A meeting Tuesday night about a new middle school in Clifton Heights shifted focus to the students who would be going there, reports Kimberly Davis for cbslocal.com.

The Upper Darby School District presented preliminary plans of the $65 million middle school to be built on an athletic field off Springfield Road.

Students from Garrettford, Westbrook Park and Primos Elementary School would go there.

At one point, residents wanted it on the record that students from Beverly Hills Middle School would not be included.

That triggered an uproar and accusations of racism. Beverly Hills Middle School is a predominantly black school.

“This idea of who’s going to go where shouldn’t matter to anybody but it seems to be a big issue in Clifton Heights,” said Upper Darby Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel McGarry said.  “It seems to be in this room that the conversation has become one of race, unfortunately. At least that’s what’s coming out.”

But one Clifton Heights resident said it’s not about race, it’s about undisciplined children. She accused Beverly Hills of lacking discipline and worries the same thing could happen at the new school.

Read more about the Clifton Heights Middle School meeting here.

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