Neshaminy holds public hearing on proposed Pearl S. Buck Elementary closure; no vote tonight

Neshaminy School District officials presented arguments and facility data at a public hearing on May 7, 2024, in Levittown about a proposal to permanently close Pearl S. Buck Elementary School and move its students to the new Core Creek Elementary. The board did not take a vote; the district noted state law requires at least a three-month wait between this hearing and any decision.

District representative Jason Bowman, who was sworn in and gave the hearing’s opening statement, described the proposal as part of a long-term district "road map" to address changing enrollment and aging buildings. "Closing a neighborhood school is an emotional and difficult decision," Bowman said, while urging families to consider the benefits he said would come from completing the roadmap and opening the new school.

The district solicitor opened the record and marked exhibits, including the board resolution directing the hearing (adopted April 9, 2024), proof of publication in the Bucks County Courier Times (published April 16, 2024), and a public-hearing booklet dated May 7, 2024. The solicitor cited sections of the Public School Code and Pennsylvania regulations requiring a public hearing and Department of Education notification prior to a permanent school closing.

Paul Meehan, the second district witness, detailed Pearl S. Buck’s building condition, capacity and enrollment data. Meehan said Pearl S. Buck, built in 1968, has 27 full-size classrooms and limited space that has required small-group instruction in stairwells and hallways. He reported a practical capacity figure of about 728 and described "live enrollment" in the mid-600s. Meehan told the board that a SiteLogic renovation estimate provided in 2021 put upgrades at approximately $18,500,000 and that SiteLogic’s updated figure in current dollars would be roughly $24,000,000.

Meehan and Bowman tied the proposed closure to the construction of Core Creek Elementary (site cited at 2250 Langhorne Yardley Road), which the district said began in spring 2023 and is expected to be completed in December 2024 with students and staff moving after winter break in January 2025. Meehan said the new building would include modern HVAC, electrical and lighting systems and grade-level pods designed to support collaborative instruction; he argued the new building would reduce maintenance costs and administrative overhead districtwide.

The presenters outlined likely next steps if the board ultimately decides to close Pearl S. Buck: the district would retain ownership of the property and "seek avenues" consistent with the district’s financial interests, redistricting scenarios would be proposed to maintain middle-school feeder patterns, and transportation planning would be implemented to reduce travel times for students who would attend Core Creek. The solicitor reiterated that there would be no board vote at the hearing and that any decision would be at least three months away; the earliest date mentioned for a vote was the August 2024 board meeting.

No members of the public spoke on the closure during the hearing. Justin Reed, who had signed up to speak, clarified his comment was for the regular board meeting rather than the closure hearing.

The hearing record includes the exhibits and sworn testimony presented; the board moved to close the public hearing, and the transcript records a motion to close but does not record a second or a board vote. The board is expected to receive redistricting scenarios and further administrative recommendations before any final decision is scheduled.