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<p>The Save Our Schools organization formed in opposition to high school consolidation in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District is circulating a petition urging the school board to hold a voter referendum on the issue.</p><p>The petition was among the topics discussed at an SOS meeting designed as &#8220;an opportunity for people who had an interest to share ideas on how we can be effective,&#8221; SOS member and attorney Kimberly Borland said. The meeting was held Wednesday at Rodano&#8217;s on Public Square.</p><p>The petition calls for the following question to be put on the ballot: &#8220;Should Coughlin and Meyers be consolidated into a new high school in Plains, to the exclusion of GAR, at the projected cost of $101 to $118 million?&#8221;</p><p>In June 2015, the school board voted to consolidate grades nine through 12 from Meyers and Coughlin high schools into a new building. It then planned to erect the new school where Coughlin sits, but the Wilkes-Barre City Zoning Hearing Board denied a needed permit. The board has been moving forward with plans to build on a site in Plains Township.</p><p>Cost estimates have varied dramatically. The board authorized issuing bonds of up to $150 million, but solicitor Ray Wendolowski has predicted the final cost could be closer to $80 million, though the price went up when the Coughlin site was abandoned. Already owned by the district, that site required no money for land purchase.</p><p>The idea of a referendum has been floated right from the start. At the same meeting where consolidation was approved, Christine Katsock, who has since left the board, made a motion to put the issue on the ballot that November in the form of four, non-binding questions offering different choices in dealing with the district&#8217;s three aging high schools. The motion failed by one vote.</p><p>Wendolowski has said his research suggests a non-binding, or &#8220;advisory,&#8221; referendum would likely be illegal in Pennsylvania. At a second June meeting in 2015, he told the crowd that courts have ruled that an advisory referendum defeats the idea of a representative government, with the public electing people to make such decisions.</p><p>Borland, who has often clashed with Wendolowski on nuances of law interpretation, said the petition is being circulated in part to gauge public attitude about consolidation plan. &#8220;It&#8217;s getting a message to the board that if there&#8217;s a question of support or opposition, this is a way to find out.&#8221;</p><p>Borland said those interested in helping with the petition can contact Lois Grimm via email at lois.a.grimm@gmail.com</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">In this file photo, attorney Kim Borland addresses the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board. Borland is a member of the Save Our Schools organization, which is circulating a petition to get a referendum on the ballot about school consolidation. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_TTL101816WBArea2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>In this file photo, attorney Kim Borland addresses the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board. Borland is a member of the Save Our Schools organization, which is circulating a petition to get a referendum on the ballot about school consolidation. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Save Our Schools group pushing for ballot question on WBA consolidation