Northern Area gets survey
Residents asked about options for high schoolBy LYDIA COTTRELL lcottrell@timesobserver.com
Members of the 4 Schools 4 Warren County group are trying to gather the opinions of parents in the northern attendance area to paint a picture for the Board of Directors of the Warren County School Board.
"I guess what we're trying to do is get an idea for what the parents in the area want," group member Elizabeth Reynolds said of the motive behind circulating a survey.
The survey, consisting of five questions, gives the scenario of the closure of EHS and asks parents what they would do. One question asks, "If Eisenhower High is closed, instead of sending my student to Warren or Youngsville High, I would consider..." The question is followed by choices including: sending students to privates schools, sending students to charter schools, using cyber-school, home-schooling, moving to a different school district or none of the above.
Another question asks the parents if they would support secession to the Corry District and gives the following choices as contingencies for leaving: no change in taxes, taxes would not go up more than 10 percent, taxes would not go up by more than 20 percent, or secession is not supported at all.
"We would like to use that (information) to present to the school board to show what people are feeling and what the future would look like is the school was closed," she said.
The other questions in the survey included:
Would you send your child to Youngsville High School or Warren Area High School where more academic and extra-curricular activities were available.
If the parent would prefer to send their child to a fully renovated YHS or WAHS, modestly renovated EHS or fully renovated EHS.
If the parent would prefer the school board members representing the northern attendance area vote for or against the closure of EHS.
According Reynolds and fellow group member Lisa Haner, the surveys were circulated by hand to the parents of Eisenhower Middle/High School and Sugar Grove and Russell elementary school students.
"It was definitely a lot of manpower," Reynolds said.
Haner indicated that the survey was a way for the group to target the parent who may not be able to attend meeting and pass their opinions on to the school board.
"We want to have everyone represented in a way," she said.
In her opinion, Haner said some of the issues and concerns of the parents are being overlooked. As a parent, she is concerned with transportation and excess time students would spend on a bus if the schools were consolidated.
"It takes time away from the family," Haner said of lengthy bus rides.
Despite the low-tech means of distribution, the group is seeing a good return on the survey.
"The ones that are going out are coming back," Reynolds said.
The survey was equipped with a cover letter which informed the parent of the possibility of consolidation. The cover letter also encouraged the parents to attend the community dialogue session the school district is sponsoring at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Warren Area High School.
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fivealive
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11-09-09 8:27 AM
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So we prioritize sports over "slightly better choice of curriculum"? Egads. "Slightly better choice of curriculum" is the minimum that will happen with consolidation. IMHO, I think the academic opportunities will improve with consolidation. W/out consolidation, the district will struggle to maintain what they have. Over the next ten years, the "slightly better choice" you're willing to forego will have dwindled to the bare minimum, at best.
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Chris89
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11-09-09 8:24 AM
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Academics are infinitely more important than sports.
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warrenmomof2
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11-09-09 12:08 AM
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The kids might have a slightly better choice of curriculum, but as far as athletics...they would be worse off than they are now. With the schools currently in the county at least they have opportunity to play sports. If 4 schools become 2, then their chances of getting picked for any sports is cut 1/2...believe me....I have seen how that works. The S.D. has vacant buildings sitting around that are costing tax payer $$ while they are decaying. Some have been sitting vacant for many, many years. Sell them. I sure hope my kids are out of school before this all materializes, because we will all move out of the area and won't have to worry about paying higher taxes. This is not much more than a retirement community as it is.
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aslan7
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11-08-09 7:28 PM
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It doesn't matter whether the board consolidates or not. No matter what choice they make taxes are going to go up. 82 million is the cheapest price tag. We'd be foolish to think taxes would stay the same and they won't go down even after consolidation. Spending 82 million to save 2 million..it will take 41 years to recoup that money and if gas prices go up to 4 dollars a gallon again then any money saved will go towards transportation costs. So ultimately the board is in a no win situation because.. you are right Deslock, the majority in Warren County don't want their taxes raised because the majority are old retirees or campers who have no kids in the schools and don't give a darn what happens and/or are like Muskie and are bitter about having to pay to educate "other peoples kids". They've backed themselves into a corner. Do they please the taxpayers or the parents? The parents and students are the "customers" how many can the district afford to lose by con
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Deslock
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11-08-09 7:11 PM
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Fivealive, I agree with you 100 percent. There is no plan or solution being offered by the 4School people. Nothing but blind ignorance. Fine. Keep four schools. The entire county is going to pay down the road. Then finally maybe some people will have the guts to run David Bauer out of the county.
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Deslock
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11-08-09 7:09 PM
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The silent majority isn't speaking up. There are a few hundred of the very vocal minority. I can guarantee you there are thousands of home owners out there who pay taxes who are going to go insane down the road as taxes keep rising to support four unneeded schools. It's human nature to be lazy and not get involved when you're not under direct threat. Wait until the board cranks taxes a few more times. Better yet. Wait until the board tries to crank taxes to pay for Ike's $24 million in renovations and the issue is forced to a county vote referendum. Then we'll see how much the county supports four schools. Bring it on. I can't wait.
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fivealive
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11-08-09 6:53 PM
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Ok, I'll play along. Say the majority in the DISTRICT don't want consolidation. What does the majority suggest the district do to keep afloat educationally and financially? All I've heard is "we want 4 schools" but I have heard no viable solution to the district's situation. Not one plan to keep the educationaly quality (heaven forbid we try to improve it) and still manage to pay for it. Any plans? Any suggestions? Any solutions? I guess my biggest frustration with all of this is that the 4Schools folks will not acknowledge the situation the district is in. It cannot continue this way. Declining student numbers + declining tax base = educational disaster. The anti-consolidation folks are screaming "I want" but refuse to consider that maybe, just maybe, it isn't possible.
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reader
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11-08-09 12:33 PM
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primrose and MLSM09, notice after my second sentence the letters LOL. couldn't you tell a tongue in cheek statement. you people need to lighten up.
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primrose
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11-08-09 8:59 AM
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fivealive, maybe it IS the silent majority that is speaking up. Maybe the MAJORITY doesn't WANT consolidation. reader, there are several other areas included in district 2, it is NOT just sheffield, and these 2 write ins won by almost 2-1 votes. THAT has to say something
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MLSM09
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11-08-09 7:54 AM
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to "reader", are you an idiot? you cant vote twice, no matter what your believe is you cant do that, there had to be more voters for this then when we elected Obama,and it wasnt just sheffield that voted for them, clarendon, barnes is part of sheffield, we have supporters up around the Eisenhower area b/c it would in fact in the long run helpo them too, have you ever even voted to know how it works and to know its not possable to vote twice,, weirdo, and it doesnt just affect SHS and EHS, do you people really want your childs class sizes getting bigger? less hands on with students, and its going to prove to be bad becuase the rise in numbers of cyber school are constantly going up and this will just push it higher,
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fivealive
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11-07-09 8:05 PM
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The silent majority needs to start speaking up and making their voices heard.
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reader
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11-07-09 7:38 PM
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primrose, the reason region 2 seems against consolidation is everyone in sheffield voted twice. there aren't even 1200 registered voters in sheffield. lol. and i'm in region 2 and i am for consolidating. call me one of the silent majority.
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muskie
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11-07-09 5:16 PM
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fivealive,brianhagberg,you guys are right on the money.(no pun intended!) Times are changing,the tax base has changed a LOT! Believe me I know. We can't afford to support a (DREAM) school system anymore. I know I'll get a lot of flack for this comment,but I couldn't believe what the teachers are making! And what they co-pay on their healthcare,what a joke! No wonder the school district is broke. I also have a friend that is a (teachers aid). He says he is ashamed to cash his paycheck. He's making $12.00 an hour to just sit and do nothing. Best job he ever had. Does nothing and gets our tax dollars! I wonder how many of these(aids) we are paying? Just like all of the small school buses on the road,INCREDIBLE. We didn't have all this CRAP,when I was in school,and things worked fine!
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samibigelow
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11-07-09 4:10 PM
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I think it is a good idea, way to go. Get some information from the parents. Instead of a screaming session, good dialogue and input. Waht a breath of fresh air in this polluted blog.
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fivealive
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11-07-09 2:57 PM
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True, primrose. There are those in WAHS area opposed, just as there are those in the EHS/SAHS area who are for it. Hard to tell the real numbers and I don't think this survey will give any sort of accurate picture, either. Let's forget for a moment who is for and who is against. How about the fact that the district's back is really against the wall. Enrollment is declining significantly and steadily, tax base is dwindling and the educational demands on the district (from state, NCLB, more competition out there, etc) are increasing. Even if everyone was anti-consolidation, is there really an alternative here? What reasonable, responsible solution does the 4Schools group suggest? If we keep 4 schools, something's got to give. What would that be -- sports, educational quality, course offerings, teachers, music programs? Complain about it all you want. Be as against it as you want. Is there really any choice, given the facts?
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brianhagberg
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11-07-09 12:15 PM
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This survey was carried out in a very poor manner. The members of the school board represent EVERYONE in their Region, not just the parents of students. To get an accurate sampling of the population you need to include ALL the taxpayers in that area. It seems that this 4Schools group forgets that their are other people that live in the "outlying" areas that will be for whatever option keeps their taxes from skyrocketing. I'm sorry, but a survey that only gets the opinions of parents, is NOT an accurate representation of the Region as a whole.
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primrose
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11-07-09 11:58 AM
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from the vote tallies of district 2 I would say the MAJORITY are against consolidation.
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primrose
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11-07-09 11:55 AM
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and I know many in Warren City who are also against consolidation. Do you REALLY believe that EVERYONE in Warren city is FOR consolidation? it's NOT just the north county and Sheffield. Although those in Warren City have a lot less to lose with these plans that they have.
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fivealive
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11-07-09 11:16 AM
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That's true, primrose. Both of those are just a piece of the larger puzzle. If you want to break down the numbers, those are the two smaller pieces of the puzzle. My point is that there are folks in those areas who aren't vehemently opposed to consolidation. Are we just assuming that the loud ones speak for everyone? Do you really believe EVERYONE in those areas is anti-consolidation? I seriously question the validity of the survey questions, the manner in which it was distributed and the way the results will be tallied.
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primrose
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11-07-09 10:57 AM
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5alive, seems those in the District 2 area (just another piece of the puzzle?) feel the same way as those in the North County...
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primrose
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11-07-09 10:54 AM
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Writer 10...THOSE questions WERE in the article if you just took the time to read it in its entirety...here you go... ------------------------------ The other questions in the survey included: Would you send your child to Youngsville High School or Warren Area High School where more academic and extra-curricular activities were available. If the parent would prefer to send their child to a fully renovated YHS or WAHS, modestly renovated EHS or fully renovated EHS.
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fivealive
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11-07-09 9:10 AM
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The survey questions, if the WTO has them summarized accurately, are misleading and biased. To include a question about consolidation w/ Corry -- which is a not even a viable possibility -- shows how far this group will go to spread misinformation. I would also love to see a copy of that cover letter. How accurate do you think the facts are in it? While a survey of the northern area may be helpful for the board, the northern area folks need to remember that they are only a small part of a bigger puzzle. Do your survery but don't get angry that no one listened. The WCSD is listening -- we can all hear your yelling -- but you are just one piece of the puzzle.
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writer10
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11-07-09 8:47 AM
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I like how they wouldn't allow the parents to consider the option of sending their children to youngsville or warren. Instead they must chose from what they say, what if the parent doesn't mind if they go to youngsville or warren. Corruption through a survey. More than one way to bend the truth, just leave the option out.
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muskie
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11-07-09 8:24 AM
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I think they ought to put a survey online,and advertise it for awhile so EVERYONE can participate. Us taxpayers should have a say,whether we have kids or not. I'm sure the vast majority of parents don't want their (hometown) school closed.
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guitbanger
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11-07-09 7:55 AM
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The survey should have included whether you were a homeowner or not. What are they thinking?
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