Butler Field, Auditorium Renovations on Hold

Two Butler Public Schools capital projects are on hold for now after Superintendent Mario Cardinale said the district does not want to ask the public to support them in the current economic climate.

"It's just not a time to go and ask people to support a referendum," he said.

The first involves the reorientation of the Smith Field and inclusion of the property of the former Decker House. The house that sat on the property was razed in May as the school district and borough's Citizens' Advisory Committee, made up of school board members, principals, school supervisors and community members, continued to discuss and consider new uses for the property.

Ideas that were considered, in addition to reorienting the field, were constructing a community playground or possibly creating a basketball court in the area near the lower level student parking lot behind the high school.

Cardinale said the committee has discussed interest in reorienting the field to potentially provide space for more than one activity to be held there at the same time. There has been consideration of soccer space, possibly another baseball diamond and more. 

But Cardinale said the amount of money it would take, while an exact dollar amount was not available, would warrant a referendum and the district is not prepared to ask voters to approve one at this time. The second project on hold includes renovating the high school auditorium, which Cardinale said would cost a projected $1.2 million. 

Even though the district is not able to spend money on the projects now, Cardinale said the committee and district will continue to plan for them so that when funding is available, the district will be able to move forward.

"When it is economically feasible, we have to be quick with a plan," he said.