I returned because I have a great deal of family in the area and becuase of this have a longing to instill those same family values in my children.

The kids I went to school/played sports with and their parents became an extended family to me.

I connected very well with my world outside of Warren County, I just know that the most important connection in life is family and this is where my family is.

There are a lot of good things about EHS. There are plenty of reasons for the Ike Pride. I honestly hate to see it go. I have lots of great memories and am proud to have been a "Farmer". But those aren't sound reasons to continue the four schools. Financially it won't work. Educationally it won't work. There isn't the student enrollment to support it.

I truly feel badly for the Ike folks. I feel for the whole district because this will mean a major shift in how folks look at things and identify w/ the community. (Can you even imagine the first days of a combined EHS/YHS??) But it has to be done. And, in 10 years folks will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about.

Anything that Annoyed posts at must be a high minded and superior conversation fitting her high rank and station. Oh please!

Anyone who would return to Warren to raise their kids just was not able to connect very well in the real world outside the Valley of D.

So you are well traveled? You will fit right in with the pretend weealthy elite in Warren who feel, for reasons I have never understood, that they are somehow better and entitled.

Yes, SOME TEACHERS ARE OVERPAID.Some are not obviously and should get twice as much, taking the budget needs from the rich in Warren. Oh yes!!

One of the problems in education, just one, is weeding out the unqualified teachers, ie, to even teach. Under payment is not the problem.

And getting the prejudiced, bigoted and slanted out of teaching altogther.

I must say that I am pro-4 Schools and am a well educated, well traveled person who has been out of Warren County most of my adult life. I came back here to hopefully raise my children in the same type of environment I was raised in. I don't feel that would be likely if we start combining schools.

Secondly, muskie, do you honestly believe teachers are overpayed!?!? That just blows my mind that anyone would think teachers are overpayed.

In actuality, the test scores were more than a few good years. If you look at the scores, most of the schools are passing in all areas because the bar for "pass" is set so low by the state. My point was that your assertion that EHS was passing and WAHS wasn't was not based on fact. And this discussion sorely needs facts.

You are also correct that many things will need to change. The Warren Dragon and YHS Eagle will likely have to go. The admin will have to look at creating two new school identities. Everyone will have to give, be it taxes or mascots or making new friends. Honestly, I wouldn't want to be running either of the new schools. It will be a rough road at first.

Please consider both what Bauer is telling you and the facts that some of the rest of us are sharing. Make an educated decsion, not one rooted solely in emotion

I was on the fence about consolidation, realizing that both sides have valid arguments. Once Bauer played the secession card he put me in the consolidation corner--thanks Bauer for letting me make a valid decision based on facts...too bad your "facts' are too skewed

It seems far-fetched that Kane would incorporate Sheffield, when it doesn't even have a school in Ludlow. That's quite a stretch. And, for Corry to incorporate schools as distant as Russell Elementary - that seems completely out of the question.

It's a shame we can't all get what we want, but at some point, common sense has to prevail. I would urge the 4 schools group to really take a common sense look at what they are proposing.

P.S. Heavy sarcasm intended

EHS 8th graders did perform better on the PSSA in 06/07 than Beaty. Keep in mind, though, that Beaty has a higher number of Econ Disadv and IEP students than EHS, groups that traditionally score lower than most on these tests. No excuse but a factor, nonetheless.

Now compare EHS/WAHS 11th graders. Not only did WAHS perform better on the tests in all areas (math, rdg and writing), they also had higher rates of improvement over 05/06, even with the larger number of IEP and Econ Disadv students.

Please look at the data. Compare apples to apples. Get your facts straight.

I don't think it is wasting my breath, necessarily. Won't change the minds of those who refuse to listen but may give others accurate info/facts and the chance to hear the other side. Wish the WTO did a better job of presenting facts and not just Bauer et al's threats and misinformation.

Consolidation will do more than drive the wedge deeper. It will provide a better educational opportunity for the students of the WCSD.