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During their regular meeting on Monday, the USD 234 Board of Education is scheduled to discuss a proposal that would reconfigure the grade levels at Winfield Scott Elementary School and Eugene Ware Elementary School into what are called elementary attendance centers. Both schools currently serve a combined total of more than 900 kindergarten through fifth grade students.
School officials said the change may be the best solution at a time when USD 234 and hundreds of other public school districts across the state are facing more budget cuts, staff reductions, and larger class sizes.
"We're talking of making a change in the configuration of the elementary schools," Winfield Scott Principal David Elliott said. "With the budget situation, things are not looking so good money-wise ... if we have to downsize, we can minimize the impact on class size with a new configuration."
If the proposal is put into effect, one of the school buildings would contain all kindergarten through second grade students in the district, while the other building would house all third through fifth grade students in the district -- a configuration that officials said would be most accommodating for both schools.
"There are a lot of pros and cons to it," Elliott said. "It would spread kids over a larger number of classrooms, minimizing the impact of having to reduce staff ... we have to reduce our budget for the fall and we're considering reducing the number of teachers we have. We're in a spot right now where we're looking at 'What's the least bad?'"
Eugene Ware Principal Billie Jo Drake said she also supports the plan, and although it may not be initially popular in the community, it presents benefits.
"In light of current budgeting and AYP (adequate yearly progress) situations, it's probably a step that is overdue in Fort Scott," she said. "It probably won't be a popular step at first, I don't think ... it might possibly not be a huge budget money saver but it will instantaneously guarantee that every one of our class sizes at elementary schools would be equalized. And it's improved education for our kids."
Drake added, "It will allow all teachers at grade level in the same district to collaborate and plan on a daily basis rather than the two to three times per year as we usually do."
If the schools are reconfigured as attendance centers, students will be divided up not by their current address, which currently dictates where each student attends school, but by their grade level, Drake said.
School officials have discussed the idea for the elementary attendance centers in the past but are seriously considering the idea now due to the advantages they provide schools, Drake said.
"It's been tossed around many times in the past, and it's become popular again because it has allowed districts to combine resources and close some small schools," she said. "If both (elementary) schools maintained the same number of teachers and students, it probably would not be an issue, but it fluctuates. Attendance centers would do away with the problem altogether."
The board will discuss the matter along with other items on the agenda during their meeting at 5 p.m. Monday in the USD 234 Board of Education Office, 424 S. Main St. The board also has scheduled an executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and matters relating to actions adversely or favorably affecting a person as a student.
Comments
It would probably be a good idea to have the meeting somewhere else. This is an important issue, and I would bet there will be a lot of parents that will want to attend the meeting. Maybe Memorial Hall would be a good place?
i concur
As the BOE considers all of the pros and cons of this issue, we as citizens, parents, and grandparents, need to put away any of our own selfish motives and issues and pray that they, as our representatives, will keep the best interest of the youth of our community upper most in their minds, without regard to what is best for our district, our budget, our teachers, and our administrators. The students of this district deserve the best education they can receive, whether from the east side of the tracks or the west!
Bus costs will also increase.
I think this is a really great idea. Long overdue. Let's get it done.
I'll be the first to say it. I am not sure if i like this idea.
I think this is a great idea also. Lots of school districts do this very thing, and have lots of success with it. I think it'll definitely help cut down on classroom size.
I really like this idea. Let's not be negative but do something positive for our kids. Besides, these are the types of actions that will have to be done in light of legislative action that continues to cut school budgets unless you want to raise taxes to keep operating as we are now. I seriously doubt you wish to do that.
I have to say this doesnt seem like a good idea we have little one getting ready to start and if this happens we will either go to uniontown or try and come up with the money for a private school. I dont want my kids seperated to different sides of town in case of an emergency they would both be at the same building and dropping off and picking up would become a hassel one would always be late to arrive and late being picked up thats not fair to them, me or the teachers and i know we wont be the only family with this concern. lets keep it the same and let the line stay where it is!
"Lots of school districts do this very thing, and have lots of success with it. I think it'll definitely help cut down on classroom size." What schools? Which school districts? Where is the evidence to support this kind of change? Where are the facts and figures to support a cost savings? There is also something to be said with kids going to school with the same kids in their neighborhood and no be moving all over town. So lets get this straight. Kids growing up here in Fort Scott will attend four schools by the time they get to the 9th grade.
I agree with neon. Im not sure this is a good idea. Wat happens when we keep getting more and more kids Were going to be in the same situation with the over crowding. I prefer it to stay the same.
save our history I'm with you I want to know where they get all theses ideas to have them go to four different schools thats a bit much. They are already going to three I just dont see the use in moving them all over. Has anyone heard what its going to cost to do all this? I'm sure they will have to make changes to the buildings theres always some hidden costs that dont get put out there till after the fact.
Get on the internet and read about the changes in education especially in light of the budget situation. I suspect Uniontown only has one elementary school so, naturally, they would not do this. But what happenes if the school districts have to merge because of finances? There will not be elementary in both communities is my guess. Let's get realistic and face the times we are in.
I am totally against this.They first said it would save money and jobs. The patrons of USD 234 need to know that they are not getting the full story. The board is telling the public that it will save jobs and equal the class size between the two schools. It won't save money, it will cost more for buses, and the class sizes are now equal between the schools. Can you imagine the nightmare in the mornings trying to get to the east side of town with the trains? Why don't they cut some administrators at the BOE? Each school only needs one principal, not two. The district hasn't looked at starting school later, letting out sooner, or considering anything other than changing the schools. Other districts have looked into all avenues except this one. Let me tell you if you have a grandchild in the district like I do you better contact your board members because they have already made the decision to do this, they are just trying to act like they haven't. K-2 would be at Winfield Scott and 3-5 at Eugene Ware. I say look at all avenues on how to cut costs and then decide. That is not what they are doing, they are jumping into this without checking anything out. The board members don't have time to research this, they do what the board president says(Matt Ida). Please realize this is a huge issue and will hurt our children!
So Neon, you may send your kids to Uniontown. In case of emergency, you're 10 minutes from getting to both schools or 25 minutes (one way) to go get your kids in Uniontown? Sorry, but that makes less sense to me.
I know of other towns that do this (Nevada for example) and it works great. The kids will all start out on the same level & end up on the same level when they graduate. You would hope that this would not be a problem with two elementary schools in this district, but there are bound to be some differences in how they operate.
The kids should all be the same when they get to the middle school, reguardless of which elementary school they attend. Saying "The kids will all start out on the same level & end up on the same level when they graduate." Is that not the case now? Do they not have the same standards at both schools? If not then, which is implied above; what will the new system look like? Will the new system be the "better" education model or the one that is "less so"? If one elementary school is below the other as a par, (again as implied above), then instead of some kids going through a sub par system, you would instead place ALL of the kids through the system. And as for Nevada, what statistical data can be presented that actually will show the Nevada model is better? My neice and nephew attend a public school where they go to school all year around with several one week breaks. They do well in school, so should we go to year around school here also? Just because it may work somewhere else (which had not been shown here yet) Does not mean that it will work here either. I am curious as to who's idea this was to begin with.
This is a very sad time in our state's educational system. I think that this is just the first step in what Fort Scott and other schools in the state are going to have to do in order to survive. I don't know that the public is truly aware of what is taking place. The state of Kansas is making cuts to education and the schools are having to manage hundred thousand dollar deficits that have to be dealt with. The state is also a full month, if not two months, behind in paying all public schools. Could any of your places of employment or you handle something like that? Our school districts have been dealt an impossible hand. It is NO fault of our board of education or our administration.
If you plan to attend a public forum to discuss the school consolodation, keep in mind that you are there to inform yourself. To actually address the issue, call your state representatives Lynn Jenkins, Bob Marshall, or Shirley Palmer. I can only hope that if more people contact their representatives, they will actually do something besides going to luncheons and banquets. I hate to say this, but this is only the first step of the many terrible things to come. Be informed, be prepared, and get involved.
you are right 100% optimistic pessimist.
What does Lynn Jenkins have to do with anything? Last I knew she was a Congressional Representative.
I can see why parents don`t like the idea-running to both schools to deliver and pick up kids.
Parents are overworked now with trying to earn money and just keep up with daily routines.
I also can see the other side-so not sure what is the correct answer.
It looks to me like the easiest position to take is to be against anything the School Board wants to do, regardless of whether there is merit to it or not. Is that right?
When people agree with the school board then there is nothing to discuss and no conflict so it never becomes an issue. The only time something becomes an issue is when people do not like a proposal. So it is not a fact that people always disagree with the school board. They make decisions all the time and there is not a word said about it.
Save our history, what you just said is true. Problem is people with authority don't like dissent. They really just want you to approve what they already have in mind, and are quick to label and discredit anyone who disagrees with their plans as a troublemaker
or an idiot.
sign of things to come?
Today's news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Facing potential bankruptcy, the board that governs the once flush-with-cash Kansas City school district is taking the unusual and contentious step of shuttering almost half its schools.
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Associated Press
House approves bill to allow multiple districts to work out consolidation agreements
The Kansas House has approved legislation that would allow consolidation talks among multiple school districts.
The 121-1 vote on Wednesday sends the bill to the Senate for consideration.
The measure would allow three or more districts to hold talks on forming two new districts. An existing law permits consolidation talks only between two districts.
Legislators said the change would help in particularly sparse, low-enrollment districts where distance between the current district and merged schools becomes a barrier to consolidation.
If it becomes law later this session, districts would have the authority to speak with multiple districts on how best to divide their territory and students.
I think it's a good idea! I think that some parents still think that there is a social class division between eastside and westside, but that just doesn't exist anymore. Both schools are great schools. The teachers would be able to concentrate on fewer grade levels, making it easier and better for them to consult with other teachers, and would allow them to be more specialized in their grade areas. I think it makes perfect sense.
We still don't know who first proposed the idea. Who Thought of this and who presented it? It would be nice if that specific individual gave a good explanation as to the why and hows.