WILLYARD: Soup’s On!

An Editorial by Becky Fullerton and Jennifer Willyard

 At this week’s ASD School Board meeting, there were several interesting things discussed….one of which is the closing of Kittanning Township Elementary School and the transfer of these students to Elderton Elementary School.

A good question to ask in regard to this, is how many additional classrooms will be constructed when the renovations occur at Elderton Elementary to accommodate the pending increase in class sizes?

While most studies show that learning in the secondary schools is better with larger classes, they also indicate that elementary students need a smaller class size to be successful. The students who have been found to have the highest achievement in class size studies are the youngest of elementary students in K-3. So what will the consolidation of KT and Elderton Elementary result in for the new class sizes for these children?

Another item for consideration in this is, will the board deny transfer requests? We know personally, if we had Lenape Elementary closer to our homes than Elderton Elementary, we would put a transfer request in, especially for Kindergarteners that are in school for only half a day.

In addition to renovations being done at the Elderton complex, it seems Ford City will be receiving some renovations and possible additions as well.

Do the directors really feel that spending approximately $24 million on (as HERO stated in one of their handouts) “the aging, structurally questionable” FCHS is a good thing? There are only so many band-aids you can put on a gaping wound before you bleed out. Exactly where did this addition come from (as it was never mentioned in the options presented originally by the architects) and where on the FCHS is it supposed to be located? Maybe the ASD board will attempt to have Ford City Borough use Eminent Domain! Gee perhaps those that live on 4th Avenue should watch out as they may be part of the pending renovations!

There was also slight discussion, by Director Solak, regarding the issue of flooding at FCHS. It was stated that none of the classrooms had taken water in, but nothing with regard to results from the mold testing that was recently done. We are very interested to read these results when they are in since, as stated by many, the mold seems to be a recurring problem at the high school.

Why does the mold problem keep recurring? Poor air circulation? Clogged drains? Leaking plumbing? How did we come up with the above probable problems? Easy! Those are the reasons listed in a mold finding report from back in 2007! Where any or all of those problems addressed? Did that stop the mold from recurring? Does anyone know exactly what that status is? Again, the mold is not a new issue in Ford City High School, but perhaps it is one that somehow, someday will be remedied, one would hope, with the $24 million band-aid being applied to that building.

So lets see….Ford City gets renovations, Elderton gets renovations, ($47 million in renovations with MINIMAL state reimbursement)West Shamokin is fine (contrary to what Ms. Yassem states)…..who are we missing? Ahhhh yes! Kittanning!

Sorry Kittanning, but no soup for you!

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

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.