Sharon school directors said not only are they concerned about a proposed group home for juvenile sex offenders but they've heard from many people in the neighborhood who are also not happy.

"People who live in the area are not real happy about this," Director Dominick Russo said. "We have to front this kind of situation that is thrust upon us ... There's power in the voice of people."

The proposed group home would be located at State Street and Strawbridge Avenue and would house 12 juvenile sex offenders, mostly from Allegheny County. Mike Sember, owner of The Phoenix Youth Service Inc., Hermitage, said the proposal is on hold because of the opposition.

Superintendent Dr. Donna M. DeBonis said district officials are asking questions and no one from The Phoenix Youth Service has approached them with a proposal.

"I don't know where this is going. They're going to get nothing but grief from the people in the neighborhood. They ought to go away," Russo said.

"I'm totally against it," Director Richard Mancino said. He said not only is he concerned about the young offenders being in school, he's concerned about the location.

Despite the fact that Sember said the students were going to be privately educated, resident Tom Hall asked if the No Child Left Behind Act could force the district into educating the kids.

Board President Melvin Bandzak said that is a real concern.

Director Pamela Corini said she has been assured by Mayor David O. Ryan he is working to do everything he can to resolve the situation. Mrs. Corini said she has a problem with the possibility of the district having to educate students that aren't from the area.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at:
kgarrett@sharonherald.com

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