BOARD TO VOTE ON SCHOOL CLOSING AT FEB. 16 MEETING

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

Jim,

Here is my frustration. How do we get School Board members, and possibly others, to even consider what we are talking about on all of these posts. I think that most reading the posts or paying attention to this issue would agree with our logic, passion to not have our city or schools destroyed, and want a decision that is fiscally sound.

I have heard in the public discussions comments from BOE members who say they're looking at the big picture or who don't want to throw away "potential opportunities". The thing that they're missing is that building a beautiful school/campus at Grant could be THE jewel of the center of our city. IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY. It is the thing that will drive the community, keep our center vibrant (who else in the region can really say people actually work AND live in the center of their city) and continue economic growth while keeping the businesses we have located in the center strong.

School Board members keep telling parents to look at the whole picture and to not let our emotions get in the way. That we cannot stayed emotionally attached to our school. But, are our Board members willing to listen to their own advice? When Beebe lists all of the reasons why Grant is the better choice, but then states she would close it, is she not making an emotional choice? Considering 2 BOE members sent their kids to Lincoln, could they maybe have an emotional attachment to the school that allows them to defy logic? I also don't like that my logic and good brain are not considered because I am a parent. Parents' reason and logic are discounted so easily by our BOE because we can't possibly be able to set apart our emotions from facts.

Rick Berdine told the Phase 3 Committee numerous times that this committee was NOT charged with figuring out to do empty school buildings or any of the three up for consideration to close. He told us that decision was 4-5 years out and to instead figure out where the best place would be to put a school. EVERYONE GET THAT? The BEST place to put a school that would BEST serve our kids and community. That's all.

Kristine

[Mike Davis]

Look at the maps provided by the BOE. You can not serve the North half of Lakewood with 2 schools. Geographically it does not work. The boundaries drawn by the BOE, without Lincoln, create 2 unwalkable school districts. I know, I have walked them both in the past week.

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

Look at the maps provided by the BOE. You can not serve the North half of Lakewood with 2 schools. Geographically it does not work. The boundaries drawn by the BOE, without Lincoln, create 2 unwalkable school districts. I know, I have walked them both in the past week.

Right, some would go to Grant. Especially kids who live south of the tracks.

I think that all of us recognize, whether the BOE thinks so or not, that with 6 schools we will no longer be a walking community--to school anyway.

[Mike Davis]

Look at the maps. I am referring to the entire width of the city (East to West) being divided in two when you remove Lincoln. The walking distances created by dividing the city in two, east to west, does not work.

According to the BOE the school district as a whole must remain walkable. When you look at the BOE maps when you remove Grant, the six remaining school boundaries are much more walkable.

[stephen davis]

Steve Davis

I know you are a huge fan of city managers, Do they have school board managers?

Jim,

No, I am not a "huge fan of city managers". That is hyperbole, but I do think it's an idea that Lakewood should consider.

The equivalent "managers" for schools are superintendents. Lakewood already has one.

You could say that a Council/Manager form of government is a model similar to School Board/Superintendent management.

That's about as far as I want to go with this in this thread.


Steve

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[Meg Ostrowski]

Mike,

I have looked at those maps and I agree that by Lakewood standards (1/2 - 1 mile elementary walks) this leaves some central north students at a disadvantage but far from the acceptable state standard of up to two miles, so we are not at risk for needing buses we can't afford. Hopefully those boundaries can be adjusted to minimize the situation. The trouble seems to be that there are not enough elementary students north of Detroit to fill a third school without placing the burden somewhere else.

Know that my first choice was a new school at Kauffman Park, my second choice was to maintain a seven elementary school configuration. Considering that EQUITABLE CLASS SIZE was the number one ranked criterion for determining which schools to rebuild, followed by a near 3-way tie of SAFETY, WALKING DISTANCE & KEEPING NEIGHBORHOODS INTACT, my third choice is to keep Grant open. It allows for the greatest flexibility to balance class size simply by being centrally located and having ample space on its site for modulars and/or an addition if/when needed. Additionally it would minimize busy street crossings, provide the shortest walks for the most students and be less disruptive to neighborhoods.

There is no perfect solution in this situation, just the best we have to offer.

[Danielle Masters]

Mr. Markling since you are the only board member that posts on the deck I was wondering if you could post the resolution about the modification of the schools master facilities plan that is being voted on tomorrow night? Thanks.

[marklingm]

Mr. Markling since you are the only board member that posts on the deck I was wondering if you could post the resolution about the modification of the schools master facilities plan that is being voted on tomorrow night? Thanks.

Danielle,

No problem. The resolution is attached. Please note that the elementary schools are blank because no prior motion has been made on the matter.

As a point of clarification, tomorrow will be the first reading of this resolution. It has been the longstanding practice of this Board to require two readings on all non-emergency resolutions. So the actual vote may not take place tomorrow unless the Board waives our longstanding, two reading requirement for non-emergency resolutions.

Matt

[Danielle Masters]

Thanks Matt. Will the two reading general rule be circumvented? Is there some emergency urgency to deciding tomorrow which school may close?

[Mike Davis]

Meg,
The BOE map that removes Grant has more equitable walking distances for all six remaining schools.

[Meg Ostrowski]

Does anyone know what special programming was assumed to be located at Lincoln when the proposed redistricting map with Grant removed was created? The Lincoln boundary seems the smallest and includes a neighborhood with large single family homes. Filling Lincoln with students from outside that boundary who would be better served by special programming at their neighborhood school is not my idea of fair.

Mike, What I hear you saying is that you think we should close Grant so that walking distances can be as equitable as possible even though it is less safe, more disruptive to neighborhoods (not just during transition but whenever enrollment requires redistricting), limits the districts ability to manage class size and leaves us with only costly options for expansion in the event of an enrollment increase.

[Mike Davis]

Meg,
All six schools will have new boundaries - disrupting neigborhoods under both plans.

Horace Mann students already have to cross:
Lake Ave., Clifton Blvd., West Clifton Blvd., and the rail road tracks.
That is Lakewood, we have some busy streets, and that is why the city has adult crossing guards at every major intersection. They do a great job.

[Mike Davis]

I forgot, they have to cross Detroit too.

[Ryan Salo]

I think the last paragraph should be directly address by Dr. Madak tomorrow night.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT WHILE THE Lakewood City Board of Education understands, supports and desires to comply with the desire to not close any elementary school prior to completion of the construction of the two Phase III elementary schools, current fiscal challenges to the school district may leave the school district without the ability to comply with this wish.

Does this mean a school will close at the end of this year? Which one? I hope he gives direct answers.

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

Does this mean a school will close at the end of this year? Which one? I hope he gives direct answers.

And, I would add based on what criteria?