Pocono News Section

Polls Open Until 8 in Crestwood Special Election

Polls Open Until 8 in Crestwood Special Election - Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 3:40PM EST

MOUNTAIN TOP, LUZERNE COUNTY- The Crestwood School District is asking voters to help renovate and expand. It wants to borrow a little more than 55 million dollars to do that. The polls opened at 7 this morning.
They were there when the doors opened in Fairview Township. Voters taking part in Crestwood's special election. Mike Papciak said, "We each have to make our vote heard and that's basically it. We have to decide what's best for us, what's best for our kids."

The school district wants to borrow a little more than 55 million dollars. It would be used to renovate and expand the district's secondary complex in Mountain Top. That holds grades 7 through 12, but the district says it's too overcrowded.

Darel Matthews says he voted yes. I can't understand why anyone's against it because frankly they don't have the room now for the children that they have. They're going to have to bring trailers in order to teach their kids. You're going to have kids walking all over the grounds of the school," he told Eyewitness News.

Classrooms in trailers is one option for the school district if the proposal doesn't pass. But some voters say it's the wrong time for expansion. John Amoatrani said, "Time of the economy for one thing and I just don't think they need it."

Others say this vote too close to Luzerne County's reassessment. The school district says the time is now, though. A new cafeteria, science labs, and auditorium are also included in the plan. If approved, construction would begin in 2010 and likely be finished by September 2012.

The polls close tonight at 8 for voter in the Crestwood School District. The votes should be totaled shortly after that.