Angove derides misinformation on school plans
By DEAN WELLS dwells@timesobserver.comWill this be the last senior class ever to go through Sheffield High School if voters keep the current school board of directors intact?
Has the decision already been made to close Eisenhower?
Will the school district switch from a four high school to a two high school format in the near future?
None of these questions have been answered, according to Warren County School Board President Kim Angove.
"It is apparent that there are some seriously inaccurate and false statements being distributed to the public," Angove said.
On Monday, Angove said she was prompted to issue an official statement on behalf of the school board after reading a recent article in the Times Observer that included interviews from three write-in candidates for school board seats in Regions I and II.
In the article, write-in candidate Mary Anne Paris said she was "blown away" when she learned at a town meeting on Oct. 12 that there was a possibility this year's senior class could be the last at Sheffield High School.
"The board has not discussed plans to move Sheffield's or any other high school's students in the near future," Angove wrote in an email to the Times Observer. "The board has not made a decision regarding the high school configuration."
Angove wrote that over the past several weeks, many school district residents have received literature and information regarding the High School Feasibility Study.
"The board would like to clarify and provide the following facts," Angove wrote.
"There has been no decision made regarding specifics of where northern attendance students will attend with respect to the two high school scenarios. There has been no decision made on how the determination for two or four high schools will be made. There are pros and cons for all of the scenarios under consideration. The school board encourages all citizens to attend the community dialogue (meeting) to receive the factual data associated with all the proposed scenarios."
The school district is scheduled to host a community dialogue meeting at the Warren Area High School on Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
The following is a summary of the high school feasibility study created by DeJong, a consulting firm hired by the school district.
DeJong's draft study outlined 11 options for two high schools. The board requested further analysis on two options, to be able to compare the data with the current four high school format.
The first option utilizes Warren Area High School and Youngsville High School as the district's two high schools. Warren would hold 1,000 students and require renovations or an addition totaling $21.2 million.
Youngsville would hold 700 students and require a renovation of $14.8 million.
The second option uses WAHS and a new high school. According to DeJong, the construction of a new school, housing 700 students, would cost about $35 million. The WAHS cost would remain the same as the first option.
Under both options, Allegheny Valley and Sheffield elementary schools would be combined to create the Sheffield K-8 site at the high school. That conversion would cost just over $2 million. South Street Early Learning Center would be closed and students would attend Pleasant Township School, which would be renovated for approximately $10.1 million.
Beaty-Warren Middle School would receive a major renovation, as well as Sugar Grove and Russell elementary schools, which would then accommodate grades K-8. Construction costs are estimated at $31 million.
Eisenhower would be closed under both options, while Youngsville High School would be closed under the second option.
The estimated cost of the first option would be $82 million, while the cost of the second option would be an estimated $102.9 million.
An earlier option presented by DeJong to keep all four high schools open and perform needed renovations carries a price tag of $94 million.
DeJong estimated operating cost savings of $123,159 per year for the four school option and nearly $2 million per year for either of the two school options.
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fivealive
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11-03-09 12:09 PM
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If you looked up "deja vu" in the dictionary, WCSD and Dave Bauer's picture would be right there.
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brianhagberg
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11-03-09 12:02 PM
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You hit the nail on the head MovedAway. It's about time people in the "Northern Area School District" wake up and realize that Bauer is playing on their emotions AGAIN and only making a fuss to achieve something for himself. The last time he led the charge to keep four schools open he got himself elected to the school board, when he led the charge against developing Warren Commons he got himself elected to a Commissioner's seat. It may not be right now, but believe that he is angling himself for another political run. It just amazes me that after 15+ years, people are still drinking his Kool-Aid.
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MovedAway
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11-03-09 10:47 AM
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I wonder how many millions of dollars would have been redirected to providing instruction if the school board would have listened to Dr. Scarnati, Dr. Sechriest, Joe Tassone and the other administrators and consultants back in the 80's and had the back bone to consolidate into two high schools--Warren and Youngsville? I think you should just do another study. Maintain all the buildings so nobody's feelings get hurt. It's only the students who will suffer.
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totheright
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11-03-09 10:27 AM
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How about giving the northern area the option to cut loose and form a charter school. Corry doesn't want them. We don't want them. Let them go on their own way, like the prodigal son, and see what the real world is really like. Be gone with them and David Koresh.
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totheright
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11-03-09 10:25 AM
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I think maybe it's time to start questioning if the school board is actually even following its own mission statement: The mission of the Warren County School District, where today’s student is our future, is to equip all students with the educational skills necessary to achieve their unique personal potential. I think by delaying this masters facility plan being approved, by denying needed renovations and new buildings and allowing the city's kindergarden situation to continue, there's a pretty good argument to be made that these folks aren't actually operating in toward the best educational needs of the students. Stop dithering and make a freaking decision: consolidate or don't consolidate. Just make a decision and pull your heads out of the sand. We need action, not inaction.
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nmpet75
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11-03-09 9:45 AM
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Notalocal, Fighting with facts is one thing, fighting with lies, scare tactics, bullying tactics, and purely and emotional argument is quite another. What kind of lessons are the kids of the latter learning? It is not about fighting for what is right and what you believe in because those fights require integrity and honor. And since you mentioned the elementary school issue, apparently the board knew better because that elementary center is the best thing that ever happened to the kids in Warren.
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fivealive
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11-03-09 9:33 AM
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Too funny! Redn--k is a banned word! If only we could ban the drama.
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fivealive
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11-03-09 9:32 AM
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Merging w/ CASD is not possible. There is no way the state will approve this. This is dead in the water and Bauer knows it. What we should be debating is how best to make consolidation work. Should we keep YHS or build a new school? How should the EHS kids be split to best solve the transportation issues? Should it be a gradual consolidation or all done at once? ******* soap opera is truly what this is. Anywhere else, people would understand the reality. But in the WCSD, "these are the days of our lives" and the drama continues.
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Bailey
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11-03-09 9:14 AM
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Why are we debating this? Simple. We have all agreed to disagree. I can see things from bolth sides, the cost saving, the decling enrollment, and the smaller school, better education, less drive time, and overcrowding possibilities. Those are just a few of the points brought up by bolth sides. Throw into the mix the idea of Ike going to the Corry district, wich is a longshot, but possible. I've decided I'm going to just sit back, here on my little fence, and watch this soap opera unfold some more. At least the ones on TV only last an hour.
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fivealive
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11-03-09 8:50 AM
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Thankfully someone has publicly called out the 4 Schools group for spreading lies and encouraging rumor. A cost of $82 million to conolidate (the more logical option, IMHO) vs $94 million to keep four schools...which will have continue to have declining enrollments and likely end up forced to close anyway. WHY are we even debating this??
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notalocal
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11-03-09 4:29 AM
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But at the same time she doesn't say it won't happen. I believe in both cases option one will take two years and option will take three, before all moves could be done. I do recall when closing the elementary schools came up, the people voted in a new board, but the old board already had contracts signed, leaving the new board's tied. So, whether your for two or four schools, I must give credit to those Sheffield and Eisenhower's parents for fighting now for their schools instead of later. Also, you must remember Ms. Angove's stance is the same the ST. Bona's teacher, "it's not just a brick and mortar issue." So, don't let the money fool you.
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