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# Council Recap: Questions for the School District on the K-1 Center
- URL: https://www.middletownobserver.com/council-recap-k1-center-presentation/
- Published: 2026-10-09T13:59:27.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-09T13:59:27.000Z
- Description: The majority of questions from Council revolved around traffic concerns and environmental impact.
- Author: Paul, Middletown Observer
- Tags: Council, Rose Tree Media School District

Today, I'm diving into the October 7th Middletown Township Council meeting.

**The school district presented its plan to Council**, **whose members asked questions on the record. The majority of questions revolved around traffic concerns and environmental impact.**

To start, Council Member Garrett Fails asked if there are additional traffic-calming measures coming in the plan. The district's traffic consultant said they're willing to work with the township, but they don't have any recommendations yet. Council Member Fails followed up with a question about additional PennDOT grants. The district's traffic consultant said that they've applied for a second grant.

Council Member Leslie Campo expressed concern about the traffic grades at Middletown Road/Barren Road and Rose Tree Road/Ridley Creek Road decreasing, adding "C doesn’t sound good here, and I’m concerned about it going to D."

The district's traffic consultant said, "In the submitted study...we do show those two intersections going to level service D. However, we are in the process of revising our traffic study based on some of the comments we received. Those comments change some of the volumes at those intersections." 

Council Member Susan Powell asked how long the car line will take to clear. Superintendent Dr. Meloche estimated 15-minute waits at the other elementary schools and a similar wait here. "We do not anticipate...we will ever see 144 cars lined up on campus waiting in the morning or in the afternoon," he said. 

Responding to a question about buses from Council Member Christopher Stump, Dr. Meloche said, "Everybody will be assigned to a bus who attends." He added that the district will audit ridership after opening and "absolutely work on the promotion and use of busses when we open the new school."

Council Member Campo also asked if the plan could include more trees. Council Member Fails also added, "I think it’s an opportunity to build out with native plants and native trees, and really make it a beautiful space in addition to a learning space." The district's engineer walked through the tree plan an additional time without commenting on the native plants.

**Only about 70 residents attended, fewer than at previous Planning Commission presentations.**

I counted about 24 total speakers, with 4 in favor of the K-1 plan and 20 against. Unlike the previous Planning Commission presentations on the K-1 Center, this time there weren't enough speakers to fill the allotted public comment time. 

**The next Council meeting and likely vote is Wednesday, October 21st.**

The meeting will likely take place at the Penn State Brandywine campus again. As a reminder, the Planning Commission voted to recommend this plan on September 8th, and sent it to Council. "Township Council is considering this as a development application for Middletown Township. The education policy and the taxes administered by the school board are not under our consideration," said Council Member Stump during public comment.

The school district has set the Wednesday, November 18th Council meeting as the latest possible deadline for the vote, but I would expect a vote to take place next meeting. The most recent [FAQ released by the township is located here](https://middletowndelcopa.gov/uploads/dm/84596/FAQ%5F09.04.26%5Fupdated%5F10.2.26.pdf?ref=middletownobserver.com). 

**Usually I supply a link to the recording. I'll add it if the township puts it up on their site. I hope you enjoyed this Middletown Observer report as much as I enjoyed writing it!**