Scranton Times-Tribune Highlights "Growing Pains" in the Ever-Expanding Scranton 'Burbs (Dunmore: environment)

[ScranBarre]

I just returned home from work and read a fascinating article in the Scranton Times-Tribune about the explosive growth occurring in both the North Pocono and Valley View School Districts in terms of new subdivisions, and, more importantly, overcrowding schools.

Here's the text from the article (courtesy of Scranton Times-Tribune):

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARCHBALD — Empty fields and clusters of trees north of Kennedy Drive could be filled with townhouses, homes and families in a few years — and that’s expected to have important ramifications for Valley View High School nearby.

“We’re expecting much bigger growth,” Superintendent Joseph Daley said, estimating 500 to 600 more students could enter Valley View as the development is phased in over 10 years.

A local developer is working on the first 80-acre phase of a proposed 1,000-unit housing development directly across the road from the school. It would include about 130 townhouses and 105 single-family lots.

More families with children would mean more books, more buses and more classrooms.

For now, the student population in the Valley View School District has remained relatively steady. The 2006-07 population was 2,602 students, a slight increase over 2,589 students in 2005-06 and 2,594 in 2004-05, according to district records.

But about 20 miles away in the North Pocono School District, new development quickly created a need for more space.

The 2006-07 population in the district was 3,273 students, about 60 more students than the prior year, but nine more new housing developments are on the horizon, Superintendent Louis DeFazio said.

Infrastructure improvements made a difference, he explained. The construction of sewers in the area immediately made regions more attractive to live in, he said.

Mr. DeFazio compared the situation to rapidly growing Monroe and Pike counties. “We’re the next growth area,” he said. “We’re going to have an influx of young families, new families with children.”

Fueled by the growth, North Pocono is planning to build a $35.7 million high school in Covington Township.

Growth also involves other factors, like taxes, infrastructure and transportation, Mr. DeFazio said.

“There are a lot of barometers that you must keep your eye on,” he said.

Near Valley View, developments have already been springing up, including Highland Hills, the Hills of Archbald and Wildcat Ridge. So far, the new homes have not significantly affected population, but some families may have children too young for school or may have moved from somewhere else in the district, Mr. Daley speculated.

There is some room for expansion in the intermediate school, which was built to accommodate 16 more classrooms, if needed. The elementary, high school and middle school, however, are already at capacity, Mr. Daley said.

“In the high school, we’re not bursting at the seams, but we’re using all the classrooms,” he said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scranton's tax base continues to dwindle while the suburbs continue to explode with new growth---sounds like NEPA.

[FightinPhils]

As a graduate of Valley View schools, I am now going to re-post some of my past posts on how lousy and overrated the Valley View schools are:

6/26/07
You make some valid points, Dan, but this is one in which I disagree with you. Scranton schools are just as good or better than any in the area. I will argue that Scranton schools are better, especially on the elementary/middle school level, since in Scranton we have smaller neighborhood schools, where you know the teachers and principal on a first name basis, as opposed to large megaschools in Abington, where hundreds upon hundreds of kids are bussed to school from as far as 15 miles away. Just because many of Scranton's school buildings may be older and in need of some cosmetic repairs, and Abington has the big new fancy modern buildings, don't automatically assume that means you get a better education in Abington. Abington has more money than Scranton, that doesn't make it better. Don't listen to what real estate ads say when they try to pass of certain school districts, like Abington, as better in order to sell more houses. I went to a school district that the real estate agents and others created a false perception of being a good school...Valley View....and I can tell you first hand, Valley View schools are lousy. The VV school board is more worried about getting teaching jobs for their families and their buddies, and about the football team, than they are about education. And don't think those schools are safer than Scranton either. I know current VV teachers who say that the school has a big drug problem...and drugs are commonplace at affluent schools like Abington and Prep, due to the kids having a lot of money to burn and parents who are more involved in their careers and material pursuits than in raising their children.

Once again, as someone is not a product of Scranton schools, and not even a born-and-raised Scrantonian, I am very pleased so far with my kids experience in Scranton schools.



3/12/07
So far, we have had no problems whatsoever with Scranton schools. I love the fact that most people are in walking distance of neighborhood schools in Scranton. Not too many kids require bussing. SSD even offers a FREE preschool for 3 and 4 year olds, and let me tell you, it is a great asset to have in preparing kids for school. Myself, I'm a product of the Valley View School District, which I would advise you to avoid like the plague, despite real estate ads bragging about homes being located in Valley View Schools. The only reason VV gets a lot of positive press is because it has one of the most successful football programs in this part of the state....but the reality is, the level of education at VV is subpar, and I was far behind my classmates in college. However, I see no problems whatsoever with Scranton schools. I would go out on a limb and say that Scranton schools overall may be the best schools in the area (in fairness, Scranton has many grade schools, and there are a few that are lacking, but most are excellent schools). My wife is a graduate of Scranton schools, as well as many friends of mine, and I can tell from talking to them and from my child's experiences in the SSD, that the education in Scranton is better than the education received at a so-called great suburban school district in Valley View (which is comprised of Archbald, Eynon, Jessup, Blakely, and Peckville).



5/17/07
Scranton schools are very good. The quality of education in the SSD is much better than at my alma mater Valley View.

I just like the idea of neighborhood elementary schools, rather than kids being bussed 8 miles to some mega school. The fact that Scranton is the only area public school with a Pre-K program is also great.

5/18/07
Scranton School District has 3-year-old and 4-year-old preschool programs in its elementary schools, for all district residents regardless of income. Its not associated with Head Start. 3 year olds attend for a half day 3 times per week, and 4 year olds attend for a half day 5 days per week. Its excellent and kids who attend the preschool are light years ahead when they get to kindergarten.



3/20/07
I live in Scranton now, but I grew up in Archbald and graduated from Valley View HS. Archbald is not a bad town. Its relatively quiet and safe. Valley View School District is another story. The level of education at VV is subpar. Please do not listen to real estate ads that brag about houses located in Valley View Schools. The only reason that VV has some kind of a "good reputation" is that VV is historically one of the best high school football teams in this part of the state, and most of VV's school buildings are nice, new buildings (however, a nice building does not equate to better education). When I started college, I was WAY behind my classmates who graduated from other schools. Comparing my high school education with those of other people I know, I can say for a fact that your children will get a better education in Scranton, Dunmore, and Mid-Valley schools than they would at VV. Not to say that all teachers at VV were bad, since I did have a handful of great teachers, however, a majority were hired because of who they know or are related to. Many of my high school teachers did not teach, rather, they held court with the football players talking about football plays or the big game, while the rest of us just screwed off, played cards or goofed off. As a kid, I didn't mind this, but when I got to college and had to do a lot of catching up to be at the level of my classmates was not fun.

Translation: Archbald would be a good town to move to if you don't have kids. If you have kids, steer clear. My kids attend Scranton schools, and I can vouch that they are better than Valley View (and Lakeland for that matter, where I attended elementary school). Scranton has smaller, neighborhood elementary schools, which I find to be a much better educational environment than the larger elementary schools in districts such as Valley View, where kids from 3 different towns are bussed to a school 6 miles away.




2/26/07
And also, please do not listen to the real estate ads that always try to make the schools to be a positive selling point. Valley View School District is lousy. Nepotism is alive and well, meaning that most of the teachers are there because of who they know, not what they know....not all, but most. I am a VV graduate and was really behind my classmates in college due to the not-so-great education I received at VV. Many of my teachers were more concerned with the upcoming high school football games than they were with education. It seems that the reason that real estate agents try to use VV school district as a selling point are only concerning themselves with VV's reputation as a good football school. The education is subpar. My child receives a better education in Scranton schools than I did at VV. Plus, VV's school taxes are among the highest in the area.

Personally, I would steer clear of VV school district. Archbald is a decent town, but if you have kids, avoid the schools.