Coatesville police continue to investigate the shooting and kidnapping of 33-year-old Steven Pittman on Thursday morning.

Pittman remains in critical condition and a physician-induced coma at Lancaster General Hospital, Police Chief William Matthews said Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information should call the department at 610-384-2300.

The Coatesville Area School District is considering a plan that would reconfigure Gordon Elementary School, changing it from a traditional kindergarten-to-six facility to a district-wide special education center for grades six-through-12.

Students at Gordon will be spread out among the district's remaining six grade schools. No news yet how the district plans to divide up the city.

CASD's director of business administration, Ken Lupold, said the move will save the system more than $2 million a year. The plan is part of the district's proposed 2008-2009 budget, which the school board could pass preliminarily at its meeting on April 22.

The proposed budget also includes 3.11 percent tax increase.

From Thursday's story:

“I think the administration did a very good job of trying to balance what the district needs,” School Board President Donna Urban said, “and what the taxpayers are going to be looking for.”

City officials have said Iacobucci Homes, a.k.a. Baker Residential, will make public its proposal for the Flats at the Coatesville Redevelopment Authority's meeting on April 21.

Little has leaked about the developer's plan, except that they are prepared to offer the RDA somewhere in the neighborhood of $5 million for the old industrial property west of Rt. 82 and north of West Lincoln Highway.

Still, those in those in the know, like Assistant City Manager Kirby Hudson, predict the people will be pleased.

"I think it’s what people have been waiting," Hudson said Monday.

In case you missed it, here's a link to Sunday's story from my interview with five local ministers, and the mayor of South Coatesville, about Sen. Barack Obama. The meeting turned out to be a frank discussion about race, religion, social issues, and Sen. Hillary Clinton.

And a side note, Obama will be stumping at Great Valley High School on Wednesday. No word yet when -- or if -- Clinton or Sen. John McCain will be making campaign stops in Chester County.