Editor, Times-Union: As you know, on Sept. 15 the Warsaw Community School Board of Trustees voted to close three rural elementary schools, Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake, at the end of this school year.
Due to the negative impact of this decision on the children of WCS and the potential stifling effects on the growth and development of our community, we would like to invite your membership in a recently formed group called Concerned Citizens for Quality Education. The goal and attitude of the organization's members is to give a quality life and education to the children and to provide quality input to the WCS school board. In addition, we feel it is necessary to work toward keeping our schools fiscally responsible and accountable to the parents, taxpayers and our community.
Through your encouraged participation and with adequate financial support, we hope to pursue a more feasible solution than the currently imposed changes.
Please join me for our next meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw. I look forward to seeing you there.
All donations will be appreciated and should be made payable to: CCQE, mailed to: CCQE Treasurer, P.O. Box 353, Warsaw, IN 46581
Dan Spangle Silver Lake via e-mail
Entertaining Article
Editor, Times-Union: I found the article on the school board very entertaining on Tuesday. This is my favorite quote : "The proposed closings are projected to save approximately $300,000 the first year, and more than $600,000 in subsequent years, McGuire said. But the issue of aging buildings still will need to be addressed in the future." Claypool School is 17 years old if I have my facts straight. There are three buildings in our district that are younger. They are the high school, Eisenhower and Harrison.
Those buildings are about 10 years old. Does that mean they will need replaced in seven years? That is the concern, right, Mr. McGuire? Small aging buildings? Claypool wouldn't be a small school if you added on like Dr. Harman was planning. Silver Lake, Claypool, some Eisenhower and Jefferson kids that live on that side of town could all go there. The district lines are very close together. That would be a big school, right? Then Jefferson kids could go to Eisenhower and send some Eisenhower kids to Washington. (Since there is room, according to that article, to absorb Claypool and Silver Lake kids.) Why build a school in Winona when those kids live so close to Eisenhower and Claypool? I don't live on the south side, but this makes more sense to me. It also seems like less busing. I wouldn't want my 6-year-old to ride the bus for an hour and a half. Heck, I wouldn't want to ride that long ... three hours a day is too much commuting. I challenge you to do that before and after work every day, Mr. McGuire, and see how your job performance is. If you aren't willing to drive to Silver Lake and back before and after work every day for the rest of your term, then don't make those kids do it for 12 years.
Kami Rhodes Leesburg via e-mail
Cost Of Closing Schools
Editor, Times-Union: These figures were presented to the WCS Board on Sept. 15. These are the same figures Mr. McGuire disputed without looking at them or asking one question about them. I am submitting them to the public. If anyone has any questions about how I came up with these, please free to e-mail me at hopeful_one_@hotmail.com
Actual Financial Effect Closing Silver Lake Elementary
Annual COST to close Silver Lake Elementary - 4,575
In a report, WCS' projected potential maximum cost savings for closing Silver Lake School included the elimination of all salaries, wages and benefits at the school. Each person has been assured they will have a job. Those costs will not be saved by closing the school:
Librarian - $16,226 Administration - $65,994 Principal secretary - $19,188
Custodian - $43,212 Benefits (split three ways) - $50,641
In that same report, WCS' projected potential maximum cost savings for closing Silver Lake School included the elimination of custodial and utility costs. The cost to the Transportation Fund was not taken into account when showing cost savings. The Transportation Fund cost increase has been calculated based on adding one bus. Some of the following costs will be saved, but some of the custodial and utility costs will increase because of the added number of students at Washington:
Custodial supplies - $(5,200)
Gas heat - $(23,911) Water - $ (3,734) Lights - $(13,859) Computed added costs at Washington - $18,587
Net actual cost savings to General Fund - $(28,117)
Computed Transportation Fund cost increase - $32,692
Annual cost to close Silver Lake Elementary - $4,575
There were no other cost savings projected in the report by WCS Report dated 8/19/03.
Added costs do not include cost of portables, added repairs and renovations, new school bus, costs of redistricting, cost of maintaining closed schools and others.
Similar computations are available for Claypool and Atwood. Same conclusion.
WCS' report of Projected Potential Maximum Cost Savings for Closing Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake is available.
Computations of added costs at Washington and transportation cost increase are available.
Angela Fulton Silver Lake via e-mail
Atwood
Editor, Times-Union: Dear Students, Faculty and Parents of Atwood School:
As the final chapter was written last week in the long debated school closings, it is with sadness on your behalf that I write this letter.
It has been apparent to all of us in this community how much devotion you have to the students and staff at Atwood school. You should be very proud of your community for the integrity you showed.
Please know that our hearts go out to you as you bid farewell to your wonderful school. We want you to know that our Madison family welcomes you with open arms and looks forward to meeting each and every one of you.
Please let us know how we can make this transition easier for you. Our thoughts are with you at this time.
Shelley Holderman President Madison PTO via e-mail
Local Band
Editor, Times-Union: I just bought a CD at Karma Records by a local band called Sirface that blew me away. It is nice to finally see or rather hear a local Warsaw band that sounds this awesome get a CD out. Recorded in Syracuse at Tim Bushong's T Bush studio and then mastered in New York somewhere these, guys have pulledoff probably one of the best CDs of original music I have ever heard.
If you like what I call the techno-hard rock scene, then you have got to hear these guys. Thanks, Sirface, for some great music and a great CD!
