Central Bucks Calls Special Meeting On Demographics Study

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Central Bucks School District will hold a public meeting to discuss its demographics study on Thursday, April 27 beginning at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Central Bucks West High School at 375 West Court Street.

The special meeting was announced by Superintendent Dr. Abram M. Lucabaugh, Ed.D.

The district contracted with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates (CRA) to analyze enrollment trends and the utilization of space within the district’s school buildings, and provided a preliminary overview of those findings in the fall.

“Over the past several months, district officials have continued to assess enrollment and community housing trends, as well as the changing composition of our student population, in consultation with CRA’s recommendations,” said Lucabaugh.

“The goal of the April 27th meeting is to provide our community with an update regarding available options, recommendations for action, a timeline of next steps, and an overview of how we can best implement a plan that ensures optimal use of our facilities and academic programming that leads to improved outcomes for our students.”

The biggest recommendations coming out of the study are a grade realignment of the school district and the closing of Linden Elementary School.

The analysis found that the district has the capacity to realign its grades to a K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 configuration.

According to the study, the reconfiguration would allow for further efficiencies at the elementary schools.

“The middle schools remain three grade buildings with more than adequate space to serve the projected enrollment,” says the study. “The high schools have just enough room to accept the ninth grade and the enrollment models indicate the high school student body will continue to decline.”

In its recommendation to close Linden, the study says “the cost of bringing Linden to physical and educational standards is costly and the market value of the land is reported as being high … Linden is the elementary school, that if consolidated, creates the greatest efficiencies and return on the investment.”

According to the study, Doyle along with its sister middle and high schools create a K-12 grouping in the geographic and demographic center of the district. The study also says that “Kutz is in better physical condition and though smaller than Linden is more efficiently enrolled.”

Linden parents, graduates, neighbors and employees have been outspoken in recent weeks against the reommended closure of their beloved neighborhood elementary school.

In March they took their opposition to Doylestown Borough Council, which responded by sending a letter to the school district asking for a public meeting to allow Linden supporters to make their case against the recommended closure.

Review the presentation from the fall here.