Wrightstown Residents Launch Online Campaign to Save Elementary School

Residents in Wrightstown are stepping up efforts to prevent the Council Rock School District from closing the only public school in town. 

Last month, Council Rock’s Capital Planning Committee recommended the district consider closing Wrightstown Elementary School and redistrict students to Newtown Elementary School.

Many in Wrightstown oppose the proposal and have started an online campaign to keep the school open. An online petition on change.org had 125 supporters as of Wednesday afternoon.  In addition, Wrightstown Elementary School supporters have created a Facebook page, Save Wrightstown Elementary School.

Council Rock’s Capital Planning Committee, which was tasked with coming up with a capital plan by assessing the district’s buildings and overall student enrollment, said closing the school is fiscally responsible. Wrightstown Elementary School, built in 1958, is the district’s smallest and most inefficient school, according to the presentation. It is located on Penns Park Road near the Village Library.

“We realize that this is only a proposal but we the community members of Council Rock School District want to communicate our displeasure and concern regarding this suggestion from the start of the decision making process,” the petition states.

The petition goes on to say that Wrightstown Elementary School provides a small setting for an ideal learning environment, something that cannot be duplicated by redistricting students to a larger school.

“We moved to Newtown so our children could go to Council Rock Schools. Wrightstown is just down the road from us and I want my kids in a small school environment,” wrote Amy Kronberger, who signed the petition.

Another signee said one of the reasons they purchased their house was because of the school. “We moved to Wrightstown township a year ago and our 3-year-old son will eventually go to school at Wrightstown Elementary. One of the reasons we chose the house we bought was because of the school. My husband and I have heard so many great things about it,” wrote Dawn McBurney.

Supporters of Wrightstown Elementary say they plan to attend the next Council Rock School Board meeting on July 17 at the Chancellor Center.

Click here to view the petition. 

Click here to view the Facebook page.