Dave,
First off a big THANK YOU for having Minonk Talk, it is one way or the only way some people get information.
After reading the article on public forums set for presenting grade site options posted Friday June 30, 2004 we have some questions and concerns and was wondering if other readers have the same or different concerns.
We have always enjoyed the fact that our son has had the benefit of having small class sizes, that is one great reward of living in a small community. As we read the proposals for grade sites they say in there about class sizes going to 30 - 35, to us that is not a small class size, and does the schools have any clasrooms that can fit that many kids in a classroom?
We are one school district so we do like the options of all classes together and as far as switching buildings, the kids would be able to do it as a class, with their friends, and not be split up because of where you live.
We have trouble understanding this option of closing and / or sale of the South elementary building is a substantial savings. First off when the taxpayers of Fieldcrest passed the referendum to build on to South, how many years was that for, how many years will our taxes keep going up for that referendum? If South gets closed or sold are we the taxpayers of Fieldcrest still gonna be paying for South even though it is closed? Or will our taxes go down? Also if South gets closed are the other buildings big enough for the extra students? Or in a couple years will the taxpayers be asked for another referendum because of overcrowding?
In the list under costs it states that : add an additional science lab at Wenona, what or who will be paying for that addition, or can the space we have now be utilized? Again on the costs list it states that it would become necessary to make all buildings ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant (possible with any change from the current configuration.) Isn't South ADA compliable? If South is ADA compliable, then why close it? One more thing under costs it states district could operate with 4 administrators (as we are currently doing), did South get a new principal? We have 4 buildings now South, High School, East and West which all have principals, why would we need 5 administrators, that is if administrators are principals.
The committee developed a chart to show current student population and projections for 2004 - 2005. There will also be a chart to indicate differences in Revenue (income) as part of the various funds for the district, but more importantly, for the Education fund. The three configuration proposals will be shown on large charts indicationg low, medium and high savings for each of the proposals. No monetary figures will be indicated. Why wont they show the savings figures?
Under the category it states: The establishment of an intramural program would provide an avenue for the district to continue offering sports opportunities to the students. Bigger team pool available at junior high level; but school size changes to AA classification at junior high level. We hope that the decision on what or if there is a decision made on what to do does not hinder on sports or what classification, ect. The sports programs, and all the extras are nice but we feel education should come first. Isn't the activities and praticipations fees (which started this school year 2004 - 2005) supposta pay for the extras?
Lastly Dave as we have said before "THANK YOU" for the Minonk talk it is a way to get information, but you have to wonder how many people have access to the internet? Or was this information posted elsewhere? We know that this is the only place we have read about it. We are really sad that our school district can not (or will not) send out newsletters. Sending out newsletters through the mail is a sure way that all the residents of Fieldcrest schoold district can / did get school related information. Which brings me to the fact that school registration was earlier this year. Normally it has been around the 2nd week of August. Why did it get changed this year or why we were not informed is beyond us. School registration dates and times or school start date are not even on the school website, wonder why not? If the school district sent out newsletters through the mail, everyone would have been informed.
Think that is called "Communication"
Thanks
Randy and Peggy Winters