Surprise! Not.

Don’t you just love surprises? I told you a couple of weeks ago that I heard mumblings of redistricting. But to be honest, since the current district policy had come through the policy review committee with no changes, other than ones I made correcting some minor inconsistencies in the stated, current boundaries, I wasn’t immediately concerned. Then I received the board meeting agenda with attachments last Wednesday.

I’m sure I was as shocked as the people that received letters this Saturday informing them that they may have a new school next year. I almost choked on my cappuccino when I read the letter that was mailed. Listen to the reasons given for this move:

• Overcrowding enrollment at Price and DeWitt Elementary Schools.
• Under enrollment and under utilization of building and staff at Preston and Silver Lake Elementary Schools.
• The need to create a more equitable distribution of class sizes district-wide.
• The need to create available classroom space for the expansion to all day kindergarten in anticipation of the state mandate. All-day kindergarten could begin in the 2010-2011 school year.

Sound familiar? It should because it’s the same points I made in my reconfiguration proposal. Except for the all day K piece. I mean I put all day K in it, but I didn’t know about the state mandate at the time, that was just forward thinking on my part.

I continued to read the letter with the taste of irony on my lips. After all, I’ve been asking for a “comprehensive reconfiguration” since the district closed Newberry and Sill. I remember the promises made. Although many may not remember this one, I do. Three years ago, I was told that the Plan for Excellence committee studied this and decided it wasn’t needed. Two years ago, I was told the same thing. A year ago I was just ignored.

Then about 8 months ago, the board was told that things were lookin’ bad. Real bad. Bad, bad , Leroy Brown bad. We need to pass renewals and get a new levy passed. The members were asked for ideas to save money, retain current programming, and balance the books. I worked for months on my ideas. My friends and family thought I was crazy to care so much. I probably was. But I was brought up to believe that if you’re going to do something, do it right.

I put my presentation on the November agenda. One member was absent and the board president walked out shortly after I started. In other words, interest was low. But I pressed on knowing that it wasn’t necessarily a perfect plan, or an all around likeable plan, but at least it created equity, financial impact, and most importantly- academic benefit. Oh- and don’t forget- all day kindergarten. Yes it affects everyone, yes it’s totally different from the configuration we have now, and OMG yes it utilizes the Newberry building. There, that’s all out of the way.

The inequities in class size, per pupil spending in addition to socioeconomic and academic disparities across our district are shameful. But rather than make some tough lasting decisions, the people of Cuyahoga Falls are once again being asked to sacrifice their children and schools so that certain areas can maintain their status quo. Another knee jerk reaction to appease particular segments of the district. This has nothing to do with all day kindergarten. First of all this is still a State of Ohio pipe dream and second, in the current economy the legislature is going to have a hard time mandating further costs on cash strapped school districts.

So will we have to shift the children of Cuyahoga Falls in 4 or 5 more years as enrollment continues to decline? Or are we willing to make some tough moves now that will be lasting? Make no mistake; these constant, unexpected upheavals of children are detrimental to performance scores, community support and participation, and most importantly a child’s psyche.

I wanted to have a public forum on this issue. Ohio Revised Code says that either the Treasurer, the board president, or two board members may call a special meeting of the board. I tried today to get another member to agree with me to call a special meeting of the board. They were not interested. They wanted to meet first with the Superintendent and see if they could get him to make some changes to the boundary changes. Hmmmm... Looks like some other neighborhoods better watch out. And why are they presenting ideas now? Wasn’t this supposed to be done months ago?

Apparently they want input, and I assume if they get their way, yours will be unimportant. I will try again tomorrow to convince another member to call a special meeting. Hopefully someone will come to their senses. The lack of providing a venue for public participation is appalling.

Oh and remember the needing renewal and new levy part? No worries. I was told that someone looked into this and the affected neighborhoods generally vote no on levies anyway. Whew! We wouldn’t want to mess with neighborhoods that have money!