My experience at the West Elk USD#282 Special School Board Meeting
Monday 11/28/11
This special meeting was held for the board members to discuss Long Range Planning, so each member could provide ideas to act upon at a later date. This was my understanding of the meeting.
I listened intently and also copied some notes off of the dry erase marker board that Mr. Reese was writing on the board at the request of the board members. I am trying to write them as accurately as possible. I doubt you will read anything anywhere else about what happened during the meeting, because I have never seen the minutes written to inform the public what takes place. I do feel that the public / taxpayers should be kept informed but that just doesn't happen.
I won't attribute the suggestions to the particular board member because I don't know the name of each one so I won't use any names. A few suggestions have been repeated because different members suggested the idea a second and third time.
My personal remarks/opinions are in blue.
The suggestions presented during the meeting:
1) Use the east side parking lot to drop kids off because of the rain.
2) Replace trailers with Morton Building.
*This was suggested when the school board was discussing what to put in before they settled on the trailers for class rooms. And the board was told they could not talk about things they could not complete by August. So it was shot down.*
3) Do cleanup, trim brush
4) Keep up school repairs, maintenance.
5) A lot of money is wasted on to many secretaries, para's, etc.
Be more efficient.
6) Share teachers between districts.
7) Need a new Superintendent that can do the job better.
*What I saw was the President of the Board trying to shush this one up. In fact he did tell the speaker that was enough or something to that effect.*
8 ) Big school curriculum (French language, etc)
*The school Superintendent told the Board the problem with that is Teachers have to be highly qualified.*
9) Share teachers with Elk Valley, etc.
10) Cooperative Athletics.
11) Wise spending of Taxpayers money.
12) Online E-2020 / ITV
*Online E-2020 is on line training/classroom
http://www.e2020inc.com/ *
13) Buses to west side because of rain.
14) Auxiliary gym. (maybe a Morton building)
15) Have insurance grade the roof sections for future budgeting purposes.
16) Move grade school inside main building.
17) Go to half day kindergarten.
*It was mentioned that this could cause problems for parents that have to work and the fact that there was no day care for kids*
18) Adopt Core Standards.
19) Share Staff.
20) Maintain Technology.
21) Get someone to do grant writing.
22) Focus away from athletics.
23) Improve texts / curriculum
24) Might have ten years before we have to get away from the modular's.
*Now these are from the President of the Board, I know he is the guy that sits at the head of the table.*
1) More focus on sports for patron (taxpayers) cohesiveness.
2) Structure accounting so it is easier to see. With figures and charts.
3) Separate Special Education from the rest of the budget for easier comparison to other
districts.
4) Get teachers input on the budget in without threat of repercussions.
5) Need athletics to present ourselves better.
6) Examine student evaluations.
7) Look at transportation.
8 ) Look at compensation for administrators.
9) Get community involved.
10) Promote Ourselves.
11) Regional Notoriety.
12) Eliminate in town busing.
13) Food services, healthier foods, obesity.
*Now 9, 10 and 11 bother me a bit because it sounds to much like Elk Konnected, LLC talking. Mr. President of the school board you are still on the steering committee of Elk Konnected.,LLC aren't you? This is not a community school but a county school funded by the patrons / taxpayers spread out throughout the county. The school is not inside any towns city limits. Why do we need notoriety isn't our goal suppose to be concentrating on teaching and if the job is done well enough wouldn't the school become a blue ribbon school with statewide recognition. Promote ourselves, why? Are you going to take out TV advertisement, newspaper advertisements. Do you want to put up a large flashing marquee like the casinos and other business have? I don't understand this promotion thing. Is that like Elk Konnected, LLC's branding? What would it be? Will enhance teaching in the classroom?*
*I repeat these were all just suggestions at the special board meeting. But it gives us an idea what the School Board is thinking.*
Promotion of the school is one good way of enticing new residents to Elk County. A winning team in any sport draws attention. So does our winning teams in scholastics. We need more promotion of what we do have by more news coverage. I wouldn't know about our grade school basketball if I didn't have a great granddaughter playing.
One thing the school is doing to promote itself is by the students dressing presentably when attending an away game. I saw this recently when I attended a grade school game at Thayer. The young people really looked nice. No sagging pants, flopping shirt tails, outrageous hair styles. I was proud of our West Elk young people, both in the way they were dressed and in the way they behaved.
Quote from: Wilma on November 30, 2011, 12:04:40 PM
Promotion of the school is one good way of enticing new residents to Elk County. A winning team in any sport draws attention. So does our winning teams in scholastics. We need more promotion of what we do have by more news coverage. I wouldn't know about our grade school basketball if I didn't have a great granddaughter playing.
When our school and all other schools across the nation are facing large budget cuts, how does it make sense. Have you thought perhaps the cap on property taxes might ge removed and your property taxes being raised.
Do you really believe spending money to promote the school will bring families to Elk County when there are no good paying jobs? How much would you spend to bring just one or two families to Elk County?
Do not you think it's better to spend the money for education? Afterall isn't school suppose to be about education of the children not about promoting the County for Economic Development?
Besides didn't our governor just recently suggest that economic development is nill?
If our school has such great winning teams in scholastics why isn't our school a blue ribbion school. Now that would be real promotion without loss to the students education financing.
Is the school a tool for the growth of the county or a tool for educationg all the children.
The school superintendent said at the meeting that enrollment is declining at the rate of 14 students per year. And I bet if you check it is happening in all the rural districts across the state. Why? Because people are moving to the larger towns and cities where jobs are located.
Besides all that we the txpayers pay for an Economc Development Person who should probably be promoting the county. Don't you have any faith in that? If you do leave the school monies for educating the children.
I believe the idea of promoting the county school is for the purpose of promoting Howard not the county. Didn't Howard try to work with the county school trying to move the city limits out to bring the school into their fold. Don't they continue to list West Elk as Howard West Elk on out of town game bulletins? Doesn't Elk Konnected, LLC list Howard West Elk Junior - Senior High as the school they attended on their facebook page? Just go take a look at Elk Konnected, LLC facebook page. Here it is--https://www.facebook.com/lwross1/posts/146721362099909?ref=notif¬if_t=share_comment#!/profile.php?id=1349522561
Just my opinion.
I think the West Elk Parents, teachers, students and administration are doing a great job in Educating the West Elk Students. $403,500 in student aid is fantastic. In looking back, 2010 and prior years had several NHS students and lots of scholarships.
Quote from: Arc fault on May 04, 2011, 06:18:55 pm
I had the great honor of attending and also presenting at the scholarship and NHS induction ceremony at West Elk.
This is a great event to top off the 13 years each senior has devoted to expanding their minds. There were a wide spectrum of schools that sent representatives to present scholarships. The staggering amount of money this senior class has earned is overwhelming. Some of these are a one time scholarship but a few are given for the entire life of the post-secondary career. College scholarship accounted for over$180,000 presented to this small class of 26.
We have three Kansas state merit scholars and one national merit scholar.
The number of scholarships both new and existing makes for a very daunting task of applying. Many late nights and Sundays working filling out apps and getting well rounded education on paper was wrangled by a part time compensated but full time dedicated Debbie Zellner.
The most impressive part, aside from the fact that none of the NHS inductee's candle blew out on the long walk of ten feet to the candelabra,was the impressive amount of local scholarships that were awarded. I think the tally to date was over $115,000.
So to this I give a hearty pat on the back to the bright seniors and juniors that have worked so hard. This financial help is going to help them get a leg up on continuing their post secondary education. With student tuition and books at historic levels $403,500.00 makes a huge dent.
Congratulations! Job well done.
And that somehow pays the bills.
We are probably talking very large cuts in the school budget.
And a few kids do not make a blue ribbon school now does it.
And I have read that a small school district has made that grade.
Even the board members suggested improving education.
And according to what the superintendent said, we don't have the class of teachers to have a big school curriculum.
But, oh well.
Quote from: Wilma on November 30, 2011, 12:04:40 PM
Promotion of the school is one good way of enticing new residents to Elk County. A winning team in any sport draws attention. So does our winning teams in scholastics. We need more promotion of what we do have by more news coverage. I wouldn't know about our grade school basketball if I didn't have a great granddaughter playing.
One thing the school is doing to promote itself is by the students dressing presentably when attending an away game. I saw this recently when I attended a grade school game at Thayer. The young people really looked nice. No sagging pants, flopping shirt tails, outrageous hair styles. I was proud of our West Elk young people, both in the way they were dressed and in the way they behaved.
Mother, I have to correct you on what grade your great-granddaughter is playing in. This is the junior high as she is a 7th grader. You may have thought it was grade school since the game we went to was played at the Thayer Grade School. Alas; my mother, your great-granddaughter is in junior high. Do you feel old, yet? I do.
Janet, I don't think you were ever in Junior High, were you?
No. We didn't have junior high then. Woody was in junior high when it was at Severy.
I wonder what's happening now.
We just had a Special School Board Meeting Monday 11/28/11
where someone mentions we need a new school superintendent
and right away there is another Special School Board Meeting
scheduled for Monday 12/05/11.
For the purpose review of Superintendent Job Description & Evaluation
Do you suppose it is happening because one of the board members did not like the suggestion of getting a new superintendent. After all they haven't had a Special School Board Meeting or immediate action on anything else that was suggested at the previous Special School Board Meeting.
I wonder what could be so urgent that this evaluation can't wait for the next regularly scheduled School Board Meeting?
Why are there so many Special School Board Meeting since the new members have been installed? Just wondering.
Ross, I am pretty sure that all of the teachers at West Elk are highly Qualified. I am highly qualified based on my teaching certificate, also. What he should have said was that to find a french teacher highly qualified is really hard, I am guessing. I don't think there is anything wrong with West Elk Teachers. Ross, just wondering, do you have something against West Elk? I mean, I have been subbing in different districts around the surrounding counties. All small schools are suffering with budget cost. I know it is very tough times for everyone!
QuoteI wonder what could be so urgent that this evaluation can't wait for the next regularly scheduled School Board Meeting?
I expect it would be a special meeting to discuss the evaluation, then present the findings at the regular board meeting.
In other words, get the good and perhaps not so good findings of performance out of the public agenda and the necessary facts discussed, before taking up the publics' time.
nothing to see here...move along.
I would be more concerned if the board were to cut the teachers for other reasons other than subpar performance. Not concerned about how many 'secret' meetings that are held.
I would be concerned 1st about education before athletics, and yet somehow the monies that are revenued from sports is what keeps the budget afloat.
To me, it is backwards.
ready
Hubby is Highly Qualified. It's on his teaching certificate.
Lisa
farm: I am not questioning that. My certificates say that also.
Today, I believe I am not so. and there in lies the difference.
and what does your hubby have to do with this, may I ask?
ready
Let me rephrase my thoughts:
A certificate may back the person, yet the person may not always back up the certificate.
ready
Quote from: Lookatmeknow!! on December 01, 2011, 06:11:33 PM
Ross, I am pretty sure that all of the teachers at West Elk are highly Qualified. I am highly qualified based on my teaching certificate, also. What he should have said was that to find a french teacher highly qualified is really hard, I am guessing. I don't think there is anything wrong with West Elk Teachers. Ross, just wondering, do you have something against West Elk? I mean, I have been subbing in different districts around the surrounding counties. All small schools are suffering with budget cost. I know it is very tough times for everyone!
I was simply letting people know what took place and what their elected officials had to say and they can decide for themselves. Oh, yes because it was said at an official board meeting I included what the superintendent said.
As far as highly a highly qualified teacher, since you asked I looked it up and here is what I found.
What does "Highly Qualified" mean?
The federal definition of a "Highly Qualified" teacher is one who is: fully certified and/or licensed by the state; holds at least a bachelor's degree from a four-year institution; and demonstrates competence in each core academic subject area in which the teacher teaches.
Does the "Highly Qualified" criteria apply to all teachers?
No. The "Highly Qualified" criteria applies to all teachers - in Title I and non-Title I public schools - who teach in core academic subject areas. The federal regulations do not apply to non-core academic subject area teachers such as those in most vocational (workforce development/career-technical education) programs or physical education.
So perhaps you can tell me what the superintendent was talking about?
And they spoke of core subjects, here they are.
What are the core academic subject areas?
Those areas include: English, reading, language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, social studies, economics, arts, history, geography, and kindergarten through Grade 6 (K-6).
But in response to your question:
Quote from: Lookatmeknow!! on December 01, 2011, 06:11:33 PM
Ross, just wondering, do you have something against West Elk?
I am a taxpayer paying my share for the operation of a school who purpose is to educate children. I don't believe it is our administrations or elected officials officials jobs to be more concerned about making a name for themselves with sports of to be looking for Notoriety as suggested by the president of the School Board. I do agree with the board members who want less focus on athletics. And I believe that will happen whether the want it or now due to the up coming major budget cuts. And as at least one board member suggested is to spend taxpaysers dollars with more wisdom.
And wouldn't you think if they improved the education at West Elk for all students sufficiently to become a blue ribbon school they would come by their Notoriety in the best of fashion.
Oh, there is one problem I have and that is the use of the school on a political level? You will probably ask, so here is what I mean.
It is a county school on county property but is often refered to Howard West Elk when in fact it should be refered to as Elk County West Elk to be politically correct. How ever it has been expressed to me that Howard might grow in population if they had a school. Hnd asked to extend their city limits to encompass the school. Just think who voted for and who voted against the expansion of the campus for a $5.5 million grade school that would house maybe 100 children.
Oh, for the suggestion about big school curriculum the superintendent used French only as an example. The suggestions were coming from the school board. I'm sorry if I didn't make the clear.
Just something to think about.
Good post Ross. Thanks for keeping us up to speed with the meetings and such. I do appreciate it. ;)
Quote from: readyaimduck on December 01, 2011, 07:24:59 PM
I expect it would be a special meeting to discuss the evaluation, then present the findings at the regular board meeting.
In other words, get the good and perhaps not so good findings of performance out of the public agenda and the necessary facts discussed, before taking up the publics' time.
nothing to see here...move along.
I would be more concerned if the board were to cut the teachers for other reasons other than subpar performance. Not concerned about how many 'secret' meetings that are held.
I would be concerned 1st about education before athletics, and yet somehow the monies that are revenued from sports is what keeps the budget afloat.
To me, it is backwards.
ready
Howdy Ready,
The meetings aren't secret and I believe secret meetings would be unlawful.
I was just wondering why have so many special board meetings. And this one appears to be because at the last special board meeting it was suggested that the school needs a new school superintendent, but I don't know, I was just wondering. And nothing was said about going into executive session in the agenda, but I expect they will.
If I can I will be attending the meeting as a concerned tax paying citizen.
Quote from: Ross on December 01, 2011, 08:54:23 PM
It is a county school on county property but is often refered to Howard West Elk when in fact it should be refered to as Elk County West Elk to be politically correct.
It is not a county school on county property. It is a District School located on property in the county. Semantics, maybe. We have three schools (possibly 4) operating in Elk County: Elk Valley, Central and West Elk. (Don't know if Sedan/Chautauqua County comes into Elk County.)
Elk County does not run nor administer the school. The U.S.D. 282 District does. The school is located on property in Elk County, not property in one of the towns in Elk County.
It has been referred to as Howard West Elk, to show the town West Elk uses as a mailing address - similar to Central at Burden and Flinthills at Rosalia and Bluestem at Leon.
Quote from: sixdogsmom on December 01, 2011, 09:03:07 PM
Good post Ross. Thanks for keeping us up to speed with the meetings and such. I do appreciate it. ;)
Well thank you.
I figured I would get lambasted.
I'm very pleased you appreciate the post.
Quote from: Mom70x7 on December 01, 2011, 09:08:30 PM
It is not a county school on county property. It is a District School located on property in the county. Semantics, maybe. We have three schools (possibly 4) operating in Elk County: Elk Valley, Central and West Elk. (Don't know if Sedan/Chautauqua County comes into Elk County.)
Elk County does not run nor administer the school. The U.S.D. 282 District does. The school is located on property in Elk County, not property in one of the towns in Elk County.
It has been referred to as Howard West Elk, to show the town West Elk uses as a mailing address - similar to Central at Burden and Flinthills at Rosalia and Bluestem at Leon.
You are quite right. I get an "F" on that one.
But you support my thought that it is not Howard West Elk.
Thanks again.
:)
Ross, I don't always agree with you by any means, but I do appreciate the fact that you care enough to go to meetings and give your observations on a public forum. IMHO, the general problems this county has is the reluctance of people to express their opion other than a secret ballot. Of course a ballot is the final say, but many things occur that are not subjected to the voting process, and this is a problem. After all it is difficult to stand and be responsible for an opinion that may not be the supposed popular one. That takes courage, and I salute that courage. Keep on keepin' on. 8)
Quote from: Mom70x7 on December 01, 2011, 09:08:30 PM
It is not a county school on county property. It is a District School located on property in the county. Semantics, maybe. We have three schools (possibly 4) operating in Elk County: Elk Valley, Central and West Elk. (Don't know if Sedan/Chautauqua County comes into Elk County.)
Actually, if you would go into the county clerk's office you can see a map that shows all the school districts that come into Elk County. On the west side you have Central of Burden and Bluestem. On the east side you have Fredonia and Elk Valley. On the south side you have Sedan. It comes up into the SE corner of Elk County. I'm not sure, but I think that the Eureka district comes just into Elk County around Piedmont. It is my belief that we have a total of 7 school districts whose boundaries lay in Elk County. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
I think you're right - I just knew we had more than 2. I forgot about Fredonia and I wondered about Eureka.
Map of school districts from KSDE, I recommend blowing it up to at least 150% to view.
http://www.ksde.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=wxZ9CKBYHRs%3d&tabid=4833&mid=11719
Janet's right, except about Sedan.
Quote from: flintauqua on December 02, 2011, 03:14:31 AM
Janet's right, except about Sedan.
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/99.gif) Shhhhh~~~ Janet shouldn't be told that ... its way to daaaangerrrrous!!!
I was right about everything, everything, everything, except Sedan. LOL
Quote from: readyaimduck on December 01, 2011, 08:42:00 PM
farm: I am not questioning that. My certificates say that also.
Today, I believe I am not so. and there in lies the difference.
and what does your hubby have to do with this, may I ask?
ready
He's a teacher at West Elk. So, yes, there are Highly Qualified teachers at West Elk. Or at least one. I thought someone had asked that question.
Lisa
QuoteRoss, I am pretty sure that all of the teachers at West Elk are highly Qualified
that came from lookatme. Sorry for the confusion...it came later after other comments.
ready
Quote*The school Superintendent told the Board the problem with that is Teachers have to be highly qualified.*
and also from Ross. and Howdy Ross!
I don't always agree with Ross' methods of communicating, however I do agree that taxpayers need to know how and where their monies are spent.
On a side note: It is good to know that Janet's education was spent well knowing Sedan was not part of the district! ;D
Janet, you're good people....just need to check your maps once in awhile. ::)
ready
Quote from: readyaimduck on December 02, 2011, 08:42:18 PM
that came from lookatme. Sorry for the confusion...it came later after other comments.
ready
No prob. I should have quoted lookatme.
Lisa
Quote from: sixdogsmom on December 01, 2011, 09:30:10 PM
Ross, I don't always agree with you by any means, but I do appreciate the fact that you care enough to go to meetings and give your observations on a public forum. IMHO, the general problems this county has is the reluctance of people to express their opion other than a secret ballot. Of course a ballot is the final say, but many things occur that are not subjected to the voting process, and this is a problem. After all it is difficult to stand and be responsible for an opinion that may not be the supposed popular one. That takes courage, and I salute that courage. Keep on keepin' on. 8)
I think it would be really nice if the school board minutes exceed doing the minimum required by law or what ever. Is it perhaps because the school board doesn't want but the minimum information provided to the public? I don't know!
Does that perhaps reflect on the school? I'm sorry that's my bad. I have admitted to a lack of tact and diplomacy. But hey, I appreciate open honest dialog over what passes for tact and diplomacy. It's been proven that the best of foreign diplomats lie, like a rug.
I just think the school board could put out a lot more information in those minutes, if they truly want as President Whetstone said, ""Be involved in the community." To be involved in the community they need to inform the community, right? Really lets tell it like it is, it is the taxpaying voters they should engage. Don't you think?
Just something similar to what I wrote on page one of this thread would be better than what they put in the minutes now.
Also with all the taxpayers monies paying for all that technology and high speed internet and a secretary (she is paid right) to take the minutes, don't you think they could provide better minutes info on the school web site and include the attachments that are listed on the minutes? Once again provided by the taxpayers.
If the secretary doesn't have time to do it, how about taperecording it and let the high school kids practice journalism, creative writing, english , keyboarding, etc. for grades typing the minutes for her. And grade them on the work. What great experience it would be for the kids and it would provide great information for the voters and concerned citizens and taxpayers of the school district. And then we would not have to rely on someone to provide occassional information.
It sounds like a win, win, win, win to me.
The secretary wins, someone else does the work.
The kids win by gaining valuable experience.
The teachers win with a built-in project for students.
The schools web site wins by increasing the value of the web site.
The citizens win with information they other wise would not recieve.
Just something to thinks about.
Have a great and enjoyable wet weekend. We need that rain.
In most organizations that I know of the minutes are not a transcript of the meeting. It is a legal document about what was done,not necessarily what all was said, which is why the secretary is sworn in. Can't just turn the minutes over to just anyone.
Diane the school board meeting is an open meeting, meaning open to the public.
Our local county commissioners meetings are the same thing, open to the public and they provide a lot of information in their minutes and are posted in the paper. Sometimes I feel they leave out some stuff that could be considered to show them in a bad light and only for that reason. But at least they provide smoething.
Government is the people's business with the excepption of executive sessions.
Remember we are not talking about privately owned organizations.
Consider this Ross: read your local newspaper and read about the facts that were present at a crime scene.
That is a 'perhaps' slanted take, with lots of adjectives that may or may not describe the situation depending on the writer and the editor of the paper.
Therefore, at the meetings it would read: it was held, this was the topic, and this was tabled or voted on. No embellishment. No drama.
See the difference? If you really want the really detailed discussions then attend the meeting (of which you apparantely do), otherwise the minutes for the public are only a recap....Clifford's Notes, if you will of the meeting.
Fact is: I just wrote this.
Fact is: Someone else will spin it into something entirely different to meet their agenda.
not arguing with you, just not reading into something that happened.
one incident with 3 different witnesses = 3 different versions of the same story.
Diane is correct: Until it is approved, the minutes as is on paper at that time, or reported by someone else, is only a transcript until approved.
ready
Quote from: readyaimduck on December 02, 2011, 08:48:59 PM
On a side note: It is good to know that Janet's education was spent well knowing Sedan was not part of the district! ;D
Janet, you're good people....just need to check your maps once in awhile. ::)
ready
Ready, It didn't take my education to know about the school districts. All it took was my many years in county government (25) and being in and out of the county clerk's office so much. I truly believed that the Sedan district came up into Elk county right on the SE corner. Oh well.
How many know the actual name of the district that Sedan is in?
Chautauqua County Community School District.- N0. 286
Frank knows everything.
Quote from: Janet Harrington on December 01, 2011, 10:45:25 PM
Actually, if you would go into the county clerk's office you can see a map that shows all the school districts that come into Elk County. On the west side you have Central of Burden and Bluestem. On the east side you have Fredonia and Elk Valley. On the south side you have Sedan. It comes up into the SE corner of Elk County. I'm not sure, but I think that the Eureka district comes just into Elk County around Piedmont. It is my belief that we have a total of 7 school districts whose boundaries lay in Elk County. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Nope West elk picks up the piedmont kids.
There may be Piedmont kids going to West Elk, however they would be going 'out of district' as the Eureka School District clearly includes Piedmont and a small part of Elk County south and west of the town. You can ask the Eureka or West Elk district offices, or either of the Elk or Greenwood Treasurers offices if you do not believe me.
There are quite a few kids that go out of district.
Quote from: srkruzich on December 03, 2011, 06:04:32 PM
Nope West elk picks up the piedmont kids.
Piedmont kids should go to Eureka, but it is like any school, you can get permission from the schoolboard to go to a different district if that district will accept you. There are quite a few West Elk district kids that go to Elk Valley to school and there are some Central of Burden district kids from Grenola that attend West Elk.
Eureka does pickup some kids South of Piedmont, in fact they pick up one on Turkey Road.
I don't know where the Eureka school district boundary is, but I do know that when Piedmont had to unify with another district, they chose Eureka. At that time, some of Piedmont's students chose to come to Severy instead of going to Eureka. And it wasn't because they lived closer to Severy. They lived just north of Piedmont. This cross district thing is nothing new. IMHO the student should be in the district closest to his home, be it in one county or another. Whether or not he actually attends the school in the district in which he resides is between him, his parents and the school districts.
My parents moved to Elk County in 1947. I was a senior and my brother was a sophomore. We decided we wanted to go to Piedmont instead of the district we lived in. Most of the neighbors out in Union Center were attending Piedmont. At that time there were 14 students from that area attending Piedmont High School. None of them lived closer to Piedmont than four miles. Three of them lived closer to Howard than Piedmont. The principal made arrangements with the Howard district for us to attend Piedmont. This cross district thing is nothing new.
Quote from: flintauqua on December 03, 2011, 07:05:47 PM
There may be Piedmont kids going to West Elk, however they would be going 'out of district' as the Eureka School District clearly includes Piedmont and a small part of Elk County south and west of the town. You can ask the Eureka or West Elk district offices, or either of the Elk or Greenwood Treasurers offices if you do not believe me.
i can tell you that the west elk bus runs right into piedmont picks up and drops off kids. SO that means that piedmont kids go to west elk. Doesn't matter if the picture your looking at says otherwise.
I myself quit looking at pictures 43 years ago and actually started reading and observing. Today i don't even bother with pictures.
The fact remains that Piedmont is in the Eureka school district. A West Elk bus picking up kids in Piedmont means that they have permission from the Eureka district to attend West Elk. The bus doesn't stop at the district line. It picks up it's district's students no matter where they live. The map says that Piedmont is in the Eureka school district. A West Elk bus picking up kids in Piedmont does not change the district that Piedmont is in. Now, is that clear enough.
Quote from: srkruzich on December 04, 2011, 10:36:18 AM
I myself quit looking at pictures 43 years ago and actually started reading and observing. Today i don't even bother with pictures.
Steve, I do believe looking at boundaries drawn on a map by an unit of government is a bit different than "looking at pictures."
An online representation of a map on a state department website is still a map, not simply a picture.
Perhaps you could walk into the Elk County Treasurer's Office and look at the map hanging on her wall if it would mean more to you.
And I never said there weren't Piedmont students attending West Elk. I said if they were then they are considered "out of district", just as there are West Elk students attending "out of district" at some or all of the following: Elk Valley, Eureka, Chautauqua County Community, Central, Fredonia.
There's notoriety, for teaching. Bravo!
At least they got nominated.
5 KS Schools to Compete for Blue Ribbon Honors
Date: December 22, 2011
State Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker has announced the five Kansas schools she will nominate for the 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award Program. The U-S Department of Education program honors schools for closing achievement gaps among student populations and achieving certain academic goals. DeBacker said yesterday (WED) that Garden City High School and Marshall Elementary School in Eureka are being nominated as schools with enrollment of at least 40 percent disadvantaged students. Basehor Linwood High School, Blue Valley High School in Stilwell and Goddard High School were selected as nominees for being in the top 15 percent in reading and math on statewide assessments. National winners will be announced in September 2012.
http://www.kansaspublicradio.org/newsstory.php?itemID=33193
So?
Quote from: Wilma on December 22, 2011, 04:47:37 PM
So?
So there is a real goal for the school board president to strive for, for notoriety.
So, don't you appreciate the efforts that went into reaching being nominated as a BLUE RIBBON school?
No big deal to educate versus football, huh?
Ross, are you being serious or sarcastic? I can't quite read you.
Newark Charter is a Blue Ribbon School too and I know how hard those kids work and how dedicated the teachers are to those kids. It's nice to be acknowledged! A nomination is a good thing.
They don't now and won't play foot ball at the soon to be built high school either. Too expensive and not a big interest by the parents. Do you support your local schools or not?
Fact is Piedmont is in Eureka School District. West Elk has run a school bus to Piedmont for the last three or four years. Before that the kids drove to Howard or their parents hauled them to Howard and Severy. Eureka also runs a bus to Piedmont, or at least they had one child going to Eureka last year. One student in Piedmont goes to Flinthills, My tax dollars go to the Eureka school district. OF COURSE THAT IS WITHOUT LOOKING AT ANY PICTURES!
Quote from: Diane Amberg on December 22, 2011, 06:36:37 PM
Ross, are you being serious or sarcastic? I can't quite read you.
Newark Charter is a Blue Ribbon School too and I know how hard those kids work and how dedicated the teachers are to those kids. It's nice to be acknowledged! A nomination is a good thing.
They don't now and won't play football at the soon to be built high school either. Too expensive and not a big interest by the parents. Do you support your local schools or not?
Sure I support my school district, I pay my taxes. I don't happen to think they are doing a good enough job. The school board president in my opinion has more interest in sports then education. As mentioned in earlier posts, he thinks sports are importatnt for noteriety. That would only be on a local level and maybe put a feather in the city of Howards cap. But what about a real accomplishment like a blue ribbon school. That would take some real work, right?
I was being a bot of both serious and sarcastic? But seriously is spending more tax dollars for sports the best thing for the children or is it thhe best thing for the parents and the City of Howard. What is the real goal of schooling? Is it really to make headlines on the sports page of the local newspaper?
One of the board members also stated we need a new school superintendent that will do the job right.
I happened to have thought that was a very good point. At schoolboard meetings in the past it was more like the superintendent was in charge at the meetings. It was as though the board and the superintendent both forgot who was the employer and who was the employee. In other words who the boss was, and who was paid to do a job, who workde for who.
I could go on and on but that's enough for now.
I hope you have a great Christmas Diane. I thought we might have a white Christmas because we got a dusting of snow. But the weatherman is predicting 40's today and tomorrow and 50 for Christmas day. So it should be a beautiful day minus the snow.