The Observation Deck

From: Lakewood City Schools
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 2:42 PM
To: Matt Markling
Subject: Lakewood City Schools District Doings

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Meetings on design of new schools set

The Superintendent has scheduled three community meetings at the schools that will be torn down after this school year so that interested residents can meet the architects and learn about the design and construction process. Superintendent Patterson will be seeking the community's input on the designs of the schools as well. All meetings are at 7 pm in the respective school gyms. Dates: April 8, Lincoln; April 10, Grant; April 16, Roosevelt.

I hope the Administrators/Moderators don't move this to the "Matt Markling's List Of Important Meetings" thread although these are certainly on the top of my list.

But hopefully the moderator/administrator will move this to the "Schools and Education" thread that has is supposed to be used for this purpose. Please, could all original posts about Lakewood schools be posted there? Even Matt's? (and of course Christine's)

Tim Liston wrote:But hopefully the moderator/administrator will move this to the "Schools and Education" thread that has is supposed to be used for this purpose. Please, could all original posts about Lakewood schools be posted there? Even Matt's? (and of course Christine's)

Tim,

Here is the issue - not as many folks read the "Schools & Education in Lakewood" forum.

That's a fact.

If you want a thread read, it is best to post it in the "Lakewood General Discussions" forum and hope that the Administrators/Moderators will link it to the Facebook page.

That's a fact.

These are very important meetings so, the more folks who know about them, the better.

That's a fact.

And if the Administrators/Moderators continue to move my posts around, I'm out of here.

That's a fact ... well, maybe not ...

Matt

Although I thought his weekend posting rampage was odd, I agree with Matt on this one.

The other forums get no traffic...this is "Main Street".

This meeting is potentially quite important, so I think it's good to have it here.

However, here is my question....will there be a similar meeting for the high school?
In writing my basketball stories, I've learned that there is a lot of confusion out there.

That the schools forum "gets no traffic" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If all the posts regarding schools were actually posted there, the schools forum would get plenty of traffic, and would perhaps encourage even more dialog about the schools than takes place now, because schools threads are mixed into the general discussion. The school's forum is, after all, still above the (online) fold as they say. It's time for admin to either insist that school's post originate in the school's forum (which I think would improve both forums), or just eliminate the school's forum. Matt, Mike, Betsy and Christine can make the school's forum a great place if they wanted to. Each brings knowledge and energy. BTW my thanks to Ed for respecting the intent of the Deck and always posting school news to the school's forum.

Michael Deneen wrote:Although I thought his weekend posting rampage was odd, I agree with Matt on this one.

Yes, Mike, the Administrators/Moderators should have kept the thread entitled, "Matt Markling's Winter Calendar Meltdown."

Michael Deneen wrote:[H]owever, here is my question....will there be a similar meeting for the high school?

In writing my basketball stories, I've learned that there is a lot of confusion out there.

That's a great question. And I'm sure there will be. If you find out the date(s) first, please keep us updated.

Thanks.

Matt

Tim Liston wrote:It's time for admin to either insist that school's post originate in the school's forum (which I think would improve both forums), or just eliminate the school's forum.

Tim,

I vote to eliminate the separate "Schools & Education in Lakewood" thread.

After all, there isn't a separate City Hall thread.

And the Lakewood City Schools is one of the best things we have here, in the 'Wood.

If we can't continue to talk about our awesome public schools in the "Lakewood General Discussions" forum, that would be a shame.

Frankly, there are way too many forums on the Deck - in my opinion.

Matt

A date for a similar meeting regarding the high school has not been finalized as the administration is still working out details on transition spaces for our students such as a cafeteria, gym, etc. Stay tuned for more details as they develop.

Christine Gordillo
Communications & PR Specialist
Lakewood City Schools

Thanks Christine!

Based on my conversations, there will be intense interest when the time comes.

Although I don't necessarily think LO should abolish the other forums, I agree with Matt that major school news belongs in this forum.

A "bedroom community" like Lakewood is intensely dependent on the wellness of its schools. It is impossible for the city to achieve greatness without strong schools.
Many folks like me don't currently have a kid in the system, but still want to know what is going on.

Michael Deneen wrote:A "bedroom community" like Lakewood is intensely dependent on the wellness of its schools. It is impossible for the city to achieve greatness without strong schools.
Many folks like me don't currently have a kid in the system, but still want to know what is going on.

BINGO!!!!! Spot on, Michael!

There are many of us without children who deeply care about our neighbors' children's education and schooling. (not that those two terms--"education" and "schooling"--are mutally exclusive.) And beside, as the great American politician and soldier, Sam Houston put it: “The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government."

And ... remember the words of another wise man, the great 17th Century English author, philosopher, and advocate of inductive reasoning in science, Sir Francis Bacon: "Knowledge is power."