BLAIRSVILLE, Pa. — A plan to move Saltsburg middle and high school students into Blairsville failed to pass Thursday night after a tense meeting with parents and board members of the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District.
“If you won't do it to your kids, then why do it to ours? Doesn't seem like the financial situation is that dire,” said Rev. Dan Salter, one of several concerned citizens to speak during the meeting.
Board member Hollie Gibson echoed those worries, adding she was concerned about the timeline that would have put the merger in motion in just six months.
Her amendment to delay the plans to merge the students at Saltsburg Middle/High School into the Blairsville Middle/High School for 18 months was shot down, to the disappointment of parents.
More than once Gibson broke down in tears and eventually left.
Most people in attendance seemed to feel the merger wasn’t in the best interest of the students.
In the end, the motion’s failure to pass the 5-4 vote it needed to succeed was met with cheers and applause.
Though the merger failed Thursday night, some said that the reconfiguration may still need to happen at some point down the line.
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WPXI
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