Safety

· The parcel of land is small for the expressed vision. There is inadequate space for buses & parent drop off/pickup

·Despite heavy traffic & blind curves, an entrance/exit is proposed on Rose Tree Road. Middletown Township previously blocked an 88 car Penncrest student parking lot, due to the road’s short sight lines & dangerous curves

· PENNDOT's realignment project to connect Rose Tree Road with Route 352 at the traffic light across from the Promenade is planned for 2034/5 making the ability to turn left on Route 352 a significant challenge. The gridlock already backs cars up on Rose Tree Road in front of the proposed K-1 Center entrance/exit & compound traffic heading towards Ridley Creek Rd

Traffic

· The surrounding roads are narrow, curvy, hilly & heavily congested country roads with no shoulder or sidewalk - not intended or designed to support a large-scale operation

· The students are 5 & 6 year olds, resulting in many parents dropping their child off rather than a long bus ride adding an estimated 600+ cars, twice day, to the already congested rural road system

· School start will be "staggered" from that of the other district school leaving working parents forced to drop off

· The district’s proposed “fix” to the known traffic problem is to create a cut-through road connecting Barren Road to Rose Tree Road. Buses will enter & exit using the cut-through road. Parents will enter/exit from Rose Tree Road. The proposed cut-through road does not change the lack of safe parent drop off/pick-up lines

· More congestion means additional accidents & safety risks for children, drivers, and pedestrians

Rose Tree Road April 2025

Rose Tree Road April 2025

·The estimated cost for the proposed K–1 school is $84 million (if construction were to start today)

· The estimate omits key long-term costs - utilities, staffing, transportation, annual operation & maintenance, cleaning, equipment, technology, food service equipment, buses, etc. which once built, will bring forever higher overhead costs & tax burden

· With enrollment projected to peak at 660 students by 2034, the school is oversized by nearly 50%

· There are 6 district schools, all incurring duplicative costs - maintenance, landscaping, utilities, etc. A separate K-1 Center adds a continuous, annual cost burden to fund the same services

· Taxpayers are already facing a scheduled 3.5% school tax increase which does not take this project into consideration

· The 2018 RTMSD Capacity Study identifies how the district could have expanded & improved existing schools to accommodate future growth

·The district's 2023 Feasibility Study Update identifies $59 million in improvements needed at the four elementary schools & another $44 million for the middle & high schools. These estimates assume the 400-student elementary school in Edgmont was built, which it was not. Many of the district’s existing needs, including elective programs, might be better addressed through a more cost-effective plan rather than committing to a new, expansive (nearly 3 acre building) & expensive school ($84M if built today)

· The ever-increasing school taxation in combination with the steep 23% hike in county tax in 2025 & a projected 24% increase in 2026 is an especially heavy burden for the large number of fixed income homeowners in the district making home ownership unaffordable

· A regional K–1 Center uproots students after first grade, severing early friendships & forcing families to juggle varied commutes & schedules

· The 2018 District Capacity Study did not recommend this model, citing concerns with busing young students & increased transportation as drawbacks

· At the February 13, 2025 work session, a school board member is heard saying “…one of the schools we went to & we visited, the principal said everybody’s putting this [K-1 Centers] into their schools & we did it too but if I had to do it again I wouldn’t do it again.” (20:25-20:35 timestamp)

K-1 Concept?

Proposed K-1

Not a Quick Fix

Let’s not allow a perceived quickness override common sense

· Rose Tree Road is a challenging site facing layers of reviews & numerous permits. In addition to the questionable readiness of the land development application, the location, traffic, mature tree removal & habitat destruction including wetlands, this parcel has no water or sewer connections.

· The proposed 850 student, 125,670 s.f. (2.88-acre) building on the 13.9-acre green space parcel will be over 60% impervious i.e. naturally occurring stormwater drainage is prevented generating excessive runoff necessitating approval by Middletown Township of 2 reverse subdivisions.

· County Conservation District permits stormwater with additional review & comment by the PA Dept of Environmental Protection.

· Given the amount of green space to be paved, the excessive stormwater will convey heat & contaminated runoff to the high-quality Ridley Creek - a cold-water trout fishery.

· Per the district engineer, the clay soil doesn’t perk requiring highly invasive, & highly expensive removal and/or supplementing of the existing soil to facilitate stormwater infiltration & if it doesn’t drain quick enough, the addition of underground infiltration systems – another continuous expense.

· The proposed K-1 is down gradient from the sewer force main requiring sewage to be pumped up to the collection system – a forever overhead cost.

· PennDot & the Township are responsible for a traffic study with PennDot deciding on the issuance of a highway occupancy permit to allow for an entrance/exit onto Rose Tree Road.

· In 2006, the Township denied a district proposal to build an 88-car parking lot with an entrance on Rose Tree Road due to the blind curves & short sight lines creating a significant safety concern.

· The PA Department of Education oversees the Act 34 process which imposes a cap on building costs: at the October school board meeting, the engineer reported the project is “trending a little higher than the budget plan.” An Act 34 hearing announcement is planned for December 2025 with a hearing conducted in January 2026. Stay tuned for updates.

· Renovating or expanding at the elementary schools or middle school eliminates long bus rides for very young children, keeps siblings together, simplifies logistics, reduces the no. of bus runs, lowers overhead costs/taxes, creates minimal environmental impact, is feasible, & can be accomplished sooner than the proposed K-1 Center.

Environmental Concerns

· Even with a zoning change, the K-1 Center cannot stand alone; the impervious surface created by paving green space to create roads, parking lots & a 125,670 s.f. (nearly 3 acre) building exceeds the Township’s impervious surface requirements necessitating a reverse sub-division of 2 parcels

· Although the stormwater calculation may indicate compliance as a result of the reverse sub-division, the amount of contaminated stormwater runoff generated, remains unchanged and excessive

· Runoff will convey heated water, oil/grease, salt, deicers & harmful pollutants to the high-quality Ridley Creek

· The Rose Tree Road tree line will be forever removed & habitat, including wetlands, destroyed causing wildlife displacement

·Environmental harm is irreversible & in this matter, totally unnecessary

Public Engagement & Transparency

· Many residents are unaware of the project

· RTMSD will not share a site feasibility study & relevant documents that informed the Board's decision to move forward with the $84 million project, even bringing in an attorney, using taxpayer dollars, to fight a taxpayer’s "Right to Know" request

· At an April 30 district meeting advertised as an opportunity for “questions & discussions”, public input was shut down. Instead of allowing residents to speak, the format was changed; attendees were handed index cards to write questions, which were then screened, effectively silencing community voices

· The school district expressed its site selection priorities as: location, property size, property cost, transportation impacts, timeline to develop the property, & site attributes: safety, accessibility, entry points, utilities, drainage, soils, & environment integration. The the results of the district’s application of the site selection priorities for this property are not posted or made available to the public

Broken Promises

· The proposed land development rests on broken promises & is in direct conflict with the Township’s Comprehensive Plan & the March 2022 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan, undermining goals for stormwater management, traffic, cut-throughs, open space preservation, & schools

· The proposed K-1 Center runs counter to the Township’s vision: “Middletown will be a safe, connected and resilient township that values a family‐oriented community, neighborhood integrity, and responsible growth.”

· The proposed K-1 Center fails to support the Township’s stated objective: “Encourage compatible land use, redevelopment, and revitalization that will protect the stability & enhance the character of mature neighborhoods” & is in opposition to the expressed action item: “Encourage a continued dialogue with residents regarding traffic, cut‐through traffic, and speed in residential neighborhoods to protect the safety of pedestrian mobility”.

The Township's Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan

· School board members campaigned on supporting neighborhood schools, yet this regional school proposes to place a large, institutional building in a quiet, residential area going against everything the Township publicly proclaims to provide, protect, and preserve

· The board states that a primary location focus is on “new residential developments.” However, the Rose Tree parcel is in an established neighborhood. The proposal does not integrate with the community’s character or infrastructure. The site is not walkable, there are no sidewalks & no street lights.

Common-Sense Solutions

1. Upgrade /Expand Existing Properties

· The 2018 RTMSD Capacity Study by Marotta/Main shows the district could expand & improve existing schools to accommodate future growth. Options considered at the time included: additions to all school buildings, a new kindergarten & first grade Center, new fifth & sixth grade building, & moving fifth grade to middle school. The district is ignoring these cheaper, smarter, faster solutions at your expense.

· The district often states they must build on the 13.9-acre parcel on Rose Tree Road because “they already own the land”. The reality is the district owns over 100 acres across the 4 elementary schools, middle school, & high school.

Glenwood Indian Lane

Rose Tree Springton Lake

· There is no need to duplicate costs/annual expenses (utilities, additional staffing, transportation, annual operation & maintenance, cleaning, equipment, technology, food service equipment, buses, classroom furnishings, playgrounds, landscaping, etc.) since

existing infrastructure is already in place at the current school properties.

· A representative of the district’s Architect & Engineering firm is quoted as saying initial plans “look like a pretty good opportunity & should bear some fruit for the District.” “Pretty good opportunity” & bearing “some fruit” are red flags signaling that better, more common-sense solutions are available

· The destruction & disregard for the environment (stormwater, groundwater, soil, wildlife, wetlands, trees, lights, traffic, etc.) is completely unnecessary.

· With the school in Edgmont not constructed, the more affordable & previously recommended options of adding to existing schools, moving fifth grade to middle school or creating a new fifth & sixth grade building were not reconsidered despite being more expedient & equitable solutions. Instead, the district unilaterally opted for a regional K-1 Center when all options should again be considered & evaluated, with input from the public.

· The December 2018, District Wide Capacity Study provides detailed, viable construction options (see Design Options Page). Building a second floor on Indian Lane and/or a new school at Glenwood Elementary should be fully vetted.

· Converting existing semi-permanent modular space to permanent, brick & mortar wings needs to be considered. How classroom space is utilized should be studied at all schools to ensure optimization. Perhaps modular units could be used for storage & classrooms for students?

2. Consider Repurposing Existing Properties - The Middletown Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Plan recognizes the value of repurposing existing structures as a means of preserving green space & reducing storm water runoff.

When possibilities are raised, the public is simply told “no” by the school district without any evidence or proof that due diligence was conducted or that scenarios other than the K-1 option on Rose Tree Road were considered:

· The At Home Group which owns the Promenade at Granite Run At Home store, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The restructuring includes closing 26 stores. The lenders will become the new owners of the company. The property is 85,985 square feet, & likely can be expanded with a 2nd floor.

• What would it take to purchase & renovate this large property with paved roads & ample parking, is accessible from Route 352 & Baltimore Pike, has no wetlands, stormwater mitigation, or mature tree removal, is already equipped with water & sewer connections, would preserve open space & utilize an empty building?

The Roosevelt Community Center & former Township library building

• The Roosevelt Center is the former Roosevelt School.

• The Township already had 2 elementary schools, a middle school, & high school in the district, so the Roosevelt building was no longer needed as part of RTMSD’s school capacity.

• Middletown Township purchased the property in 2018, renovated it & opened the Roosevelt Community Center in 2021.

• There are 4 classrooms in the Roosevelt Community Center; it is in close proximity to Indian Lane ES.

• Consider whether programs currently conducted at the Roosevelt Community Center could be held at the former Middletown library on Pennell Road next to the Township building, which is currently unoccupied & whether the classrooms in the Roosevelt Community Center can be utilized to alleviate overcrowding.

The Sleighton School/Tract

• Edgmont Township offered to work with the school district to identify an alternative site. The Township recommended the Sleighton School property.

• 22 acres of the property are owned by Middletown Township.

• The understanding is:

  The school property is owned by Elwyn

  In 2021, a plan to build around 193 townhouses on 80 acres was considered by Edgmont & Middletown Townships

  Middletown Township disputed the approval process & development notices.

  Efforts to redevelop are stalled by legal & zoning disputes.

The property's deteriorating condition & history of fires underscore the urgency for a resolution.

• Are Edgmont, Middletown, the school district & Elwyn talking to consider constructing a school on this property? Could cost of building removal & site cleanup be shared by the land owner?

Elwyn owns large agricultural crop fields on Route 352 which are spacious & tree free. Has the school district or Township discussed possible use of this property?

· To address growth, the Springfield & Haverford school districts, & others across PA, build new schools on existing athletic fields & replace the fields when construction concludes.

· There is no excuse for overcrowding not being addressed before now & no reason to disturb existing green space. Much bigger, cleared parcels are available at Glenwood, Indian Lane (21 acres), Rose Tree & Springton Lake Middle School (70 acres).

· Many of the district’s existing needs, including elective programs, could be better addressed through a more cost-effective, comprehensive plan rather than committing to a single, state of the art regional school, which students will attend for 2 years before going to 1 of the 4 elementary schools - built between 1913 and1962, for the next 4 years.

· Existing needs & equity in the schools must be part of the overall plan & budget.

· School expansion on the 70 acres at Springton Lake to create a regional school for children in grade 5 maybe the best, least disruptive & cost-efficient solution. These children are already starting to transition into middle school, are older, & can handle a longer bus ride thus reducing car traffic; this will open up room in all the schools, utilize existing bus runs, maintain a consistent school start time, & allow for growth & full-day kindergarten (see Design Options 3 & 4). Many other school districts (e.g. Lower Merion) already moved to this model as a solution to overcrowding & Downingtown school district has a "6th grade center."

Call to Action

We call on RTMSD to pause this project & engage with parents, the community, & taxpayers to identify better solutions - ones that uphold transparency, fiscal responsibility, safety, & the integrity of our schools & neighborhoods

HOW YOU CAN HELP

There are a few things you can do to help.

Sign our petition, donate to our sign & defense fund, post a sign on your lawn, participate at school board & council meetings, call/email township supervisors & school board members, stay connected by joining us on Facebook & our email group, & create awareness by spreading the word

CALL TO VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION

Middletown Township (610) 565-2700 f: (610) 566-3640

Rose Tree Media School District - Dr. Joseph Meloche, Superintendent (610) 627-6000, ext.6002

SEND LETTERS/EMAIL

Letters to the Township and School District are critical—the more they receive the better! Below are links to form letters you can use and to make your own
Middletown Township, Delaware County 27 N. Pennell Road, Media, PA 19063

Dr. Joseph Meloche - Superintendent 308 N. Olive Street Media, PA 19063

EMAIL Middletown Council Members

Carissa.Ciuca@middletowndelcopa.gov, Christopher.Stump@middletowndelcopa.gov, susan.powell@middletowndelcopa.gov, bok.read@middletowndelcopa.gov, bibianna.dussling@middletowndelcopa.gov, david.bialek@middletowndelcopa.gov, jackie.donnelly@middletowndelcopa.gov

SCHOOL SUPPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS

TheresaNapson-Williams@rtmsd.org, KenDinitz@rtmsd.org, HillaryFletcher@rtmsd.org, JackieGusic@rtmsd.org,SusanHenderson-Utis@rtmsd.org,ShellyHunt@rtmsd.org,RobertKelly@rtmsd.org,KarleenKrenicky@rtmsd.org, KellySchaffer@rtmsd.org

Attend Township & School Board Meetings

Township

Land Planning Committee - 6:00 PM date varies - check Township website https://middletowndelcopa.gov/

Council Meeting Location - 27 N. Pennell Road

Township Council Meetings - 7:00 PM on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month. The first meeting of the month is a work session meeting. All meetings are considered voting meetings. Remaining 2025 meeting dates are: Council Workshop: Council Meetings: November 19, December 3 Reorganization Meeting 2026: January 5 at 8:00 PM

School Board

Work sessions are held at Springton Lake Middle School, 1900 N. Providence Road, Media at 6:30 pm on the second Thursday of each month (first Monday in December and first Thursday in June) and live-streamed on the District’s YouTube Channel
November 13, 2025
December 1, 2025 - Monday
January 8, 2026
February 12, 2026
March 12, 2026
April 9, 2026
May 14, 2026
June 4, 2026

Legislative Meetings are held at Penncrest High School Auditorium at 6:30 PM on the fourth Thursday of the month (third Thursday in November and second Thursday in December and June) and live-streamed on the District’s YouTube Channel

Please contribute to materials & legal expenses through the GoFundMe, check, or vemo

Please Sign Here

Please Contribute Here or via check or VEMO

Thank You!

Silence is consent. Without you, this project will be pushed through, little by little, eroding our quality of life. We need better planning & smarter decisions

Please Write All Checks

"Mary Anne Wolf” with “No K-1” in the memo line

Mail Checks to:

Mary Anne Wolf 711 W. Rose Tree Road Media, PA 19063

Please Write All Checks

"Mary Anne Wolf” with “No K-1” in the memo line

Mail Checks to:

Mary Anne Wolf 711 W. Rose Tree Road Media, PA 19063

November 20, 2025
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