Posted by Speaking Just For Me on February 17, 2007 at 16:41:29 (EST):
In Reply to: Re: School Board Meeting, Part 2 posted by Puff Daddy on February 17, 2007 at 16:26:31 (EST):
: : : : : : : : : : : Think about this. Even if we would get the "super school", and they would be able to offer more advanced classes and let kids succeed even more at their education, have more chances at scholarships, ect, do you really think they are going to come back here after their college educations are finished? No, they are going to go where the job markets are good, and that certainly isn't here. Kids should get every opportunity possible, but this is just a fact.
: : : : : : : : : : I do not think this is necessarily relevant, because we are looking to better the education for our children. If they want to leave, then they should have that option. There is nothing here.
: : : : : : : : : : But, I also think you are correct when you tie the consolidation in with the economic developement of this area. Where in the world have you ever heard that if you build a super high school that the companies will come flocking to the area? Look throughout Western PA. They will say anything to sell this flawed bag of goods.
: : : : : : : : : : The economic development of this area and other areas throughout the state and country are much, much bigger issues than this school district.
: : : : : : : : : Your comments may be accurate but places may change. If you give high school students a place they can be proud of, there may be more that stick around and create local business. What they see now is a couple of dead towns with ancient schools falling down around them. A new facility may instill a sense of pride in the overall community and would not mind returning to the area to work and live.
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: : : : : : : : If you have quality employment opportunities in the area, they will come. Building a new school does not bring employers. That is not a myth. It is the truth. All you have to do is look around the region. Even the once high growth areas with new schools are losing employers and their enrollments are dropping.
: : : : : : : : I am honest in saying that I am open for anybody to give me an example of a school that was built and it attracted employers. I would learn something, seriously. I could be totally wrong, but I would just like to see an example of this.
: : : : : : : : Off the subject a little bit, we have a brand new IUP facility and a new Penn State facility up in North Pointe, and that place still cannot attract employers.
: : : : : : : First off, Nobosy is asking for a "Super School". With a graduating class of maybe 300, a "Super School is not needed.
: : : : : : : Second, why don't businesses move into Armstrong county? Because our taxes are 50% to 100% higher than our surrounding communities and why? Because we have to keep our pathetic school building operable. If we had one high school for the district like Freeport, Indiana, and Kiski Area, we might even be able to lower our taxes and businesses may be able to move in and keep their heads above water. Been to Sarver lately? It's looking like Cranberry did 10 years ago. Look where Cranberry is now! Why should be sit back and be fine with what we have while the world around us passes us by. Maybe you've given up and are looking forward to a ghost town. I for one am not. Consolidate schools and revitalize this dying community.
: : : : : : : Third, Why should we pay $130 million to fix our old schools when a new state of the art school would be much less?
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: : : : : : First of all, the 130 million amount is if you would renovate every school as top of the line. There were an awful lot of options presented that the school board could use any of them, none of them, or in between. It seems like people that just want a new school jump on that last figure like it is the only option. Another thought. I remember when the Mothman movie was in town all the complaining about the traffic! Letters to the editor and on this board. Just imagine if we were like Cranberry. Then people would complain about that all over again. It sounds to me that anyone comparing us to Freeport or one of the other districts doesn't get out of the FC-Kittanning boundaries much in our school district. You just assume that we should just have one school like Freeport because you are only looking at your immediate area. As I said before, there is NO comparison because we are so spread out. Our school district is the fifth largest in area out of 501 school districts. Dancu even stated we are unique because of that. If it was such a simple matter don't you think we wouldn't be having this discussion right now? Maybe you want to live in an area where my only choice is one high school within 400 square miles, but I don't. I know kids that get on the bus now at 6:00 am. Is that what you want for your kids? I don't.
: : : : : I really don't think they will close the Kittanning Bridge if we have economic development. That is what caused the traffic problems with the Mothman. All you need to do is ask the graduates of Armstrong Central and they will tell you how much they liked being in the larger school. People talk about this school like there will be 1000 students in a graduating class. With everyone combined they will graduate less than 300. The district has turned down large sums of money for builings that are currently sitting empty(Shannock Valley, Dayton). I don't know why but if they sold them they would have a nice downpayment on a new school. I guess people think if it was good enough for them, why can't it be good enough for everyone else. The idea is to make a better world for each generation that enters it, not enjoy my sloppy seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths....
: : : : : You may not want a better life for generations to come but I do. Don't fear change, embrace it!
: : : : I have talked to many people who attended Armstrong Central; some aspects were liked and some aspects were disliked. I do not think you are going to be able to substantiate that the Armstrong Central pilot was some great thign taken away from the children. I think at best, the opinions were mixed with no clear and decisive opinon.
: : : : You sound like the Rev. Jim Jones trying to make the naysayers to come and drink the kool-aid.
: : : : "Don't fear change, embrace it!"
: : : : No thanks, especially if it puts our schools district into a heaping debt just so some people could be appeased with a new school for noteriety and sports teams. I have not heard anything about the students being under some kind of duress of not being given a good education. We have had students get accepted in recognized colleges and universities across the country, so how did the system fail them?
: : : : Embrace it yourself, and bring your checkbook with you.
: : : We have the lowest test scores in the area. How's that for not giving our students a good education. I will have my checkbook with me because if I have to spend it on something, it might as well be the kids in our area.
: : Can you show me those stats? Prove a link?
: : Also, even if that is the ultimate case, is that a problem with the buildings or the the way they are being taught? How is a new super school goign to raise those test scores? It will be the same teachers, correct? Or, are you telling me that maybe it is the color of the classrooms? Green for Science, red for Math, etc. Sounds like there is a problem with the learning processes and has little to do with a school.
: : Hey, if you are willing to pull out your checkbook just to pay for fancy and materialistic school, good for you. I do not think others will be as generous.
: That is the main problem, isn't it. Just check out www.paayp.com. It has report cards for each district. A summary of our area's districts and % of students below proficient:
: ASD- Math 31%, Reading 31%
: Freeport- Math 22%, Reading 20%
: Kiski Area- Math 21%, Reading 17%
: Burrell- Math 26%, Reading 20%
: Indiana- Math 28%, Reading 24%
: Read 'em and weep. All those other districts have one high school. Where's your data?
: I know you will blame the teachers but they are doing their best with ancient labs and the builings fall apart around them.
: You are the one who's not getting it. See if those two brain cells you have bumping together can wrap around those numbers.
It will take me some time to digest these numbers, but you need labs for Math and Reading? I need three things to teach Reading.
1)Pupil
2)Teacher
3)Reading Material
What in the heck would you need a lab for? Same goes with Math. I was taught Calculus with a teacher, a book and blackboard. Are you saying we need labs to teach kids Reading and Math??