News

June 19, 2009

Vote moves Bear Creek Charter School plans forward

Township supervisors vote to negotiate an agreement that would lead to an expansion.

JANINE UNGVARSKY Times Leader Correspondent

BEAR CREEK TWP. – Plans for a new Bear Creek Community Charter School and a surrounding complex of sports fields took another step closer to reality Thursday.

The Bear Creek Township Supervisors voted unanimously to negotiate an agreement with the charter school and the Bear Creek Foundation for the project, which would be developed on land behind the existing school on Route 115.

At a previous supervisors’ meeting, school representatives discussed the proposed construction project, which will include a new K-8 school building with a gym, cafeteria and library as well as two baseball fields, a soccer field and two playgrounds.

The school’s fields, gym and library will be open to the community during non-school hours, school officials said, and the existing building is expected to house a day care center and public meeting rooms.

“The agreement between the school, the foundation and the township will set forth the responsibilities for each party now and in the future, including who will maintain it, who will underwrite the project and how public access will determined,” Township Solicitor William Vinsko Jr. said.

He said the motion approved Thursday also allows the township to exercise eminent domain proceedings to acquire the land, if necessary. Vinsko said the township still hopes a purchase agreement can be negotiated with the owners.

If that doesn’t happen, the township would condemn the property and pay the owners just compensation, which he said includes fair market value plus a reasonable amount for incidental expenses.

“We hope not to have to do that,” Vinsko said. “If we do, the owners have the right to object.”

School Chief Executive Officer Jim Smith said Thursday’s action moves the agreement one step further toward finalization. He said the school’s board of trustees and the foundation board are expected to approve a similar motion next week.

In other business, the supervisors approved contracting with low bidder Slusser Brothers for paving services for three township roads. Paving for Old Ford, Shades Glenn and Hill Crest roads will cost a total of $266,208, $100,000 of which will be funded by a grant, supervisors said.

The work is expected to be completed this year.

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