WILLYARD: Transfer, Please!

by Jennifer Willyard and Becky Fullerton

This past Monday night’s ASD board meeting, the main item on the agenda was transfer requests from several students and their parents.

A vote regarding the transfer requests that parents had turned in for their children was to have happened, but is now postponed until a special meeting on Monday, April 19^th so that further information concerning the transfers can be presented to the board.

The information the board would like to look see?  The specific reasons for which parents are requesting transfers.

Director Solak stated at the meeting ““As far as people stating reasons for their transfers, all I can say is that when I agreed (a month ago) to leave the attendance lines the way they were, I think that was the fairest thing to do because people located knowing the attendance lines. They bought their homes, built new homes, and located in that area. That is the same reason tonight people who are requesting transfers when they bought their home and located in that Elderton (attendance) area, they knew the boundary lines. I voted to open Elderton as it was with ‘X’ amount of students and that is what I think the fairest thing is to do. “  

And while that statement may be true, there are reasons not being considered:

1. The closing of Elderton High School created the vast amount of transfers last year.

2.  Some of those same students are being “forced” to transfer back through no fault of their own. 

3. When the students were given the opportunity to attend the schools they were transferred to, many found better educational, social, and/or extracurricular opportunities that were not offered at the school they previously attended or were not as adequate as at their “new” school. 

4. Some parents bought their homes, yes knowing that they were in the Elderton attendance area, BUT also knew of the open transfer policy and that they would be able to transfer their child to a different high school within the district.

If your child was struggling in their former school, was transferred to a new school and suddenly was enjoying it and now passing all of their classes, would you want them to go back to their former school?  Well that is the case with some parents right now.  Should these students be forced to go back to their original attendance area and shouldn’t the school board look at this type of situation and wonder why some students were not thriving at Elderton High School? 

Something else that some parents have shared with us is their reasons for not attending the school board meeting this past week.  They did not feel their voices would be heard by the school board anyway. 

We say to those parents with transfers in, you need to advocate for your child.  You MUST go to the school board meeting on April 19^th and make your voice heard.  Nobody else can do that for you.  Only you know your child.  Only you know the personal reasons why you want the transfer that you requested.   Sometimes what you put in writing does not translate as well as stating your case in person.

Do not count on the school board to make the correct decision for your child!  

Don’t forget this Sunday is the Town Hall meeting being held at the Convenent Center in Kittanning.  The meeting will begin promptly at 2 pm.

If you have any questions or comments, we can be emailed at info@asd-news.com  or you can write to us at our new address.

PO Box 424
Ford City, PA 16226

OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND REFLECT PAID SPONSORSHIP.