Forgive me, Bobb51, but appearances in Janesville would indicate that the well is not nearly dry. I drove by Olive Garden at about 4:30 this afternoon after work - it was full! I circled around down Deerfield Drive and saw full lots at Best Buy and several stores, and cars lined up around the building for $4 cups of coffee at Starbucks. While I don't doubt that there are some who struggle to get by day after day (from what I read here, even some parents at Consolidated School), it would appear that, for most, there is plenty of disposable income still floating around Janesville. What is missing is a sense of value for educating children in this community. It is a sad testimony when people would rather close a school and crowd early elementary classrooms than give up one stop at Starbucks per week.

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On another note, I am always happy to read about what wonderful experiences people have had at Consolidated. Our children had equally wonderful experiences at another Milton elementary school. Unfortunately, wonderful experiences don't move Board members. What will move them? Call them and let them know that you will leave the district if they close the school. That costs them money. Tell them about the literally hundreds of platted, unsold lots within 2 miles of the school and how the building will be needed again in the near future. Remind them of the mistakes made with Harmony. Tell them about the consequences of overcrowded classrooms. Talk about putting 5 year old children on a bus for 75 minutes so they can ride a route into Milton. Parents outside Consolidated - talk about how overcrowding classrooms at your school will degrade education. Talk about supporting education at all buildings in the district - not pitting one against another. Tell them you will vote according to how they vote. Better yet - run for Board yourself. Stories are nice, but all schools have nice stories.

OOOOPPPPSSSS!!! My bad.

Actually, the first four classrooms were added in 1956. Isn't history fun!!!!

If you are curious about some early history of Consolidated School, pick up a copy of this weeks Milton Courier. There is a picture of the 2 room building that was built circa 1923 with some background information. Some very interesting dollar figures are given.
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In 1956 the office area and first 2 rooms that now stand were added on to the 1923 building.
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A friend and myself are currently trying to find out when they torn down the orginal 1923 structure and added the gym and last 2 classrooms that now stand. If anyone knows please let me know. We are guessing it must have been around 1962 when the school districts as we know them today were formed.

Sandman-you are rediculous. I am not a doctor's wife....I work 50-60 hours a week as does my husband. Check your facts before you spout off about something that you have no clue about!

That's no different that everyone who lives northeast of Hwy. 14 (by Mid-State Equip.) all goes to Milton also. Janesville schools are pretty much attended by only City of Janesville proper. In other words, no township locations.

OkieFed, I suspect that the name "Consolidated School" means it was a Milton Township school and that the city and township school districts were merged (consolidated) at some point. If you look around the county you will still see a number of rural elementary schools.

Sandman, apparently you are completely oblivious as to what Consolidated is really about and what it is like. It's probably thee best enviornment for kids, and not rich ones at that. I went there, and so did my brother before me, and my nephew is excited about starting there next year. It's a very close enviornment and it really helps kids out in the social aspect. As a senior on the school paper, I have been to every school board meeting about this issue and I'm guess you haven't even been to one of them to voice your opinion. I'm only guessing this because you seem like the type of person who thinks its comedic to post things just to piss other people off. It's immature and I think you need to actually get the facts about things before you make an assumption of which you are ENTIRELY wrong. None of the friends I had at Consoliated had doctors as parents, most of them had fairly low paying jobs. It sounds like you are just a low life citizen who doesn't care about anyone but himself. It's not just about the money, it's about the kids.

As a parent I hate the idea of seeing this school close. I get the tighten your belt thoughts...totally agree but the other parents are right...we shouldn't as adults tighten our belts at the expense of our children. They need to be put first and we, as adults, need to find ways to sacrifice.

Don't dismiss what fabulous teachers are in the Milton school district. They all go above & beyond. That is not unique to Consolidated! We just cannot afford the luxury of this school any longer! My kids went there~they did well at another Milton elementary school too! Be real!

Sandman is just plain wrong. I would bet you dollars to donuts that the majority of students at Consolidated aren't "Poor little rich kids" as you so eloquently put it. When I went to school there quite awhile back, sure there were some, but certainly not the majority. A lot of kids had parents that worked at GM or other blue collar jobs, or owned and worked on farms. Bussing these kids into Milton West, East or Harmony school just doesn't make sense. Like Stubby said, the district is just shooting itself in both feet. I think pretty much everyone knows where the savings can come from, and it's not closing a school. You know, when populations of mice and rats rise rapidly, the hungry and stressed survivors may kill and eat young. Sounds familiar...

Wow Sandman! You could not be further from the truth! This has nothing to do with rich kids. I work 55 hours a week and my husband works 45 hours a week and this is just to be able to pay the bills. It has more to do with the exceptional education and exceptional experience our children have received while attending Consolidated. The staff at that school go above and beyond what any teacher I know should do. The Board members are not putting into consideration how this will affect the lives of these children. The staff at Consolidated are very proactive if they see a child needs some extra attention if they seem to be falling behind in an area. I fear that if my child went to a larger school that his "falling behind" could have been overlooked. I really feel that closing this school is NOT in the best interest for the district. Not only for the sake of the children, but for the district. I do know that there is talk of a lot of families will be placing their kids in private school or in another district. Milton will then lose a lot of Money! But please, keep the well being of the children priority!!!!

Wow, this takes me back in time! I went to Consolidated and my brother and sister attended. My father was on the School Board back then. It was a great experience - small classes, everyone knew each other's family and good teachers. Anyway, I sure hope they can keep this school open. We were divided up and put in Janesville schools in fourth grade due to rezoning. It was a very sad time for most of us. Most of my friends and classmates did not go to the Janesville school they went to the Milton district and stayed at Consolidated. Be innovative and keep it open.

It is always easy to close "somebody else's school", but much harder if it is your own child's school. Put yourself in the shoes of those parents for a minute. While you're doing that, let's look a little closer at some of the district-wide effects of closing the building (things that will effect my kids....):

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- increased class sizes K-3 across the district. These kids don't just disappear. Research has consistently supported the relationship between small class size at K-3 and student success.

- or perhaps the kids do disappear. Closing the school makes that northeast corner of Janesville Township look much less attractive for future growth, compounding the problem of flat enrollment. Also several parents of students have indicated they would exercise their "school choice" option and switch kids to different districts. So - losing students and destroying opportunities for future growth. The district is shooting itself in both feet.

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Oh - by the way - how come there isn't any mention of the huge budget SURPLUS the district has in the current school year. My kids report a huge spending spree at their buildings. Isn't this the same district that predicted a huge deficit for this year..and once again it failed to materialize? Why isn't the Gazette reporting on the dozens of new smart boards at the high school - prioritizing equipment over jobs and students. Sad.
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This is a school board with absolutely zero vision for the future. Baseless gloom and doom predictions and they're ready to jump off the bridge. Why refuse to even ask for the money? Milton has the lowest tax rate in the area -adding these dollars wouldn't cost an extra-value meal a month. 16 area districts will have referendums this spring election season. Why not Milton? No courage in the leadership there. No faith in the community actually rallying to support education - even in tough times.

Unfortunately, doctors wives are not the only parents that have children at Consolidated School. There are farmers and general blue collar workers, as well. You, Sandman, make an assumption that is not true! My father grew up in the depression on a farm(definitely not rich, especially when you eat lard sandwiches). I grew up on a farm and received free hot lunch at school.My husband is not a doctor, he is a truck driver. We are not rich in money, but we are blessed in many other ways. Including a school that thinks of our children first. This, Sandman, will probably not affect you, since you have already judged us and you are probably not in the school district, anyway. Walk in my shoes before you judge me.

Poor little rich kids!

Make the responsible financial decision and close it. A hand full of anecdotal sob stories and a fond "Remembrance of Things Past" don't add up to the overall savings. Sit on it for a few years and part with it then if the population and funding doesn't support it in a significant way.

Do the right thing--nostalgia is the illusion of permanence, and nothing lasts for ever (not even the rich!). Unless, of course, Lincoln slept there one night...wait--a perfect spot for the new two-sheeter ice rink! "The Lincoln 'Tall Man' Double-Sheeter Arena"! Has a nice sort of earthy, Janesville colloquial ring to it, doesn't it!

PS Close it, and tell all the doctors wives out that way to stop whining!

I understand budget constraints and all but, to close this school would be a mistake. They did that with Harmony several years ago and learned the hard way that they really did need that school. In a relatively short time the housing market will turn around and more homes will be built/bought in the Consolidated school district, then the need will only increase for classroom space (just as it did with Harmony !) If this school is closed not only will the current students suffer, but the building itself probably will fall into disrepair and need major work just to be usable again. which will be more costly than to keep it open and to upkeep the repairs as needed.

Consolidated is almost like a private school. We can longer afford it! All the services are duplicated for a VERY small population. Eventually all kids are bussed to Northside. Closing it would be sad~but it has become necessary.

The Milton School Board needs to be aware of the 100 little lives they are affecting-and yes my kids are two of them. In the event that they choose to close Consolidated, they need to re-draw the designation lines. We live in a subdivision that has been assigned to Consolidated. If the school closes these 5-8 year olds will no longer be classmates with their neighbors-they will be randomly assigned to a school with an open seat. And we have been told that these decisions won't be made until the middle of August, so that they can accomodate new students in the district. How about you attend to the children's lives that you are turning upside down?? How about you give us some time to plan for before and after school care??

They need to be aware that these small children may need some special attention once they are randomly placed, have been on the bus for over an hour, and no longer go to school with their neighbors or even siblings.

Our address is in Janesville-why don't you just give up our subdivision and the students that you don't care about and let us go to Janesville. It is very convenient that you make your decision after the school choice cut- off. Take our tax dollars, but don't bother making the best decision for the 100 kids at Consolidated. Perhaps you should have had a meeting with the 200 parents from this school.

If parent's who kids attend other school are asking why you dont close Consolidated. Have them walk in our shoes for a bit. How would they feel if there 5 year old child was just a budget decision?

I know there are people that intentionally purchase a house in Milton School District....word to the wise....DON'T!!!