Longstreth Says Goodbye with Closing Celebration

One of the stated reasons Centennial School District pulled the trigger on the massive construction and consolidation project is that the three schools targeted for closing were in bad shape, structurally. It would cost too much money to make the renovations and repairs necessary to keep , and Stackpole operational.

It's a line of rationale that Kevin Deissler just does not buy. Walking through the halls of Longstreth Saturday afternoon, Deissler had a hard time finding anything bad enough to warrant closing the doors of his former elementary school.

"It's not out of shape at all," said Deissler, who finished fifth grade at Longstreth in 1994. "I just don't get why they had to close it. This is where my son would have gone to school."

Deissler and the rest of Longstreth's former students were invited to say goodbye to their old stomping grounds during a farewell community celebration Saturday afternoon. Games and bounce houses were set up on the field, and classrooms were opened up for folks to take one last look before Longstreth's doors are closed for good and the to a land developer is finalized.

"Today is a celebration of the community spirit that this school represented," said Principal Al Heinle. "Everybody involved with the school has such a strong relationship with each other, the students, teachers and parents."