Coatesville Area board OKs buying $2.8M building

COATESVILLE At a special meeting Tuesday, the Coatesville Area school board voted to spend $2.8 million to buy a new administration building, while some members of the community doubt the necessity and timing of the purchase.

Some parents and taxpayers asked why capital project bond funds are not being used for student buildings and why the board is buying the building when the Chester County District Attorney's Office is investigating the district for possible misuse of funds.

The building, off Lincoln Highway in Thorndale, will replace the Benner Administration Building, which the board said is the district's most expensive building to operate. The 35,000-square-foot building will also house a health-care center for employees that the board said would save at least $500,000 in its first year. The board plans to sell the Benner building.

Officials said the new building is more energy efficient and better built for administrative offices.

"Have we made mistakes? Yes. We're human," board member Joseph Dunn said. "Is this a mistake? Absolutely not."

Parents said the money spent could be used to buy books and renovate schools. Board President Neil Campbell said the board would address the repairs that some schools need. He said the money saved through the new building could pay for some of those repairs.

Stu Deets, elected to the board last week, said the decision to buy the building was rushed. "I don't quite understand why we need to buy a new building to replace a building that is actually in pretty good condition compared to school buildings in the district," Deets said.

Residents have scrutinized the board's moves since learning of racist and sexist text-message exchanges between former Superintendent Richard Como and athletic director James Donato, which resulted in their resignations.

Board member Laurie Knecht, who recently won another term, said handling the controversy caused by the texts pushed back school board business, including the purchase of the new administration building, which had been in the works for months.