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Building CB East Stadium: It's all About the Money

Decades in the planning, the stadium for Central Bucks High School East seems to be getting more support, but is the school board willing to pay for it?

 

To build a stadium or not to build a stadium, that has been the question in CB East since 1999, but now there’s a glimmer of hope.

Last month, the Central Bucks School Board agreed to hold a town meeting about the proposed stadium, which was held Tuesday.

One of the issues is parity; that is, CB East wants a stadium just as CB West and CB South have theirs.

School director Tyler Tomlinson said that building the stadium would go a long way to fulfilling the district's promise to give every Central Bucks student the same education and experiences.

"It's really difficult when every game is an away game," Tomlinson said last month, referring to CB East students who must travel to other schools to play.

On Tuesday, CB East Principal told the school board and attendees, that the stadium is not just about football. “It’s about field hockey and men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s track … it’s about a place where family and friends can sit and watch them.”

Phillburbs.com reports that a couple hundred people attended the town hall meeting including Bill Boger and Don Veix, members of the CB East Stadium Committee, who said that the district has already spent $500,000 to design the stadium and to defend those plans in court.

“We don’t want to see it being wasted and thrown away,” Boger said.

To build or not to build? What’s your answer?

The district received a $2.5 million bond issue after the project's approval, but the construction estimate has been projected at $5.6 million, leaving a $3.1 million deficit.

"I can't move forward with this project until I hear from the public that they want us to find that money," said school director Paul Faulkner last month.

While there is much support for the project, the cost is what had some residents balking. “I can’t believe people are saying this is the time to spend the money on an unnecessary project like this,” a Warrington woman told Phillyburbs.com.

In previous Patch articles, one woman commented, “My daughter leaves her last block 3 times a week for sports. WHY? Because every game is an away game. She misses her last block 3 times a week. Can you imagine missing an AP class 3 times a week? This is about academics and not just about sports.”

The response was that while a stadium might be more convenient for the student-athletes, who is going to pay the extra $3.1 million to build it?

The school board has about $7 million more set aside for building projects, but  the board must decide whether to use it for the CB East stadium or another  project.

Related stories:

Related Topics: CB East stadium and Central Bucks School Board

Colleen Brink

8:31 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

I am in total agreement to build the stadium, but question it's usability without lights or a public address system. These limitations really cut into the usage of the stadium and are too restrictive.

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Nicole Anne DIme

2:54 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

when you begin to add all of the "extras" you are discussing, you will experience cost creep

Bill C

8:41 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

"If you build it, they will come....."

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Brighton Earlie

5:03 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

how silly is this comment? who will come? kids from the "other side of the tracks" to the sacred grounds of CB East. If you are going to try and fool me, you need to get ou of bed much sooner

Jennifer Estes

9:24 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Hmmm, we should consider the basic needs of other schools in the district before spending monies set aside for "future projects". For example, air-conditioning or at least ceiling fans in EVERY classroom in the district.

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Mort and Fay Tality

3:11 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

jennifer air conditioning? open he windows and listen to the cheers from the stadium while getting proper ventilation. these arguments must cease - for good

J

10:20 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Spoiled rich kids will always be spoiled.

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that guy

10:57 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

That was probably the dumbest thing I've read all morning. I graduated from CB West and am fully aware of the stigma surrounding CB East and the "rich kids". Hell, I even called them spoiled and rich when I was in High School. But, how can you go and say something stupid like that when West has had a stadium for as long as I can remember and South was built with a stadium. So, you can retract your comment and say that East & South are the "spoiled rich kids" this time around. And, did you not read the article about athletes having to leave classes early? I'd rather deprive a rich kid's parent's of some money and put it towards adequate facilities instead of taking away from their education.

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Natalie Attired

5:04 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Spoiled RIch kids??? we are just like everyone else dressed in Forever21,Aeropostale, Wetseal, CharlotteRusse, Pacsun, Hot Topic, Zumiez. wearing skinny jeans,converse,vans,screen t's,hoodies,short shorts,plaid shirts thats where EVERYONE shops not just rich spoiled kids. Go East!!

skinny jeans,converse,vans,screen t's,hoodies,short shorts,plaid shirts

Art Waite

10:43 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Build the damned thing. The cost squeeze is temporary. The results are permanent.

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Diana Boredom

12:45 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I find your comments regarding cost squeeze very tiring

Not Rich

11:07 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Let the parents of the kids who will play in this stadium pay the cost!

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Dennis Fagan

11:57 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Did the parents of the students of CB South pay for the school or was it the taxpayers? Where was the uproar about costs when the constructed CB South? These kids deserve their oun stadium. How much has it cost the taxpayers busing the sports teams to their home games since CB East was built? By the way, I am a graduate of CB West.

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Rich Hassole

12:35 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Personally, I think the entire situation is a joke. I would rather sit around jesting about it than see any work ever get done.

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Sharon Needles

12:37 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Dennis, I could not agree with you more… let’s just build the Fagan thing. But what do I know, I dropped out of east after I developed a drug problem.

Chris

11:09 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Build it. Ridiculous a school of this caliber does not have adequate facitilties to host sporting events. This will enhance the value of the entire town. We all win.

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Nicole

12:35 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Raise the money first,then put your plans into action!Time for a fundraiser.

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Doylestownian

2:44 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Read the entire story. The stadium cost will be about $5.5 million. The district has $7million set aside for building projects. Since the money has been raised, I assume you're now ok with "putting plans into action" ?

Mary191

2:48 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

There is one error in this article.... This has been a question SINCE 1969!!!!!!!

BUILD IT!

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lois steem

4:20 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

oh well, the stadium probably will never be built. Although I consider myself an athlete (chess club) i was always picked last
- lois steem

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Don Chiba

12:42 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Lois, I thought your comment seemed a little bit odd, but then I noticed the time at which you made your post and it makes sense now. Just don’t get a BWI.

John T Carpenter

8:40 am on Friday, March 22, 2013

I am a PROUD graduate of East, Class of '74 . . . we were told at the time that the stadium at West was going to be home stadium for both schools, but with the increase in sports programs across the district, obviously as the district grew, facilities needed to grow as well. What happened to East? They don't DESERVE a stadium because all the "rich" kids go there? I say BULL-HOCKEY to that sentement. OBVIOUSLY some people commenting never bothered to pay attention to the DETAILS of the article; the extra funds would be allocated out of existing building project funds, NOT by an increase in district-wide tax hikes! Some of these comments really show how some of you didn't even retain basic reading skills taught in these very schools! Shame on you!

BTW, I am all for East FINALLY getting their own home field!

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Gladys Overwith

11:15 am on Monday, March 25, 2013

No need to mention you are a proud east graduate. Your spelling and punctuation errors give you away. This argument for the stadium is very tiring. who cares any more?

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Ewan Watarmy

6:01 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Bull-Hockey? Class of '74 or '47? You are a moron if you think taxes won't increase. When the next project arises and the existing building project fund is $0, guess what happens. While we may not retain the basic reading skills taught in these very schools, we are not street dumb and understand the inner workings of the school board and local government. Tax and Spend - same in Central Bucks as it is in Wash DC - shame on me? SHAME on YOU - come and get me, you turd.

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Lee

10:04 am on Sunday, April 7, 2013

Over emphasis on sports is common in our culture. Please beware the Common Core dracula in the classrooms. Educators are making teaching our children overly complicated and the results?

Gladys you might want to worry more about what is being taught vs. a view typos above, especially if you have young ones.

Art Waite

12:02 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

Pardon me, Gladys, but one must take care in criticizing another commentator's spelling and such--no matter whether you are a graduate of a public or of a private school. I see that you failed to capitalize "East" and "Who" in your comment.
And, in answer to your rhetorical question, it appears that actually many of us care any more (or "anymore").

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Lee

10:06 am on Sunday, April 7, 2013

good one Art! I made a type too.

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Art Waite

12:39 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2013

Sheesh! My point was/is that no matter how smart or educated you are or where you went to school, you need to edit your work before you criticize that of others or imply that their school is inferior because they made some errors. I try to follow my own advice, btw, but I ain't perfect either. . . .

Drew A. Blank

12:40 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

can someone remind me where the stadium will be constructed

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Drew A. Blank

12:43 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

Can someone remind me where exactly the stadium will be built?

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Marge Inovera

5:47 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

with the budget money in question, the board better manage this very closely

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Lois Steem

6:03 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

It were the jerks like ART WAITE, condescending know-it-alls- who made me feel worthless and weak. LEAVE GLADYS ALONE!

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Drew Peacock

6:13 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

I am most concerned about the depth of the urinals at the proposed stadium

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WIlma Butfit

6:20 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

I sure hope that the designers take full figured gals into consideration when building the seats. I find most sports venue have disturbingly small seats and very uncomfortable.

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Fitz Matush

7:01 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

i certainly agree WIlma. There never seems to be enough thought when designing seating. cheers to you for speaking up

Betty Pownzer

6:31 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

I am all for the new stadium - I am a former East Cheer leader who never had the chance to "Cheer" at an East stadium -

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Jason Rainbows

7:26 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

Betty, I loved you then as I do now but, alas, I am just a romantic and it never was to be

Colette O'Day

7:04 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

everyone has been arguing for so long about this issue. I say enough

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Eileen Tudor-Wright

7:08 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

I am for the stadium. It is about time. I never have been much of a liberal but for this cause, so be it

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Linus Scrimmage

7:13 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

can't wait for the pigskin on a real home field- been far far too long!

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April Lynn Parris

7:19 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

does anyone know if they will sell food at theEast stadium. I love anything french - french toast, french fries, french onion soup, french bread, french silk pie - you name it!

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eaton Wright

7:32 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

Ms Parris - you can not continue to eat all of that french stuff. let's hope the stadium serves a more healthy choice

Nora Lenderbee

7:28 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

I just hope they do not run out of money for the stadium. where will any more come from?

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Shay K. Spear

10:28 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

I was impressed with the author's reference to Hamlet to open his piece.

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Howie Feldersnatch

12:39 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I thought we should do it in ’69 and I would still like to do it now. I think we should all just switch ends and get down on this project.

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Jack Hoff

12:40 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

We all have a strong urge to get this job started. If we at least get the job started maybe then we can all pitch in and finish it off ourselves.

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Gary Sendaski

12:44 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I’m am not sure if the Author of this article “Jerry Brahm” knows the answer to any of these questions, but my other friend Jerry and I had a few questions and comments to make.
1. Will the stadium have a track, and what is a standard track size 1 mile? I think if we should focus on expanding this length, maybe adding a second mile, as this would be a safe way for children to exercise, as opposed to a more dangerous sport such as football.
2. Although football can be a dangerous sport, I support wrestling. Football is dangerous; wresting is more like horsing around. Will the wresting team see any type of budget increase or plans for new facilities?
3. I can testify that we have been victims numbering 10 years now,.
4. Finally, will all coaches have access to the new locker rooms, or only the head coach, and athletic directors, I inquire as someone who is interested in a defensive coaching position.

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Jim Shortz

3:02 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Gary: excellent questions and certainly should be answered! I agree with you on all points. However, I do find number 4 somewhat confusing. just the head coach - I say the more the merrier

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Jerry Brahm

7:24 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Yes good questions ... the existing design has a track, but must tracks wrap around the football field, as in the proposal for CB East, which would make it about 1/4 mile, but 400 meters is standard these days. Here is the link to the high schools power point presentation that included pictures of the design. http://www.cbsd.org/news/Documents/CBEast_Stadium_3-18-13.pdf. I've also attached it to this article. Thanks!

Dee Lynn Quint

9:14 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Wonderful - just what we need, another monstrosity in central bucks that is unaffordable and will cause MORE people to not be able to afford their tax bill.

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Kent C. Strait

9:16 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The only way I will agree that a new stadium is warranted is if I get front row tickets

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Mary A Richman

9:18 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I love these whiners complaining about higher taxes - I have no problem paying my bills and if you do, MOVE to Croydon!

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Dee Major

9:23 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

This is the problem with our society. Millions of $$$$$ poured into athletics. How about taking 10% of the budget for an unnecessary stadium and devote it to the music program!

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Carrie Oakey

9:26 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I agree with DEE! I would sing the praises of the schoolboard if they would promote music more than the jocks.

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Jerry Atrick

9:27 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

This argument over a stadium is older than me

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Frank Enstein

9:30 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

as a resident near the school, I am for a new stadium with one caveat - No bonfires at homecoming!!!

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Constance Noring

9:37 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

this age old discussion regarding rich folks and their sports is very tiring indeed

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Hassen Ben Sober

9:56 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

i have not been in this country for long but is it a custom in this country to serve beer at the games of this new stadium?

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Ira Goldberg

12:19 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Betty Pownzer was my favorite cheerleader back in the day. She led my favorite cheer!Get that Quarter back!!!

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Eileen Yorway

12:31 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

i believe I am pro stadium at this point but not 100% there

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Donatello Nobatti

12:35 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

some new info just for this blog. The money may already be spent for the stadium. Keep it just between us girls

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Dewey R. Donti

12:43 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

folks come on. build it or not ? it is always a tough one for me

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Barb Dwyer

12:49 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I hope the stadium security is sufficient so people are not afraid to attend the games. If the board needs advice on old fashion security measures, they can contact me

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Heidi Ductible

12:52 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I am very concerned that the insurance exposure of a new stadium will push the cost exponentially. WIth West and South "neighbors" visiting East, the liability may be overwhelming. anyone else share that opinion?

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Sue FIrst

1:06 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Heidi - your point is excellent and spot on! I am an attorney and I have have always asked questions later

Harry Verderchi

12:54 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I hope this is the last comment. I can't read anymore

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Ewan Watarmy

12:55 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I love all the loser's saying "it is in the budget". So what? Money could be used elsewhere, or, SAVED for a more pertinent project down the road. Anyone who disagrees w/me is a stone cold idiot. Wanna fight about it?

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Les Ismore

12:56 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

a smaller stadium would allow for a more intimate experience.

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Jay Walker

2:57 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Does the Board have plans to construct a proper intersection with traffic lights or are local residents left to cross the street with a willy nilly attitude anywhere they choose?

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Denise Hurt

3:04 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I am very happy that my talents in with working with the school board to negotiate a happy ending have paid off.

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Reynor Schein

11:35 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

If they build a stadium, they should do it right and build a retractable roof which would allow for perfect playing conditions in all kinds of weather. Just my 2 cents.

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Braxton Hixx

12:16 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I equate the process of building this stadium with child birth... a painful process, but it will bring great joy!!

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Dale Neverknow

12:43 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

childbirth?? what type of comment is that. what do you know from childbirth that I don't

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C. Sarian

2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

gotta disagree with you, Braxton......This will be painful with a lengthy drawn out debate and build process while child birth can often times have a short duration and be relatively painless.

Robin D'Craydell

12:46 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

will the new sports facility be available for younger athletes as well?

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Bjorn Lyar

1:03 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I was raised not to believe anyone - especially those in politics. This stadium will never be built and the rich kids will continue to have to slum it at West.

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Wanda Renn

5:06 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Does anyone know where the location of this proposed stadium will be? I am looking but can't seem to zero in

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Bill Avoider

3:21 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013

RIch kids' parents should pay and not me

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Hugo Origo

4:08 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013

I live on a very very large private property that touches the location of the proposed stadium. Although the stadium was approved long before we moved in, I now believe that it is wrong and completely unfair to build such a venue. Why would the town allow such a thing anyway? How are we to entertain in our lovely yard with all of the sounds coming from the field? This must stop now or I will continue to litigate the issue. There is not enough room for a stadium and me.

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