 Todd DormanTodd Dorman is a columnist for The Gazette. His blog has been bringing smiles to readers' faces since November 2007. |
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School leaders promise next big facilities process will be open
The long Polk Elementary saga I detailed a week ago is over, but the Cedar Rapids School District is preparing to embark on a major new facilities study process that we should all be watching.
Later this summer, the district will begin an eight-month process aimed at creating a “Facilities Master Plan” to guide the district for years to come. There will be discussions on the future of older core neighborhood schools, such as Harrison Elementary, and of the possibility of new schools, either in the core or the growing urban outskirts. All of these facilities decisions will be wrapped in a discussion of how teaching and learning should drive them.
A 15-20-member Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee, including members from the district, City Hall and business community, will look at the bricks and mortar. An eight- to 12-member Instructional Visioning Committee, with members from the district, local colleges and the community, will look at educational issues.
The instructional side starts meeting in August. The facilities committee begins in September. Architecture-engineering firm Shive-Hattery is facilitating both groups. A final report is due to the Board of Education in March.
The question is, will this process, unlike the one that led us to Polk’s fate, be open from day one?
Superintendent Dave Benson and School Board President John Laverty have assured us that it will be an open process, from the beginning. Some details have yet to be worked out, but it appears openness will be a priority.
If that vow holds up, it’s good news. It’s proof that although the Polk saga led to a disappointing result, the district is now listening to those of us who want future paths leading to critical decisions to become much more transparent.
Clearly, this should be a wide-open process. The reasons aren’t tough to surmise. These buildings and the instruction that goes on inside them are paid for by taxpayers, many with children directly impacted by whatever master plan emerges. This school district belongs to its residents, and they should be present when big public policy decisions are being manufactured. And their elected school board should betaking the lead. Decisions on the future of schools will have a deep community impact, on neighborhoods, businesses, other government institutions.
And, again, this isn’t all about media access. It’s about allowing folks to watch, understand and contribute. The district appears to understand that as facilities take center stage again. And we’ll be watching, closely.
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Every step of the educational process needs to be open and transparent. For this, I hope I can applaud the Cedar Rapids School District on future actions. That said, the process needs to be open to constructive input and not emotion. Any school closing or any redistricting is subject to emotional arguments and always will be. But we are still ruled (or should be) by what’s best for the majority. And, unfortunately, that’s frequently not “its my kid’s school and I love it” or similar sentiment.
Thank you Todd for letting us know about this before it even begins. Ann Rosenthal stated at the very end of the meeting when Polk was closed that they needed to” look at closing Taylor and Harrison now”. As Vice-President of the Taylor Area Neighborhood Association (TANA) this is something I and my neighbors will be watching very carefully as Taylor is the only school in our neighborhood.
It’s been brought to my attention that the upcoming process will be introduced at this Monday’s (June 25th) school board meeting. I encourage all that may be the slightest bit concerned for their school to attend this meeting and speak out about the transparency that is expected. Remind the board of the fact that we are watching… CAREFULLY! We’re not going to let another school close without having the appropriate weapons for the fight. I’m certain that Todd will help but he’s only one man. We all need to gather together, hold individuals accountable for their recent actions, and do what we need to do as citizens (with our without children in our district) to protect our schools. We need to see what it takes to bring children back to the schools and prevent any more drops in enrollment. Unfortunately, this is a Catch 22. The district threatens that if enrollment doesn’t rise, schools will be closed but how do you entice people to go to schools when they’re afraid of having the district’s cross-hairs focused on their neighborhood? Actions need to be taken and we all need to be diligent and aware. If we fail, Taylor and Harrison are next. We all know this.
DA said, “…We’re not going to let another school close without having the appropriate weapons for the fight”
A little disappointing to read this. Most of the time when a district votes to close a school it has been discussed and researched ad nauseum. I would suggest that when a board makes that decision most of the time it is the right decision. But as Ann noted much of the discussion is centered on one’s emotion.
It appears Dan has already decided that closing a school, any school, for any reason, is wrong and he is ready to fight it. Making a decision without the necessary information generally leads to poor decisions. It certainly does not invoke a lot of confidence from others with respect to the validity of one’s opinion.
Why did the school not look at everything before closing a school. This can not be done piece meal. This is are kids future we are talking about. Lets get some leaders in are school who are not afaid of doing the right thing.
Agreed, Doug. These are the lives of children and families we’re talking about. No, I don’t trust the school board. None of us should. Not after the debacle that was the Taj Mahal. Superintendent Marquardt NEVER would have let a school close and NEVER would have allowed such a monstrosity of a building. Closing schools can be wrong if there is no serious justification. We’ve seen that the justification for targeting Polk has never been explained to us. Hence my lack of confidence in the school board. I’ve been in the trenches. I’ve gotten to know people at both of the schools they closed. What’s your resume?