Sorry if a garble something here, but this is breaking as I write, and I want to get the message out.
Destinations/Dueling Grounds is making space available from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. TODAY (doors open a bit before and after these times) for a meeting for ANYONE to come and organize/discuss ideas/exchange strategies about prospective school closings. Drinks will be available from the cafe.
Note that NA Confidential is happy to offer this blog space for publishing anything that neighborhood organizers wish to disseminate.
I wish I could go...
ReplyDeleteTo anyone there who wants to share thoughts and resources, holler. I'm interested...
What is needed is an immediate strategy to toss a spanner in the works and buy time. These folks are ready to go to work, but the writ's coming way to fast for them.
ReplyDeleteIt is being reported here at the meeting that Rep. Clere is powerless to render assistance. I'll leave it to others to interpret this expression of political impotence.
Instead of the usual reactionary stance, perhaps something "actionary" regarding local education. If there is in fact a neighborhood group willing to organize and do the work, establishing Silver Street as a "Charter School" might be an idea worth exploring.
ReplyDeleteI'm willing ... maybe even capable (?). The problem is time they're not giving us. Further, this is about the entire school system and how it will affect all students, homes, and potentially the city as a whole, not just Silver Street (as much as I love and want to save the school).
ReplyDeleteWe're now living what a majority voted for in 2008.
ReplyDeleteMuch like tolls on neighborhood destroying bridges, we wait until the last minute in the hopes that a Hail Mary pass will save us and in those rare moments when it does, we'll credit the wrong people and faith as a means to ignore our own passive aggressive apathy as the originating culprit.
When Mary fails us, we'll blame the system we constructed as if it has nothing to do with our own decisions, preaching personal responsibility all the while.
It's awfully early to be waiting for the 22nd century, don't you think?
What Jeff said is VERY true. In a rush to save some annual money on property taxes a few years ago, this is the price we all, no scratch that, this is the price our children will pay for.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the public meetings with the school board, not that there is much they can do, but it is very unlikely there is anything they will do. Their minds were made up long ago.
Kathy, I read were you said that the school board would only be able to use 5% of the capital fund. Things might have changed since May 5th. I know that you are more up to date on matters.
ReplyDeleteA total of 10% may make a difference.
From ISTA May 5
Last night and signaling movement toward agreement, lawmakers working on the school emergency funding bill (HB 1367) offered a conference committee report to provide school districts with some flexibility to transfer money among funds to offset their share of the $298 million statewide cut.
For the 2010-2011 school year, districts could transfer money among any of their funds (other than debt service and the racial balance fund) to a maximum amount that is based on 10% of a district’s capital projects fund (CPF) 2010 certified levy.
If a district elects to transfer an amount of money that is equal to not more than 5% of its CPF 2010 levy, there are no stipulations except that the school board must approve a resolution calling for the transfer(s).
If, a district elects to transfer an amount of money that is equal to more than 5% (up to the 10% maximum) of its CPF 2010 levy, then the district must certify in a resolution adopted by the school board that the employees of the school district will not receive a general compensation increase in taxable wages for the 2010-2011 school year.
For purposes of determining whether there is a general compensation increase under this provision, the proposal specifically excludes increases for increment, compensation paid to a teacher for receiving an advanced degree, and any other taxable wages other than salary.
Wow! Jameson - is that MARCH 5th? I wish I knew what our total CPF budget was. I did just hear from Roger Whaley that we are utilizing CPF - but not the percent.
ReplyDeleteMissed you at the meeting.
BTW, our school board representative is Rebecca Gardenour who is listed in the phone book. (I would think it impolite for me to post her phone number.) Please call her and give her your thoughts and ideas. Other board members are:
ReplyDeleteDon Sakel
Roger Whaley
Leeann Wiseheart
Patricia Badger-Byrd
Neal Smith
Jim Zoeller
If you go to www.nafcs.k12.in.us and click on School Board (across the top) and then on Board members (at the left) you will see all of their email addresses.
I wonder if there's a way to block or delay the sale of the buildings until such time that more community-school minded people can be elected to positions of authority.
ReplyDeleteWith better leadership, it should be possible to make use of the space in more productive ways. If the physical resources are gone, though, that will be much more difficult even if efforts to change leadership at the state and local levels are successful.
I wonder the same. Maybe a lawyer will chime in.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jeff~
ReplyDeleteThe rumor mill (which can't be confirmed) is that there's been a very interested buyer laying in wait for several years.
The idea that a humble place like ours could be a, or the, "salon" of our city, was (is) a dream of my beloved's. At moments like these, we are proud to provide a venue for discourse.
ReplyDeleteThe meeting itself was, at first, traumatic and poignant, but soon it became vital and productive. Though we were only a conduit, as servants to the activists, we're proud to have been instrumental in our small way. Let's all hope that the open conversation leads to progress in our joint desire to improve our community.
And thanks, Roger, for using your influential and immediate medium to foster such discussions.
There's no reason, by the way, that such congregations can't continue beyond Monday's enormously important set-point for New Albany and Floyd County.
Contribute! Write your thoughts! Time is short! A few decision-makers are still reachable, a few have not hardened their hearts and determined that there is no use in resisting the "inevitable,". A few understand that decisions have consequences. A remnant fight a rear-guard against ignorance and acquiescence to dissolution.
Your activism can have an enormous effect. Kathy Ayres, the avatar for us all in this school closings War, can use your enthusiasm, your passion, your encouragement in our joint effort to stop the lazy, regressive dissolution of our local educational system.
Fire yourselves up and give 'til it hurts, folks. Pick up the phone and call your elected officials and tell them that closing schools is anathema.
Sorry, Kathy I didn't see the notice for Sunday’s meeting in enough time. I went past Destinations but it was to late.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I did attend Monday's meeting.
I stayed until 11:00 to make sure I didn't miss anything. I truly hope that the school board will consider other options and prolong any decisions.
I know that I have not invested as mush time as people like you, Kathy, but I’m sadden to see some of the Silver Street supporters say things as if Silver Street is a lost cause.
The school board elections are still open for those who wish to run as an independent. The deadline to file is later than if someone was to run on a party ticket. At least I think it is. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
But now that Galena parents are experiencing what Silver Street parents have dealt with for some years. There maybe enough support to find four independent candidates for school board that will make an independent decision. Even if the vote happens it can be changed before the next school year.
It's okay Jameson - it was a quick throw together. We did the best we could to get the word out, but weekends are busy for everybody.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see you tonight, but it was a packed house and I was down at the front.
I'm sorry if you had hoped I would speak about Silver Street and I disappointed you. I think the reason you're not hearing much said about Silver Street is because we've all said it over and over. We know they know how we all feel. But there were a few really good plugs for the school - at least I thought.
The deadline for even a write-in was February 19th. Sorry.
Yes, I agree, out of the the four schools Silver Street and Gelena had the greatest support. And I was glad to see that some supporters of both schools wearing the yellow shirts.
ReplyDeleteI would say that Gelena had the majority support.
I understand how individuals like yourself must feel. All I'm saying is don't give up just yet.
Has there been any talk about any potential school board independent candidates? Embarrassingly, I don't know who is running.
I was in the back with Vicky
P.S.
ReplyDeleteI guess hearing supporters for Silver Street publicly ask the school board to make the best decision for the school after it is closed is getting ahead of the game for me.
I noticed when the lady from Gtown using Galena in the past tense and speaking as if it was already closed the Galena people let her know that was not the case.
For the most part I think you would agree things were very civil.
Other than the 3 min lady but I guess we would still be there otherwise.
One of the main reasons I was trying to reach out to the public on Sunday was because I'd heard so many people resigned to this being "absolute" with no recourse. I desperately want people to understand that there are some serious consequences to this plan to consider and because of those, this could possibly be voted down.
ReplyDeleteYes - I agree that things were civil, but I think the school corporation did a pretty good job of creating a civil format for that. My only wish would have been that Roger Whaley would have asked everyone to hold their applause to the end of each person's talk, since everyone was limited to three minutes and the applause made it hard to hear them as they continued to speak.
Many people have asked me why I'm not running for school board. Not only did I invest every waking moment into what FOSSE did for 18 months, that took a harsh toll on my health and our family. Further, would anyone want to be in any of those school board member's shoes today? However, after so many people shared their wishes with me that I would run, I considered doing so as a write-in. However, by then, the deadline for even a write-in had passed. So, while I can't run for school board I want everyone to understand that my passion and "fight" has always come from the place inside of me that it should inside every school board member. I love Silver Street - I really, really do and for MANY substantial reasons - but I've ALWAYS seen the bigger picture of how this could negatively impact and disrupt students as well as the entire community. Sadly, I think all of us were pre-judged last year as being sentimental fools and that our "cause" was simply because we were emotionally attached to one small school that they don't think very much of (or they'd have invested more CPF into it over the years). But this is why I wore a yellow shirt last night - - there IS a big picture and I support ALL of the schools and want them to realize that the primary Silver Street "speaker" cares about all of them. I DO NOT want to see Galena closed at all! Just like Silver Street - why mess with something that works and works well just because it's "small" or "landlocked." Obviously, being small and landlocked don't hamper good educations! As for Pine View - it's the only school on the west side of New Albany and then CANA was next. Why are we shutting down the west end and forcing those children to spend more time commuting to and from school each day? There is no logic. My PASSION is to focus on figuring out WHY our four-star schools work and using those strategies to help us improve the performance of the schools that need and would gladly welcome a guiding hand. Facilities should be safe, climate controlled, etc., etc. ... worrying about age, green space, age, land locked, age, bells and whistles, age ... we're focusing on the wrong things ... or thing ... it always boils down to money - even when the economy was decent. And sadly, right now they're so concerned with the money aspect that they can't very well focus on the whole reason to have a school corporation to begin with.
I'm not catching your 3 minute lady reference ... enlighten me. I'm very tired, foggy-headed and a little bit blonde.
"My PASSION is to focus on figuring out WHY our four-star schools work and using those strategies to help us improve the performance of the schools that need and would gladly welcome a guiding hand."
ReplyDeleteI asked myself this question often.
Being some what familiar with how qualified teachers are these days I am upset when the President of the United States and other public officials place blame on failing schools solely on teachers and principals but failing to mention the important role parents and students play.
President Obama seems to be a very sincere person but when he advocates the firing of half the teachers at a failing school to me he either doesn't understand anything about public schools or he is politicizing.
I know you can take the same teachers from SEJ and move them to Galena and the children at Galena will do just as well. It happens every year. You can also make the reverse happen with expected results.
I'm sorry but I not as familiar with school board elections but I do know New Albany is not well represented and that it would take more than one person on the board to make a difference.
There's a lot that comes into play, such as districting, programs, etc. The schools that are struggling absolutely need to have small class sizes and full-time aids. These students need some one-on-one time with instructors to help them learn how to study, how to be self-starters, how to stay on task, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe actual "city" is not represented. Rebecca Gardenour is our representative and she actually lives somewhere around the Green Valley neighborhood, I believe. While that's still city, we need someone from the HEART of the city. If I'm not mistaken, most of the rest of the board members are scattered to the fringes of Floyd County, none of which are here in the East end.