Future bond?

Given this week’s economic news, I thought I’d ask your thoughts on an important financial issue facing the district. As many of you know, our school board will be discussing the need for another bond issue in the next few months.

We’ve been open with stakeholders in the past about our plans to ask for a new bond about every three years. You approved bonds in 2000, 2003 and 2006. Adhering to that plan would mean placing a new bond request on the April 2009 ballot, a decision which must be made no later than January.

With more than 50 school buildings, we will always have facility needs. But as members of this community, we have to balance our needs with those of our stakeholders. Should we keep to our plan and request a tax increase in 2009? How would it affect you and your family? Is it fair to delay our bond request and make students in the remaining 25 percent of buildings wait for air conditioning?

I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Boundary and Facility Usage Review

I hope headlines and comments about a few proposed alternates don’t overshadow the good that can come from the comprehensive Boundary and Facility Usage Review we initiated this summer.

Such discussions can be unsettling for students and families but I want to remind everyone they are just that at this point—discussions. We want to know what our stakeholders think about these proposals and hear their suggestions for alternative solutions.

I received a comment via my blog about closing neighborhood schools. The reader stated:
“I beg you to not go down the slippery slope that the closing of neighborhood schools brings to families, to economies and eventually to the school district itself. Bigger is not better when it comes to children.”

Two alternates under consideration do propose closing an elementary school and a middle school. The other buildings that could be closed currently house alternative programs. These buildings, Bailey, Berry and Pepperdine, have not been used as traditional school buildings for several years because of their inadequacies.

I agree with the reader that arbitrarily closing schools is ill advised. However, I encourage stakeholders to consider the rationale behind the proposals and envision the positive possibilities they could bring for students. We believe all students deserve a quality learning environment and some of these buildings have limitations that even the most comprehensive renovations cannot address.

Making proactive and strategic decisions now about how to use the resources you provide will ensure Springfield Public Schools continues to thrive along with our community in the future and ensure academic excellence for ALL students.

I encourage you to attend a town meeting Thursday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. in Central High School auditorium to discuss the boundary and facility usage review. You may also read more online and provide your feedback.