A committee charged with studying grade configurations in Emporia USD 253 will recommend to the board of education to move fifth graders back to elementary buildings and to build an addition onto Emporia Middle School to house sixth graders.
The committee overwhelmingly choose this option, labeled the blue option, during a meeting tonight. At the end of the meeting the committee members each voted on five different configuration options.
The blue option received 50 votes for educational value and 56 votes for financial value. All other options received single digit votes.
The committee will take its recommendation to the Emporia USD 253 Board of Education on Wednesday night.
Brian Jordan, assistant superintendent of personnel, told the committee members that the board of education could make a decision on grade configurations at that meeting or they could discuss it and make a decision at a future meeting.
For more on this story, see Tuesday's edition of The Emporia Gazette.
citizen1 (anonymous) says...
why dont we move 5th back to the grade schools keep 6th grade down town and move 7th grade to the south building then put the 9th in at the middle school. there is no need for 11 year olds to be in a building with 14 year olds. This is going to cause young CHILDREN to want to grow upeven faster, and more bullying. Think about it people WTH!!!
December 6, 2010 at 10:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I think the goal here is get away from the money pits that are Lowther North and South. Which is understandable given the age of those buildings.
As for your claim about the children growing up faster the same thing could be said about TV, internet, etc. As long as Parents are active and accountable in the child's life the issues you mentioned are not issues.
December 6, 2010 at 11:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I'll bet within two years or so of when they quit using them they will move either offices or some students back into Lowther North and South. Thus necessitating continuing to maintain them just like they have with almost every other school building in this town they have ever decided to close.
Of course that decision won't be made until the new addition has been built on the middle school......then they will decide they still need them anyway.
December 7, 2010 at 5:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
citizen1 (anonymous) says...
ok lets just see what you say when a 14 year old ends up on the kansas sexual pedaphile list for life when he or she is found to be having a relationship with a 6th grader! Weither or not the have sex! something a light fondeling can ruin someones life FOREVER!!!
As for parents being active and accountable in a child's life, doesn't happen as much as it should, and the school district doesn't even hold the kids accountable for there actions as they should. I have seen way to many things happen with in the walls of the schools the last 10 years to know that putting 6th graders at EMS is not a good idea, just wait and see!
December 7, 2010 at 6:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
There are two good options NORTH AND SOUTH lyon county schools.
December 7, 2010 at 7:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Does anyone have any idea what the cost of a new addition to EMS wil/is going to cost, in other words, do you the EBOE have any estimates for the cost of an addition to EMS and do you have any solid, viable estimates as to cost of needed repairs to Lowther North and South ? If so why not make these estimates public, such as publishing them in the Gazette and on Cable One, Radio, etc. and then put your proposals to a vote of the taxpayers and see what the people who will be paying for all of this, say ? Or don' t you the EBOE, believe that the taxpayers of the school district and Emporia should have any say in the education of their/our children and how our tax money should be spent to educate our/their children.
If you, the School District and EBOE truly want education of the school district and Emporia to move forward and become better, you will need to get off your " Hauty/Holier, Mightier than thou, pedestal and try and get the taxpayers involved in the important decision making of educating the children .
What a so called study commitee is just that, a " Study Committee " , not the last and final word in decision making .
I would like to know who served on this Study Commitee and their qualifications as to making such decisions and reccommendations that will undoubtly be either costly or extremely costly to everyone !
My point is, the problem with this Country, City and County is the fact that you have just a few people who think/believe that they are the supreme authority in the making of decisions that will undoubtedly affect the lives, whether adversely or postivly of just about everyone, which most of the time, turns out to be, not a good for anyone, except for those few !
And biscuitboy is all to correct . This particular scenario has happened before !
December 7, 2010 at 7:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
come on sail,
You can't believe this is a good idea?
My question to the board is; will this new addition be built on top of that underground river , or just next to it?
What will be the new name, "Riverside' or "A River Runs Through It"?
December 7, 2010 at 7:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I heard a rumor once, just a rumor mind you.
The a/c units out there at the middle school are run year around, even when the heat is on. It is supposedly done to keep underground water from seeping up through the floors.
Anyone else hear this, or can someone set the record straight?
As it's for the children, I would like to know.
December 7, 2010 at 8 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
You are also correct Steve . When the Middle School was being built, there was a severe Water infiltration problem and I believe this water problem caused some serious cost " Overruns " !
It would seem that this has not been thoroughly thought thru !
But, I guess that is the way things are done in E town ! Leap and then Look ! And if anything goes wrong, throw your arms in the air, scratch your head and arse and say, " Oh, Well " !
December 7, 2010 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Harlu (anonymous) says...
Questions I would like to know...
1. Several years ago, two new schools were built and the 5th graders moved to Lowther, due to over crowding. Will all the 5th graders fit in the elementary schools??
2. What about all the teachers, support staff, etc at the 5th grade...are they ALL going to be absorbed into the elementary schools or will some loose their jobs???
3. Is building an addition on EMS more cost effective and efficient than keeping the Lowther buildings open?? And how much is that addition going to cost, where is the money going to come from???
4. What are they going to do with the Lowther buildings...they are historic buildings and part of Emporia's history?
Monica, do you have more information?
Thank you!
December 7, 2010 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chasecountycrawfords (anonymous) says...
Won't the district still have to "heat" the schools to some extent during the winter months to prevent plumbing problems? Maintaining the apprearance of the buildings until they are sold. There will still be costs involved. What is the demand for closed school buildings anyway?? The kids like being in a school with only their age students. Transitions from elementary school to fifth grade and then to sixth grade and then to EMS are GOOD...they force kids to make new friends and adapt to new situations...thats what we as adults have to do, they have to learn it sometime!
Then there is the cost of adding on to EMS.....is THAT going to be completed by Aug of 2011??? I thought that elementary schools in Emporia were full, is there room to squeeze in 330-ish more students into those buildings???
Did the committee listen to the rest of the communities concerns?? Good luck!
December 7, 2010 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
karmadog (anonymous) says...
Dear Meth, Busc, Corbin, Sail, and Co...
Where are you guys? Why do you continue to sit behind your computers and complain about things?
Way back last spring the school dist put out a call for volunteers on the K-8 Study Committee. Did any of you march down to your neighborhood elementary buildings and say, "Hey, sign me up, this could be important work for the future of all Emporians." I'm guessing you did not since you would not be asking such questions and making such complaints on this site.
All of the information you are asking for is public. There are no secrets in this process. At anytime you could have attended a K-8 meeting. Under open meetings act, those meetings were open, so in fact, even if you missed signing up for the committee you could still have kept yourself informed. All board activity is in the newspaper and on the radio and on the USD253 website and I know you know how to use the internet to gather information. So, where are you?
Several weeks before the November school board meeting, the public was made aware that the board would be soliciting public feedback at the meeting. Were you there? Did you speak up and ask these questions? I can tell you the answer because I was there and NO ONE spoke up during the public comments time. Where were you?
One of you suggested that the board had a holier-than-thou attitude. I'd say that you guys are no better. Not willing to do the work to answer your own questions. Not willing to do the hard work of community service. Instead, waiting for some media outlet to give you the answers on a silver platter or worse, hearing it from a friend of a friend of a friend and taking it for truth.
Honestly, get out from infront of your computers and get involved. Your credibility is declining and your comments are an insult to the good men and women who volunteer in our community. Who step up to the plate to make the hard decisions. Who miss family board game night and little league games to keep this town afloat. Get off your couch and get involved!
December 7, 2010 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodjoss (anonymous) says...
WOW!
PWNED BY KARMADOG!
How quickly the mouthpieces shut up. thanks K!
December 7, 2010 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...
This committee failed. They should have stuck with their family board game night. They obviously are too used to working with Monopoly money.
December 7, 2010 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodjoss (anonymous) says...
or "Megadittoes" Karmadog!
December 7, 2010 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chasecountycrawfords (anonymous) says...
WoW! Someone took their cranky pill! Looks like all YOU have to do KarmaDOG is sit behind your computer and do the same thing....glass house....??
I AM NEW to the community so NO I DIDN'T GET ON THE COMMITTEE! Satisfied! I am involved...I have attended meetings in the school district about the options on the table...I work for the district, in one of the buildings closing as a matter of fact, and I am just asking questions, please don't attack people. I asked if the addition to EMS would be done by Aug 2011. Don't believe I have seen that addressed, simply just asking a question!
December 7, 2010 at 10:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chasecountycrawfords (anonymous) says...
BTW...NOT insulting the committe members! That is a tough job, they made choices they thought were in the best interest of school/kids/community. It is a thank-less job!
December 7, 2010 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
karmadog
Thank you for your input. It is always helpful to have feedback from people. I am especially thankful to hear that I ever had any credibility in the community. That was such good news to hear.
I can't speak for the others but in answer to your question as to why I set behind my computer and complain. First because it is easier to set behind it and complain than to set in front of it and do so........it is quite difficult for me to complain when the key board is upside down. Second I do this because I am paid large amounts of money to do this. It's part of one of the little known economic stimulus programs put forth by the government.
By the way. I read about people setting behind their computers complaining about how a few people dominate these forums.....if we didn't, this thing would be as boring as watching grass grow. But the best way for you and others to decrease my domination is to increase your own participation. Hope to see your smiling face around here more often in the future....You too goodjoss. lol :-)
December 7, 2010 at 10:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Who shut up?????
December 7, 2010 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chasecountycrawfords (anonymous) says...
not I!
December 7, 2010 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Dear Kamradog, goodjoss
One question did you serve on the Study Committee or serve on the ESB ? If so, what are your qualifications for making decisions concerning everyone elses life and what they can afford to pay in taxes and allow to be spent by others ?
If I were on the ESB or your revered Study Committee, you would likely not like nor agree with my particular " Skin Flint, Frugal " approach to spending taxpayer money ! Especially in the current depressed economic situation or any other economic situation for that matter .
I have attended both school board and City and County budget meetings ! And the one impression that I left each meeting that I have attended is the fact that the EBOE, COUNTY and CITY have asked, rather pleaded for suggestions, comments and input from the public/taxpayers .
But, after hearing suggestions/input from the public/taxpayers, just either give the asked for suggestions no credence, thought at all and just go ahead with what they have decided on, even before such public input meetings !
So, if such is the case, could you with your apparent wit and wisdom, please explain, why anyone would even want to attend such meetings or serve on the EBOE, City or County Commissions
in the first place ?
The biggest question any one of these entitys need to ask themselves, first and foremost is " Can the taxpayers afford more spending and taxes at the present time " , " What do the taxpayers think about our proposals ", " Are we going to give the taxpayers proposals and thoughts any consideration at all " and possibly the most important question they need to ask themselves is " Will this apparent big expense do more harm than good to the economy, the lives of taxpayers and what happens if more jobs are lost after the spending has been done or even starts ?
Unless the EBOE, CITY, COUNTY have a crystal ball that fortells what the future holds, these are all things those who serve on the above and who must remember that they serve you/us the taxpayers, need to ask themselves, before even considering spending and taxing or borrowing in order to get what they want, regardless of the consequences.
I have considered running for CITY COMMISSIONER, EMPORIA SCHOOL BOARD, COUNTY COMMISSIONER . However my way of thinking, philosophy and way of seriously thinking things out and considering the future consequences of my actions, does not and will not conform to the thinking, philosophy of wanting, spending, taxing, needlessly inorder to get what some/few want, transform into something else or be like someone or something else !
I as well as everyone wants to move all of us toward the future, but that move cannot be accomplished overnight and no amount of spending will get you into the future, without burdening future generations with a mountainous debt to have to pay for !
December 7, 2010 at 11:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Dear Karmadog,
I am sitting at my computer complaining because I got tired of going to meetings, voicing my concerns and being ignored. Letters and e-mails to those fine volunteers on the school board or commissioners don't seem to help much either.
Why get out in the cold to voice my opinions to people who have already made up their minds? I am going to continue complaining over on the other thread about this.
December 7, 2010 at 12:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Correct me if i am wrong, but aren't most of those public comment sessions required by statute. And isn't that the primary reason they are held is to satisfy that statute requirement before they go ahead and do what they have already decided to do anyway.
December 7, 2010 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Wrong, karmadog. On a number of occasions, I have telephoned board members and e-mailed them regarding one or another issue. Only ONE has taken the time to ever answer my e-mail and I have received NO returned calls by phone from any of them.
I believe biscuit is right.
December 7, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )