Janesville School Board to consider combining schools
JANESVILLE — Hundreds of Janesville parents and students could be affected by changes being contemplated starting in September 2012.
The Janesville School Board for some time has discussed closing an elementary school as a way of saving money. Board member Greg Ardrey, who heads a boundary-line committee that has been examining the issue, now talks about “combining schools.”
The school board on Wednesday night might decide the next step for combining schools.
One likely scenario would disperse an elementary school’s students to several other elementary schools, leaving that school open to be taken over by one or more of the charter schools.
Charter schools such as the TAGOS Leadership Academy and Rock River Charter School are now in leased buildings. Both are alternative schools for high school students and, in TAGOS’ case, some middle school students.
The lease costs would be eliminated if the charter schools moved to a district-owned building.
Ardrey said the committee could come up with a prioritized list of all 12 elementary schools, showing which ones are the best choices for such a move.
Ardrey said he wants to hear from board members Wednesday about what data they would like collected to help them make the best decision possible.
Ardrey said he’d like his committee to come up with the list by August and then gather input from the city, police, parents and the rest of the community until about Oct. 1. The board could make a decision in time for the administration to put the plan in action starting in September 2012.
Some board members also have expressed interest in exploring a junior high school model, and that could be part of Wednesday’s discussion, Ardrey said.
The board on Wednesday also will discuss organization and procedures, possibly with a restructuring of its standing committees, said board member Lori Stottler.
Stottler said the idea is to make the decision-making process more efficient, especially in light of recent meetings, some of which have lasted five hours.
Stottler said she would like to see “a better structure, something that’s going to a help us steer towards not being reactive, but proactive.”
One model being considered is having two standing committees to combine the functions of the current four committees, Stottler said.
Stottler said she would also like to consider giving the board’s vice president more “executive authority,” which would result in the president and vice president working closely with the superintendent, rather than just the president.
Both current President Bill Sodemann and board member Kevin Murray have said they would like to be president in the coming year.
Stottler noted Sodemann and Murray often disagree, so having their divergent views both represented at the top could build trust among board members.
If you go
What: Special meeting of the Janesville School Board
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Educational Services Center, 527 S. Franklin St., Janesville.
Details: The meeting is open to the public, but the agenda does not include a public comment time.
Apr 17, 2011 at 9:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Good idea and about time.
Apr 17, 2011 at 9:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Lies, lies, and more lies... the teachers voted on the recommendation of legal counsel, not the union leader's. Dues are explained at the time of hire, there is not a bunch of money just sitting around. There is, however, a bunch of money sitting in the fund 10 balance.
Please quit diverting the blame to satisfy your own personal agenda.
Apr 16, 2011 at 10:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
teachers have had months to reopen contracts to save jobs, at this point it is a no-brainer, lay them off and now maybe they will see that Walker is helping them and taxpayers. The teachers have no one to blame but their union leaders!
Also, USA that is why i was against the referendum, it was way too much money and now we find out they spent more than they were budgeted too, and there are problems with sound barriers, air conditioners, roofs, etc. Absolutely stupid for the majority of voters to pass that referendum years ago, that was way too much money for our size community to pay.
Apr 16, 2011 at 9:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Why not use the word "Closing" a school instead - because isn't that what you are going to do?
Apr 16, 2011 at 8:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
Why yes I have, but there is still a lot to discuss. Like Fund balance are they going to use it? Are they going to layoff all 130 teachers? Some could get call backs. What about custodians/secretaries/clerks and aides nothing with them yet-just talk. The sad thing was with in a matter of seconds they decided to layoff 130 people, but proceeded to discuss parking fees for a longer period of time. Isn't that more of an easy question of yes or no? You'd think you would talk about laying off people longer than a parking fee and what individual job brings to the table.
Apr 16, 2011 at 8:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
Brewerfan,
Maybe you weren't watching the board meetings. One thing was decided in seconds, to lay off 130 teachers. They sure seem concerned about the poor people of janesville who are unemployed and constantly worried about not raising taxes and taking benefits away from teachers all while forcing 130 to unemployment.
Apr 16, 2011 at 6:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
Are some decisions going to be made anytime soon at any of these meetings? There's been a whole lot of meetings, but nothing really accomplished.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.