renovations.
“It has not been updated in 30 years,” Davidheiser said.
However, the Boyertown Area School District Foundation “has expressed interest in finding funding sources,” to the tune of $127,000, according to district spokesperson Alison Moyer. That would bring the upfront cost to $135,739, she wrote in response to a MediaNews Group query.
Davidheiser also informed the school board that running the planetarium would have recurring annual costs of more than $200,000 to pay for two certified teachers, transportation costs to bring all students to the facility and maintenance on the projector. “That’s a recurring cost,” he said.
“I don’t disagree it would be a wonderful program to have,” Davidheiser said. “It would be a nice to have, not a need to have. We’re trying to do a lot of things inside a budget. It’s not something I’m recommending at this time.”
“We’re talking about spending $8 million for a turf field that benefits 250 kids but we won’t do this, which will benefit the whole district?” asked board member Ruth Dierolf.
“We may get a new projector for free,” board member Brad Updegrove said, pointing to a sizeable list of private and government grants that could be approached about funding that purchase.
Board member Christine Neiman pointed out that in the past, programs for the public had been run outside of school hours. She said this could be a potential source of additional income to offset recurring costs.
Brophy also noted that the programming could be started as a club, thus avoiding for a time the requirement that certified teachers be hired.
Vice President Jeffrey Zawada suggested that local colleges could be tapped for student teachers and mentors to support a club. “I wouldn’t put this in the dead file right now,” he added.
Davidheiser told the board he would put together more information for discussion at the committee of the whole meeting in March, with a potential vote on a resolution for the business meeting that follows.
Source: Berkshire mont