School closings list narrowed to Harrison, Jefferson and Kennedy
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JANESVILLE — Three east-side elementary schools are now the focus as the Janesville School Board considers whether to close one or more a year from now.
The board on Tuesday chose Harrison, Jefferson and Kennedy schools for more study by the boundary lines committee, a group of mostly community volunteers.
The plan is to narrow the list even more by Aug. 15 and to make a preliminary recommendation by Sept. 1.
The board briefly discussed the district budget. It did not take up a recent memo that suggests the board could increase the coming year's tax levy by as much as 7.5 percent to make up for a loss of state aid.
Scott Feldt asked for a tax-and-budget discussion to be held on July 26. He also suggested the board discuss making offers to employee unions, apparently to help with the budget.
The boundary lines committee and district staff are tasked with looking at three different closing scenarios, one for each school. They will figure out where each student from the closed school would be placed and how staffing and bus schedules would change, among other factors. The result should be the costs and savings from each scenario.
Not yet known is whether a closed school would be used to house other district functions, such as a charter school that now pays rent.
The board has already approved saving money by appointing one principal to oversee Harrison and Kennedy in the coming school year with the help of two lower-paid "building coordinators," so savings might not be as much as an estimate of about $600,000 floated earlier this year.
Saving money is a high priority for the 2012-13 school year, as the board is contemplating even more staff cuts that year to balance its budget.
The final 5-4 vote to choose the three schools came after extensive discussion and votes on proposals to consider just two schools—Harrison and Jefferson—or four schools—Harrison, Jefferson, Kennedy and Lincoln.
Discussion focused on criteria that the boundary lines committee used to come up with a ranked list. All four schools were at the top of the list as the most preferred for closing.
The top criteria were:
-- Enrollment. The fewer the students, the higher the school rose on the list because fewer students' lives would be disrupted.
-- Poverty indicators. The committee didn't want to introduce more stresses into poorer students' lives.
-- Planned capital improvements needed over the next four years. The more costs, the higher on the list.
-- Annual operating costs.
Two criteria deemed to be less important were percentages of students who rode private vehicles to school and number of classrooms.
The committee figured students who rode to school would more easily adapt to traveling farther. Schools with more classrooms were deemed more desirable to keep open because those rooms would be needed to absorb students from the closed school or schools.
Board member Lori Stottler suggested the district approach neighboring districts about adjusting district boundaries. The city's biggest housing-growth area is expected to be the portion of the north side that is in the Milton School District. No one responded to that idea.
Data considered by the boundary lines committee are posted on the district's website.
Board member Greg Ardrey, who is chairman of the boundary lines committee, has said in the past that the board could ultimately decide not to close a school.
If a school is closed, the decision must be made in October so the administration has time to prepare, officials have said.
Plans call for public input in September.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
In other business Tuesday, the Janesville School Board:
-- Voted 5-3 to use a $60,900 contribution from Save Janesville Schools to increase the hours of library aides so that elementary schools would have libraries open even though the board cut librarians for the coming school year. The money also would pay for a 0.7 full-time-equivalent "innovation specialist" for the high schools. Some members wanted to wait several weeks to get more information about how the changes would be paid for in succeeding years. Voting "no" were Scott Feldt, Kevin Murray and DuWayne Severson.
-- Voted to raise school lunch prices by 10 cents per meal, largely because of a change in federal lunch program rules. The new prices will be $2 for elementary schools, $2.25 at middle schools and $2.35 for high schools. The more than 47 percent of Janesville students who receive free or reduced-price lunches would not be affected.
-- Agreed to hire Shawn Kane as assistant principal for Craig High School.
-- Decided not to cancel its July 26 meeting.
-- Delayed to August a decision on hiring a new district insurance consultant.
Jul 19, 2011 at 12:28 a.m.
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And I don't understand the bit about not moving the poor kids around because it would disrupt their lives. I mean, wouldn't it be nice to send them to a school in a better neighborhood? Brighten up their day a little bit? Anyone think about that? Could mean more opportunity for those kids....
Jul 19, 2011 at 12:22 a.m.
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My vote for a school closure would be to close Monroe School. Why? Easy.... The Monroe kids cold be easily divided between Harrison & Jefferson schools. Then massage the Kennedy boundary so that school is finally full. The Board is gonna sell their downtown HQ anyway, so let them move into the ex-Monroe School building. And it would solve the problem of having an elementary school in such close proximity to a Junior High (I dislike the term "Middle School" - it's namby-pamby - it's a frickin' Junior High, OK?). Besides, Jefferson has a humongous playground, it's a fantastically well-maintained building in a beautiful setting. Harrison and Kennedy are both a couple of the newer schools and there ya go! Soooooooo..........the logical school to close is Monroe and it's not on the list. (PS: Kennedy won't be closed because they'll never admit it was a mistake to build it in the first place)
Jul 15, 2011 at 10:47 a.m.
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okay. thanks. I looked at google map I guess I got something wrong.
Where is Harrison. I see off of Wright road somewhere. Doesn't seem familiar to me.
So lets close Monroe. Let the ESC do their stuff here.
I head today no more voting at Jefferson. Is this foreshadowing?
I agree put the 6th graders back into Elementary school. 7-9 middle and 10-12 high school. Not sure if this would change the closing of school issues.
Jul 15, 2011 at 8:53 a.m.
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@frogger The school next to Marshall is Monroe.
Jul 15, 2011 at 8:31 a.m.
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gopack.
Isn't this the school that is next to Marshall? Right off of the BUSY street Pontiac?
NO I don't have kids. Maybe somebody who doesn't have kids should look into all this so we get a perspective from people who aren't so involved. Like "not my school". Not a replacement building for the ESC etc.
Jul 14, 2011 at 8:03 p.m.
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Please remember that just because your school may not be closed does not mean you will not be affected. Those students being moved will displace some from the school moved to, and so on...
Jul 14, 2011 at 7:13 p.m.
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Frogger: My child goes to Harrison and there isn't a huge traffic problem there. Harrison isn't on a main road, so I don't see why you say that is such a problem. The only reason anyone would go down that road is to go to school or if they live near the school. Are you thinking of Monroe? Because that is where the huge traffic problem is. And frankly, they shouldn't decide which school to close because of traffic that happens for a short period of time twice a day. I guess you don't have any children in elementary school, if you did, you would know that it DOES matter to the children if they close their school. It's not whether or not they have to travel farther to get to school. It's the school, their classmates, and the staff. What they know and love and they want to stay there.
Jul 14, 2011 at 4:19 p.m.
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I agree with fearandrhetoric4dummies 100% that they want to close Kennedy because that's where they want the ESC to go. They can't work in a non air conditioned building.
Yes, Jefferson is at capacity for some grade levels, but that is only because Jefferson had less regular ed classrooms than the other schools. Therefore, even at capacity they have less students than schools that aren't at capacity.
Jul 14, 2011 at 3:41 p.m.
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ck1202- I completely agree. It is very sad how this school district has gone from great to scary in such a short time.
Jul 14, 2011 at 2:44 p.m.
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Don't expect this school board to make any decisions that make sense in any way shape or form....they haven't been able to yet! I really feel sorry for anyone who has students in this school district!
Jul 14, 2011 at 1:36 p.m.
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One has to know how to think first in order to "think things through", which does NOT include the Janesville School Board. I will definitely BE at that September meeting as a parent who had one go through elementary school @ Harrison and one still there. This whole situation is based on personal agendas of school board members, and I for one, am tired of seeing the kids & their families suffer because of it. Who are they to say where my child will go to school if they close it? My husband and I will be the ones to decide where our youngest child will go to school & at the rate it's going, it will not be in Janesville! I anticipate Milton will be seeing an increase in enrollment for years to come. My husband and I are VERY disappointed parents due to several of the choices & comments made by this board over the last couple of years. They do not do what is in the best interest of the families in this city. I used to think this was a fantastic school district, and now all I can do is weigh the pros & cons of taking my kids to a different one, which is very sad!
Jul 14, 2011 at 1:06 p.m.
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It doesn't say that Kennedy is the most expensive to operate -- somebody just inferred that. Even if it's true, it can basically mean that because Kennedy is the newest, it has received the least improvements in recent years, so other "older" schools have reduced physical plant costs. They could also be looking at the future improvements it will need.
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Clearly they are looking at political (parental) considerations as well as just numbers, but it really is going to come down to the numbers. Personally, I don't think the district has lost enough students to make this a big cost savings at this time.
Jul 14, 2011 at 12:58 p.m.
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Better yet Don, Yes put the 6th graders back in elementary where they belong. But put the 9th graders BACK into the middle schools as well like it used to be back in the 80's. I dont remember Edison being crowded when I was there when it was 7-9 nor Craig being crowded when it was 10-12.
Jul 14, 2011 at 12:27 p.m.
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Allfor1and1forAll - I agree, you'd think a brand new school would be very efficient. Or it was purposely built that way to provide more revenue to everyone involved in operating it. They cant say it is the AC either... because they can simply shut that off if they want to.
Jul 14, 2011 at 10:06 a.m.
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Close Harrison to cut back on the huge traffic over there.They are all quite near to each other so it isn't far to the other one if one closes.
Jul 14, 2011 at 7:36 a.m.
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Don't look for this School Board to make sense.
Jul 14, 2011 at 7:09 a.m.
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Jefferson school has been at capacity and it's on the list. Now that makes good sense!
Jul 14, 2011 at 7:08 a.m.
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They are not going to close 3 schools. They are probably not going to close any schools. However, if they were to close a school, slecting Kennedy, Harrison and Jefferson as the schools to consider has made it look like the board is thinking things through when they have already made a selection.
Have no fear that Kennedy will be closing. There is no way they are going to close the 'flagship' of Janesville's Elementary schools. Harrison is also a highly unlikely school for political reasons. Jefferson will be the school they choose if they do choose to close a school.
But lets consider something else. Years ago, Elementary schools in Janesville were grades k-6 so we know the elementary schools can handle the enrollment of moving 6th grade back leaving 7th and 8th in the Middle schools with reduced enrollment. Close Edison (the only Middle school that splits it's enrollment between the high schools). With Edison closed, the ESC could be sold to the city, the Admin offices could easily fit in Edison as well as moving all the charter schools there (freeing up money spent on rented space for the charter schools). If in the future enrollment again increases in Janesville, reopen Edison and move the Admin offices to regular office space downtown as regular office space is both more common and cheaper than education space.
Jul 13, 2011 at 9:10 p.m.
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I smell a rat!! The district wants to sell the old ESC building downtown, hmmm I wonder where they will move if they are able to do that? Maybe a nice Air conditioned New building like Kennedy? Just a nicer place for the overpaid , underworked administrators to be! Glad I live on the other side of 14! Why on EARTH would you close Kennedy? Makes NO sense at all! Pretty much par for the course for this board.
Jul 13, 2011 at 8:58 p.m.
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I think the school board has missed the boat,it looks that they don't care about the added traffic around schools now, what is it going to be like when you have a lot more traffic when you close even one school let alone three??
Jul 13, 2011 at 6:54 p.m.
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Kennedy is a beautiful school, great floor plan and a versatile location. I don't get it.
Jul 13, 2011 at 6:37 p.m.
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Beentheredonethat: You are right on! How on God's green earth are they doing to close the newest school? Where is the logic in this one? Something is rotten here.
Jul 13, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.
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I hope the school board and the committee looking into having a school closed looks carefully at the numbers. How much money will be saved? What happens in 3-5 years when a school is needed to re-open? How much is actually going to be saved? Way too many questions need to be answered and explained before a decision is made. If I had a child at Kennedy and I lived just across Hwy 14 from the school (which is Milton schools zone), and they pick Kennedy to close, I'd put all my kids in Milton schools.
I'm sure a lot of those from Milton will choose to go to Milton and not one of the others if Kenned is closed.
Jul 13, 2011 at 6:02 p.m.
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Who built Kennedy? Was it Cullen or another local builder? Why is it the most expensive to run? Wouldn't the newest building be considered the most cost effective with the more recent energy saving systems? Why all the problems with it?
Jul 13, 2011 at 5:20 p.m.
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Am I reading this correctly? The NEWEST elementary school in Janesville is being targeted for closing? That makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever!
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