The Observation Deck

Dear Fellow Observers,

At last night’s school board meeting, Dr. P. Joseph Madak shared with the audience that additional Phase III information has been shared with the Board. That information was simply two maps showing what the school district configuration would look like if Lincoln closed today and what the school district configuration would look like if Grant closed today. No additional information was shared with the Board.

These maps are drawn in such a way that each school has relatively the same amount of students in each building. These maps also have dots that show where every elementary school children resides.

Immediately after the meeting, I gathered the parents in attendance, shared with the attendees the actual maps provided to the Board, and explained that the only information shared with the Board was the two maps.

Nonetheless, I do believe that the maps are worth reviewing so I have taken the liberty of removing student residencies and highlighting the various school regions on separate maps. These are not the same maps given to the Board, but the school regions are the same.

The map representing what the school district configuration would look like if Lincoln closed today, is as follows below:


overlays ©2010 AGS

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The map representing what the school district configuration would look like if Grant closed today, is as follows below:


overlays ©2010 AGS

Matt

Matt,

Thanks for posting this.

I am hoping that there will be flexability for those kids living on Andrews and areas just north of Grant, if Lincoln closes.

Ryan Salo wrote:Matt,

Thanks for posting this.

I am hoping that there will be flexability for those kids living on Andrews and areas just north of Grant, if Lincoln closes.

Open enrollment would still exist, correct? Are ther qualifiers, or open to anyone who fills out an application?

Matt, thanks for the maps, that helps clearify Danielle's "seemingly privy" information.

Corey

Corey I stated the maps were shown to a group of people and that I happened to be in that group. I chose to share that because I wanted to make sure I said everything that happened at the meeting. I never stated I was privy to anything. I quite clearly stated the maps were not ready last night because of the dots and that they were not part of the actual meeting. And I stated they were shown to a group of people by a board member and members of the administration. Sorry you are reading into things rather than responding to facts. I didn't want to leave anything out as I believe in transparency.

Looks like shorter walking distances for more children throughout Lakewood with Grant removed.
CASE CLOSED

Mike Davis wrote:Looks like shorter walking distances for more children throughout Lakewood with Grant removed.
CASE CLOSED

Mike

You anf Katy have kids, right?

They go to Grant, Lincoln?

Just curious, you seem to be a big supporter of Lakewood Schools.

Me, I do not have any kids in schools.

.

Yes, we have children that attend two different schools in Lakewood. Not Grant or Lincoln.

Mike Davis wrote:Yes, we have children that attend two different schools in Lakewood. Not Grant or Lincoln.

But public schools right?

They walk?

Just curious, you seem to be really into this walking thing.

I know Katy Volunteered with Light Up Lakewood and did
a great job with the rest of the volunteers. So does this
put that Economic Development slant on the DowntowN
school?

Just curious.

Ironically on the walking thing, you have to be
careful of illusions. It is one of the subjects first
put on the table, then thrown out when it
came back favoring Grant.

FWIW

Matt

I noticed that the maps appear larger but is this also based on walkable desnsity? So
these maps are based on two or more criteria?

.

.

One observation is that the Grant closing option will cause an awful lot of crossing of Detroit around downtown, and Madison ... but I don't know how much different that is than currently exists. The Lincoln option keeps more kids from needing to make a main street cross.

I am not good with maps otherwise I would add these but I think it would be beneficial to have the location of the schools marked on the maps for those that don't know where the schools are located.

The fact that I was attempting to highlight was Just as Matt's maps point out (thanks for posting the maps Matt) is that in either scenario all six districts would need to be redrawn. So, this repeating of the mantra that if one more kid would have to walk farther to school under the current boundaries then we must choose that school to be rebuilt. Faulty logic from the start IMO. There are many additional important factors to consider.

My count was that approx. 17 residents attended last nights BOE meeting. ( if you don't count the camera man or the Union Reps. giving their testimonial support for the levy) That does include the two children in attendance against their will. Mine being one of them-we made a pit stop on the way to a their baskeball game. Very disapointing.

Once you see how difficult it is to get the community to attend and participate in an important community meeting, the 300 plus that attended the Phase 3 meeting was huge. I have been very disapointed in the attempt by many posts on the deck aimed at trying to discredit or minimize my opinion and the opinions of everyone else in attendance that night that were recorded and reported.

Mike Davis wrote:Once you see how difficult it is to get the community to attend and participate in an important community meeting, the 300 plus that attended the Phase 3 meeting was huge. I have been very disapointed in the attempt by many posts on the deck aimed at trying to discredit or minimize my opinion and the opinions of everyone else in attendance that night that were recorded and reported.

Mike

I know all too well how hard it is. But maybe we should think why that is.

No one, especially me is trying to discredit any thought on this board. I am trying to understand what
drives your edge. You seem eager to dismiss much of this and get on with the program already. I am
just trying to understand, why. You see many of the people I know, have met and I understand where
they are coming from. You I only know through mutual friends, which would be to say not at all.

You seemed to really be into the walking thing, and I figure your are into the economic thing, but could be
wrong. That said everyone is entitled to any open, or want they have. Asks those on this forum I do not
agree with. I will stand with them and fight for their right to post and own those opinions, and share them
with the community. All opinions have a right to see air.

As far as I know we all pay taxes, kids or not. So we all have a vested interest.

peace


.

I know in my case and for others that I know that we have to choose either to be involved with city council meetings or school board meetings. As they are on the same night we can't do both. Right now it's a toss up for me, I own a home in Lakewood so what happens in the city is important but I also have 5 children attending two public schools so the schools are equally important to me. Citizens shouldn't have to choose to either attend city council meetings or school board meetings, they should be able to attend both if desired.

Thanks for fixing the maps but Hayes is not in the proper spot. That is the site of Harding not Hayes. Thanks again. And Mike my numbers of 60 and 120 once again came from the phase III community meeting. They said that if Grant was removed 120 students would be 3/4 of a mile or further from an elementary building and that 60 would be further with Lincoln removed. That is the aftermath of a school closing, not the current situation. Those are students throughout the district not just at those two schools. So the 60 and 120 do matter. Sorry I feel like I am beating a dead horse but sometimes it seems things have to be repeated time and time again to get people to comprehend.