In the saga of Bethlehem's historic Broughal Middle School, it seems as if there may indeed be a violation of the law. There was an Act 34 hearing on the fate of the school on Dec. 14. While the board "won" that hearing, it was forbidden by state law to touch the building for 30 days, to allow for comments from the public. Apparently there is such zeal in the present school administration for costing the taxpayers a pile of dollars while destroying something irreplaceable that "salvage" work at the school began as early as the day after Christmas. Superintendent Dr. Joseph Lewis--he of the prim-yet-imposing mustache--and district contracted engineer M. Arif Fazil may regard the work, which succeeded in partially destroying datestones and decorative banisters, as "exploratory," but the state education department seems likely to take another view. It should, although perhaps the only punishment to the arrogant administration would be large fines, which it would collect from the taxpayers.
At that, maybe the taxpayers SHOULD have to pay the extra bills that may ensue. Would we have a better, more responsive superintendent and board if more of us had bothered to inform ourselves and vote? It's just possible.
Despite the disaster upon which I am reporting (I keep wondering, was that stonework damaged accidentally, or accidentally-on-purpose?), I would like to suggest that those who care about Broughal continue to fight.
Why? Isn't it hopeless? Very likely. In the words of Israel's first prime minister, "Miracles sometimes do happen, but one has to work terribly hard for them."
Well, let's work terribly hard for a while. Maybe we can make a miracle. And meanwhile let us remind ourselves that at this point EVERYTHING we care for, small and large, is up for grabs. Now more than ever. One little neighborhood school, one small city, one nation, the planet... It all needs to be fought for.
Tiring to think about, isn't it? But the price of survival, for ourselves and those who come after us.
Those who want more background on historic schools, their value, and the economics of saving them, may find it on the website of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Sorry I can't find the url in the piles of papers around me; you'll have to google it.