Four schools
Dear editor,
I just finished reading today's readers forum, which is always interesting and sometimes entertaining. And I find myself compelled to write in.
Yes, the most recent poll indeed shows that a lot of people are in favor of 4 schools. Is it based on emotion or reason? I think the answer to that are both. The emotion factor is that no one wants to lose the heart of their community. A place of pride. The center point. Reason? Well, this is a little bit more complicated. I do agree that we have spent enough of our tax dollars on these studies to decide which way we need to go with the school district. I do know that our area is holding its own. Enrollment in the northern area of the county has not changed much in the last 10 years. So I guess the population there hasn't changed much either. I believe that that this is the case in most of the county with the exception of the City of Warren, where enrollment is down along with the number of people living there.
I really don't think that closing 2 schools in areas that are healthy and moving the students to an area that is not (That is like leaning into a punch) is using reason. If anyone thinks that going from 4 schools to 2 schools is going to keep our taxes from going up.well, I know where there is some really nice ocean front property for sale in Kansas cheap. Things in Warren County are not looking that great . We are having a hard time keeping our young people here. One of the attractions we do have is our schools. So now we're talking about getting rid of that also.
So I suggest that you send the students from the Warren High school attendance area to the 3 remaining high schools (from what I understand a little bus time won't hurt) and close Beatty. I'm sure that would go over well. Remember enrollment is down, but not in our area. Or, leave things as they are and fix the schools that we have. If you read the study that was just done and published in the paper, you would realize that consolidation is not going to save money. In fact, perhaps just the opposite. If we have to spend money on our schools, which we do no matter what option you choose, wouldn't it make sense to go with the option most people are in favor of? 4 schools.
Richard Morgan
Sugar Grove
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Deslock
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11-26-09 9:40 AM
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Don't want to close schools that are healthy? Okay. We'll go with that. I'd call a school that needs $24 million in repairs not healthy, so let's commence with the shutting down of Eisenhower.
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guitbanger
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11-22-09 8:41 PM
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gary - Who would want to lose their school? Why not close out Warren and Beaty and move them to the other 3 schools? Then Warrenites would be up in arms.
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faulby
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11-20-09 8:26 PM
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garypayton, I personally don't feel any city vs. outlying school tensions. Maybe it's there, but not with me. I'm not against consolidation, I'm against spending 80 to 102 million dollars to consolidate, and there is a difference. It makes more sense financially to send students to the newest schools if consolidation is the will of the majority. I've also said that I'd never be in favor of consolidation if (according to the DeJong report) the payroll of the WCSD is reduced by just 11 jobs (which in reality is 5 when we add the 6 new jobs posted now). Some want to see staff reduction through retirement; OK well then in 5 years, how many current WCSD employees plan to retire, or are reaching retirement age. Surely that figure would be readily available at central office and could be included in the DeJong report as an attachment. I am in favor of keeping Sheffield open as a high school because it's the newest school, requires minimal maintenance, and is easily accessed via rt.6.
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garypayton
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11-20-09 1:09 PM
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Why can no one explain to me the (percieved)angry divide between the City of Warren and the rest of the county? It seems as if the county folk are assuming that Warren folk are thinking rude or mean thoughts against them. It's starting to come across as a little paranoid. In the end we are all neighbors doing the best we can.
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samibigelow
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11-20-09 11:12 AM
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Atta boy/girl, faulby. Amen to that. But you do know the city people will be calling you names, don't you? It is the most agreeable alternative, I am sure it was in the DeJong report but the city doesn't want anyone to know about it.
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faulby
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11-19-09 5:12 PM
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if anyone is interested, I sat in on meetings in Sheffield prior to the recent elections. Mr Bauer was not a spokesperson for 4 schools, instead Mr Bauer shared with us the fact that the consolidation topic was at hand and at some point in time, the school board may vote upon the proposal. There is nobody bankrolling Mr Werner or Ms Paris and their campaigns for election were financed through dozens of people donating. We should all refrain from accusations and name calling in our correspondences as I don't believe these type of tactics are good for anyone. If consolidation is a must, would anyone entertain the idea of sending more students to Sheffield as it is the newest school in need of the least amount of repairs, thus least expensive. It can hold 250+ more students now. My proposal would be that if you live on the Sheffield side of the Allegheny river, you go to Sheffield. Youngsville is also newer so market street west goes there. This may be least expensive option.
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writer10
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11-18-09 11:07 PM
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I think one high school would be the greatest benefit. All the students in one place with more course offerings as a result. The new school could be named after Chief Cornplanter or Robert H. Jackson. The two most famous Warren County names that extend beyond Warren County. Or perhaps go with a local name like Allegheny or Kinzua. Also I feel Starbrick would be one of the better spots to place such a school. Starbrick has the best access to the various parts of the county, via RT6 and 62.
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mare1276
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11-18-09 7:34 PM
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When they closed the Warren grade schools it was not voted on, the board decided to do it and it was a done deal. It took several years but it happened and all the schools had their "save our school" groups and teemed up but it did not do any good
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Publius
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11-18-09 6:40 PM
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How about someone volunteering to ask the School Board at the next meeting whether they would at least entertain the option of a one-high school system as a fourth option?
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Publius
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11-18-09 6:38 PM
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Well, I know how to placate Mr. Wenzel. There must be several hundred cubic yards of topsoil at the Pasture of Pain he can cart away to sell at his fruit stand. It worked the last time.
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garypayton
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11-18-09 6:00 PM
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Shinealight: Why do you hate Warren? It's just a small town in a small county in the middle of nowhere. But it is the center of business and industry (employment), entertainment, government, retail, social services, the library system, and is the crossroads of the 2 major highways in the county. My point is that it's your town too. Why no love? I'm concerned that this weird anti-Warren mentality is being exagerated by the school consolidation inevitability. You are sending your kids a bad message if you think Warren is big, bad, evil, and out to screw you. Grow up.
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brianhagberg
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11-18-09 5:23 PM
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There's a shock...Bauer and Wenzel are leading the charge to stop progress...seems like I've heard this somewhere before...
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muskie
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11-18-09 5:01 PM
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ONE central school K-12. Have everything in one place. ONE of everything. Think of the savings.
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mare1276
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11-18-09 4:57 PM
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I am told today that David Bauer and Scott Wenzel are two of the several people heading the 4 schools people
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fivealive
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11-18-09 4:51 PM
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I know Mr Bauer is the one whose name is always in the paper. He has a habit of making himself visible. But I am not sure that is who is really running the show. Who is running the meetings? Who is handling the money? Is it Bauer or is it someone else?
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Publius
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11-18-09 4:50 PM
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I believe it was Mr. Bauer who acted as a spokesperson when he addressed the Corry Area School District. Sometimes he's a spokesperson, sometimes not. I guess he's just an enigmatic sort of fellow.
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fivealive
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11-18-09 4:49 PM
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It is the Warren COUNTY School District. That is the educational community we are talking about here. Are you looking out for that community? If everyone just looks out for themselves, you pretty quickly lose any sense of community at all.
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fivealive
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11-18-09 4:47 PM
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I don't want to shut them up. I would like to stop the misinformation. Stating at a public meeting that Sheffield is closing next year, when that has NOT been discussed or decided is a lie. Plain and simple. Spreading lies is not constructive. It is destructive. I would love to have this group be part of a discussion. But they owe it to their members to keep them well informed, not misinformed. Heck, they owe it to the entire district.
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mare1276
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11-18-09 4:47 PM
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Shinealight Try the local Church groups for the community and keep the schools for education, the BEST education for he children in the schools
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mare1276
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11-18-09 4:45 PM
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David Bauer was the one the paper talked to as a spokesman for the 4 schools group. He is the one who said they would go with the Corry School District and when the Corry District was contacted they were surprised. David Bauer may say he is not the spokesman but seems like the paper runs their stories thru him.
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Publius
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11-18-09 4:44 PM
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Shinealight Early Learning Center (no sharp objects, please)
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fivealive
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11-18-09 4:43 PM
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Are you looking at what is best for the county/district, Shinealight, or are you just looking out for your own school? There is a big difference.
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fivealive
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11-18-09 4:42 PM
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I'd also like to know who is managing their money/funds. Just curios who holds the pursestrings, how much they have and how much they gave to Paris/Werner. Does any of that have to be tracked or made public?
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fivealive
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11-18-09 4:40 PM
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What I would really like to know is who is leading those 4Schools meetings. Who is responsible for the misinformation? I can see info getting twisted while passed among neighbors but who is the "official" starting it at these meetings? Even Paris said she ran for school board after she heard at a 4Schools meeting Sheffield is closing next year. Mr. Bauer says he is not the spokesperson. Who is officially leading this group and responsible for its actiona and information? I'd love to know where they are getting their info and would love to be able to hold them accountable for it.
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Publius
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11-18-09 4:36 PM
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He's such an excellent spokesman for those who want to retain the status quo.
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