Why limit what can be done to old Canonsburg school building?
Through a right-to-know request, I recently obtained a copy of the proposed agreement for the sale of the older Canon-McMillan Middle School.
The proposed sales agreement contained this condition: “The property cannot be used as a public, private or charter school for vocational education, technical education, preschool education, kindergarten education, or any elementary or secondary (grades 1 thru 12) education for a 10-year period following the date of this deed without the consent of the board of directors of Canon-McMillan School District.”
In my opinion, such a signed agreement would seriously limit school choice in the Canon-McMillan School District. It could restrict more schools, such as magnet schools, Montessori and Waldorf schools, language immersion, military, boarding and other kinds of schools.
Also, the district’s school board are agents of our state legislators. Would our current legislators agree with this agreement clause for the next 10 years? Would the 40,000 citizens of the district consent to this agreement for the next 10 years? Why would any party agree to this type of agreement? Why place such a condition on a facility designed and built to be a school, inside and outside?
Dennis Smiddle
Canonsburg