School Changes

[pepelect]

What would you have them show during the commercial? 
Pregnate teen?
A prison uniform, parole record, wrecked vehicle, and a loosing football record?   

I didn't want to touch this subject because it in itself is the most disrespectful of Stupid Ideas entire rant.

I bet a track shoe up your Stupid Idea would make a great commercial.

[Catwoman]

Actually, the answer to a great number of the woes facing Elk County is economic development.  Yes, the fresh air and stunning views are quaint...but fresh air doesn't put money in pockets, unless you're running an agri-tourism spot...which, again, falls under the heading of economic development.  The longer Elk County sits idle, the more people will leave in order to find gainful employment combined with larger-city amenities...which leads to a continued loss of students...which leads to fiscal woes in the educational community...which leads to decisions being made that no one wants to see happen.  Yes, all of the grass-roots efforts are good...but you've got to get some large-scale development going or your towns will continue to suffer.  I say all this because I truly loved the time I spent in Elk County...I still have very, very close friends there.  It hurts to see my former students, many of whom have children of their own now, leaving Elk County in order to be able to be gainfully employed.  Find a headhunter who will go out and find you an economic developer who has dealt with counties also under the 'frontier' heading (less than 6 people per square mile, I believe is the designation).  Listen to that developer...get the 10 million pound ball rolling...attract industry...which will, in turn, attract new citizens...which will fill your classrooms and raise your tax base.   

[Mom70x7]

Where is the planning for the future?

The school board is holding a special meeting Monday, Oct. 27th, at 7:30 pm to plan for the future. They had talked about having an architect present (but it might be by telephone) and discuss the cost of an elementary building in Howard. I have no idea if they're even going to consider using the old grade school.

The board wants to get some specific figures so they have something to work with - to accept or reject.

[Lookatmeknow!!]

Mom, why don't they publish this stuff in the paper?  I mean, if they are going to change things and you have to be on the agenda before you can speak, I don't understand this.  I personally, don't like to have to call Bert everytime I want to know what is going on.  I thought that they were to publish things in the paper.  Your input, please MOM!!!

[L Hendricks]

I hestitate to post this... but a reliable source that was at the last school board meeting said that the board asked Mr. Moore to reconsider his resignation.... plus there was discussion about an architect... I would encourage people to call their school board members to discuss both of these topics... I really would like the board to gather more public opinion or atleast ask the school personel ie teachers, staff members, what they would like see done for the future...The board is having a special meeting this next Monday Oct 27....

[Catwoman]

Yep, it's posted on the BOE minutes on the West Elk website.  Interesting.  Very interesting.  Sounds like y'all might be getting a new elementary school...wonder how many mills this will add to your existing taxes?  New buildings are tremendously expensive, when you start adding in all of the ADA, etc., specs.  This also raises the spector of RIF'ing of teachers (Reduction In Force), something that will have to happen in some capacity, given the educators vs. students ratio at the present time.  However, having one elementary school is a necessary step if Elk County is going to continue to be a viable entity on its own.  The trip to that stage will be a somewhat painful one, I'm afraid...but the end result should be worth it.  Hang on tight, in the meantime! 

[Lookatmeknow!!]

I hestitate to post this... but a reliable source that was at the last school board meeting said that the board asked Mr. Moore to reconsider his resignation.... plus there was discussion about an architect... I would encourage people to call their school board members to discuss both of these topics... I really would like the board to gather more public opinion or atleast ask the school personel ie teachers, staff members, what they would like see done for the future...The board is having a special meeting this next Monday Oct 27....

You have got to be kidding me!!  We need new blood in the big chair!!  What are we thinking!!  We have a new school board, new principals, we also need new super!!!  I hope to be there!!!!

[Catwoman]

Well, don't be too surprised if the Sup stays around.  I doubt that anything the public will say will make much of a difference, now that the Board has officially asked him to reconsider his resignation.  I mean, how much more of an ego stroke do you need...you quit and then the organization that you've left begs you to come back?  I don't think he'll pass up the opportunity...he's very comfortable in Elk County.  He doesn't have much reason to want to have to go establish himself, at his advanced age, in a new venue.

[pepelect]

We have needed to address the three campus' issue for the last 20 years.   I think it is very smart of the board to involve an architect before we do anything.  The problem is that politics are getting in the way of what is best for the students.  Why aren't we looking more than two feet in front of our faces?

In a county with only 3000 people on a good day...you shouldn't have to split every dollar on redundant services.  We have two districts with 4 principals, two superintendants, and declining enrollment.

If you don't cut staff when you cut students then where is the logic?  Why do we still have so many underutilized structures?  If we are broke then lets fix it.  If we are overextended then lets fix that.

As far as the "tremendously expensive" building when is it going to get cheaper?  In the future?  Why  don't we look ahead instead of behind?   If you remodel your house you still have an old house with new parts.  At some point it is time to bite the bullet and start over.  We could do it better this time.

I would hope we could  design a school for the future instead of being politically correct and not stepping on anyone's toes.

[sixdogsmom]

Pep, with all due respect, I think the problem will go away on its' own. It is obvious that this county will probably never have a larger tax base or student population. The large school we currently have will soon fit the county's needs and soon after that will be obsolete also. We certainly do need to plan for the future just as a senior citizen needs to plan. But we need to plan for the certainty. As for a different superintendent; it is too bad that one man cannot please everyone. It isn't likely to happen with this super and probably would not happen with another. The current man has to his credit a successful student body built with a tightly crunched budget. I would not want his job; too many people pulling in too many directions. I do not want to take away from the teachers involved; but all should be recognized as doing a great job for small monetary rewards. And I would most certainly not want the job of the school board members; they do not receive monetary reward at all.