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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The Wilkes-Barre Area School Board has set a Tuesday meeting to get public input on a new plan to save the auditorium at Meyers High School, renovate the neighboring Memorial Stadium and upgrade the athletic field at the Solomon/Plains education complex.</p><p>The short notice of the meeting, as well as the proposed expansion of the Plains Township facility, drew a stinging rebuke from Attorney Kimberly Borland, who has repeatedly questioned the board&#8217;s decision-making process since it first voted to consolidate Meyers and Coughlin high schools in a new building at the Coughlin site.</p><p>&#8220;This is a disgraceful amount of notice for a public input meeting, even though the meeting itself is only an afterthought,&#8221; Borland wrote in an email. He also criticized the 5:30 p.m. start time, arguing the board &#8220;needs to schedule this meeting with sufficient notice and at a reasonable time past the end of the workday to allow people to ask their questions and voice their concerns.&#8221;</p><p>While the board voted last year for the consolidation of the schools, no plans were put forth for a Meyers once it is closed &#8212; likely several years from now. Critics have repeatedly warned of a decline in neighboring property values and an exodus of those who moved into South Wilkes-Barre because of the venerable school. The board has cited reports contending it would be too costly to renovate Meyers.</p><p>Superintendent Brian Costello offered a vision for Meyers at the Oct. 17 school board meeting, suggesting most of the school be razed but the auditorium and stadium be preserved and renovated for both district and community use. The plan also calls for expansion of the football field at the Solomon/Plains Education Complex.</p><p>The work would be done in phases likely lasting into 2022 or later, with renovation at Plains the first phase.</p><p>Costello said work would include installation of a multi-sport surface, seating and lights, giving the district a second venue for evening games beyond Memorial Stadium. The board voted to form an &#8220;exploratory&#8221; committee to dig into the idea, but made no commitment to follow through.</p><p>In his email, Borland pointed out the district has admitted &#8220;financial difficulties&#8221; and suggests &#8220;it is bizarre that the district&#8217;s first order of business is to build a second, brand new, lighted football stadium in Plains.</p><p>&#8220;Once again, the district is on a rush to judgment and making a farce of public input,&#8221; Borland wrote.</p><p>Costello said the expansion at Plains addresses two issues.</p><p>First, razing parts of Meyers and renovating the auditorium will likely impact Memorial Stadium for some time, and having an expanded facility at Plains would mitigate any scheduling problems if Memorial becomes unusable.</p><p>Second, Costello said, the district has debated the idea of two multipurpose stadiums for years, and this would meet that dream, allowing two events &#8212; either in the same sport or different ones &#8212; to be scheduled on the same night. That would eliminate the annual cost of renting time on Wilkes-Barre City fields for some sports.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s something we&#8217;ve been thinking about for quite some time,&#8221; Costello said, &#8220;And I look forward to getting public input on the proposal.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_BrianCostello.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brian Costello</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_BrianCostello.jpg</photo0><caption0>Brian Costello</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Borland-Kim.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">Kim Borland</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Borland-Kim.jpeg</photo1><caption1>Kim Borland</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_picture_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">This rendering shows the proposed razing of much of Meyers High School while preserving Memorial Stadium and the school auditorium. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_picture_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>This rendering shows the proposed razing of much of Meyers High School while preserving Memorial Stadium and the school auditorium. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>What:</strong> Meeting for public input on Wilkes-Barre Area School District plans for Meyers</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Kistler Elementary School Cafeteria, 301 Old River Road, Wilkes-Barre</p><p><strong>When:</strong> Tuesday, Oct. 25, 5:30 p.m.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre Area School District officials seek public input on new Meyers proposal