After reading the article in this mornings paper, I am a little bit confused. I thought ACS was broke . . . so how come we are going in more debt ($1.15 million)? This just doesn't make sense to me . . . I understand the need for cl***rooms but they should have taken this into consideration prior to making the decision to go to one high school. Why wasn't this money accounted for when both options were made public? Shouldn't this have been made public, too? I just can't see spending money we don't have - ACS needs to live within the budget and stop excessive spending.

I was planning on keeping my child in ACS but now I am reconsidering. Makes me wonder what other surprises they have in store for us taxpayers.

Let's just admit that a mistake was made and correct it. Make both high schools 7 thru 12; I don't want my child on a bus from Moonsville to Madison Ave (well over an hour ride both ways - if not longer). I'm sure that parents on the other end of town don't want their junior high student to ride that long if not longer.

Mommat,

You know as well as I do that the decision to make HHS a middle school has been in the works for years. They did not propose all the facts because they never do.

It is STUPID to keep the Wigwam open, it was STUPID to make ACS the only HS, and it is STUPID that they are more worried about tradition than education!!!!!!

Hey but like Forrest Gump said, "Stupid does as stupid is." OOOOOPPPPPPS. I think I have that backward. But, hey, it fits better the way I said it!!!!! lol

quote:

Originally posted by Mommat:
After reading the article in this mornings paper, I am a little bit confused. I thought ACS was broke . . . so how come we are going in more debt ($1.15 million)? This just doesn't make sense to me . . . I understand the need for cl***rooms but they should have taken this into consideration prior to making the decision to go to one high school. Why wasn't this money accounted for when both options were made public? Shouldn't this have been made public, too? I just can't see spending money we don't have - ACS needs to live within the budget and stop excessive spending.

I was planning on keeping my child in ACS but now I am reconsidering. Makes me wonder what other surprises they have in store for us taxpayers.

Let's just admit that a mistake was made and correct it. Make both high schools 7 thru 12; I don't want my child on a bus from Moonsville to Madison Ave (well over an hour ride both ways - if not longer). I'm sure that parents on the other end of town don't want their junior high student to ride that long if not longer.

To top it off they just rejected a bid to sell one of the elementary schools that is set to close next year. ACS could have made $325,000. Some money is better than none. What are they thinking???

quote:

Originally posted by Beth:
What are they thinking???

Please...let's not be so lavish with the flattery...

If anyone is interested in facts....

The FACT is that the student population at the buildings currently used as high schools will be the same next year...it doesn't matter which option was chosen, both building will need to hole about 2000-2100 students.
This would require the additional cl***rooms, regardless of the age of the student in the rooms.

The offer to purchase the building was not really rejected. There was much discussion about making a decision about these things when the make up of the board is set to change in the nest few months. Additionally there is a concern of letting the building go so quickly. Yes, we need to sell the buildings, but is it worth making a mistake that could cost much more to remedy? While it is necessary to move quickly, moving too quickly without thinking could be a bigger mistake.

BTW, when I answer questions like this, I am often accused of pandering, or being political or lying or any number of other things. If explaining the reason the board made a decision to those who have questions is all that then so be it.

Thank you for responding, Tobi. I just don't understand that added expense. I thought the reason for the consolidation was for financial reasons . . . so how can we afford the $1.15 million?

You stated ". . .that the student population at the buildings currently used as high schools will be the same next year.." If this is true, than why do we need to create more rooms? Shouldn't there be enough room to accommodate the students?

I am just very concerned about this situation - and the more I learn, the more confused I get on the decisions that are being made. This is suppose to be about the students and I feel that somewhere they are being forgotten about. People say they are thinking about the best interest of the students but I question that.

How can riding a school bus for an hour to an hour and a half good for the kids? They could be on the bus for about 3 hours a day . . . where is the studying time? Where is the family time? Where is the time for them to be kids?

I feel that this decision was rushed - Mr. Chow should have been around a little bit longer before making a major decision that he knew little about. I am sure that if Mr. Brown was still superintendant he wouldn't have recommended the closing of one school. Give you something to think about, huh?

OH and one more thing . . . I keep hearing about the school system losing money from the property tax base but when I looked back at my statements, I paid more to ACS last time (Over $900) than I have ever paid to ACS. If mine has gone up, how many others have too?

Again, thanks Tobi for taking your time to respond on these forum. I apprecate you trying to get us to understand the reasoning behind the decisions that the board makes, even if we don't agree on them.

Mommat,

As you can clearly see, they talk out both sides of their mouths. No need to rush but SHORTLY after the new Super takes over let's make a HUGE decision. Please.

Please don't be offended Tobi. You aren't the only one making these decisions but seem to be the only one here taking the heat. 2+2 just isn't equaling 4 right now.

I mean, the Wigwam staying open is a HUGE issue to me. You need to close the dinosaur. I feel when you picked tradition over education (along with others) you made a HUGE mistake. I cannot respect that.

Scots-parent, I speak out of only one side of my mouth and I will give the same reasons and the same facts everytime I give them. I do not change my story.

Mommat, what I meant by that statement was the the population will be equal in both buildings, and the number of students would be the same no matter which option was chosen,but there will be about 700ish [U]more[/U] in each building next year as compared to this year.

That increase would happen if the buildings were 7-12 or as they currently are scheduled to be. This construction would be necessary to add cl***room space either way.
With the 7-12 option there would be additional needs to seperate the 7-8 grades from the uppercl***men as well.

Also, the decision to go with one high school was made based on the recommendation by Mr. LC Brown. (I clearly remember that meeting and that it happened before the end of 2009, therefore under the direction of Mr. LC Brown)
The recommendation for the name and location came from Dr. Chow after much input from community, staff and board.

At this point, the transportation department is still ***uring us that the LONGEST few students on the absolute longest bus ride will be just a few minutes over an hour. This is based on her history and discussions with bus drivers and on the computer program that is used to help mapping out the routes.
I think that it is pre-mature to ***ume that she is wrong.
I came from a very rural school district, I remember bus rides. I also remember that the bus will pick up the whole neighborhood (or area) then drive straight to the school. So, if the current route ends with a pick up that is 10 minutes from HHS, they will next year end with a pick up that is about 20-25 minutes from AHS. (I can easily drive from my house, very near to AHS to HHS in about 12 minutes) So that will add 10 to 15 minutes to the route. Current 45 minute ride will become about an hour. I don't think that we currently have any students riding the bus for over an hour.

Tobi I think it's interesting how big people think Anderson is. I am from Indianapolis. When I taught in Decatur Township, there were kids bussed there from the neighborhood where I grew up which is in Marion County by the State Fair. In that case you were looking at at least an hour and a half minimum ride.

Tobi,

I am currently a school bus driver for ACS and I can tell you that driving a bus and car are different. What may take you only 12 mins in your car will take much longer in a bus because you have to figure in all the stops. I drove from Moonsville (in my car) to the current AHS building and it took me 25 minutes - and this was a straight drive there. And as far as the computer times go, they are not accurate - far from it actually. It may have you stopping at 3 stops at the same time which is impossible. These times are "drive-by" times and do not allow time for picking up the students.

I am just afraid that when this is all said and done, the main problem is going to be in transportation...and I feel that this is a big concern for a lot of people. I don't want my child on bus for over an hour (2 hours a day); especially when it hot or when the roads are bad.

Do you know if Juniors will able to drive to school next year? I had heard that it may only be Seniors that get to drive because of the limited parking space.

Again, thanks for your response.

Nubiangeek,

Anderson may not be as big as Indy but it is big enough when you include the areas of Chesterfield and Richland township. We are not just talking about the Anderson Area.

There are more parking spaces at AHS than at HHS. I have not heard anything about any restrictions on who can or cannot drive to school next year. There may be a lottery or something of the sort to determine who parks where, or they may want to get there a few minutes early so that they aren't parking by the football field, but from what I have been told, there will be enough spaces (the lot is about half to a bit less than half full most days now).

What I think is crazy is that they are relying on a computer to figure this out and not just taking a few buses that would have the longest routes and doing them with the stops. A bus driver knows about how long it takes the kids to enter and leave the bus. Stop for that long then take off again. Notify the community this is going to be happening so they are FREAKING out over a bus picking up no children, and document the time. Drivers also know how much extra time road conditions add to their route. Why aren't we talking to the people who do this everyday?????? Why are we relying on a computer program that is outdated as soon as is it purchased (as are all programs) to give us these projected facts???? We have buses and drivers. I am sure we can spare a few gallons of gas to figure this out. I mean, we are spending $1 mil dollars to get rooms ready that are ALREADY fuctioning quite well for the students. We can't spend $100 on gas?

quote:

Originally posted by Tobi Jones:
At this point, the transportation department is still ***uring us that the LONGEST few students on the absolute longest bus ride will be just a few minutes over an hour. This is based on her history and discussions with bus drivers and on the computer program that is used to help mapping out the routes.
I think that it is pre-mature to ***ume that she is wrong.

Scot parent, I think that I said that Mrs. Farley has consulted with the drivers.
You seem very angry. Maybe if you would try to listen to what is being said and let go of the anger just a bit you could hear what is really said instead of just hearing what you want to see in order to justify your anger.

Not angry, just confused!!!!!! Okay, have they ran the route? All the speculation in the world cannot tell you how it's going tell you the time. I bet you parents of these children would be willing to ride these bus routes to see how the ride would be for their kids. Have you thought to ask them!!!!

Our family has been in this school system for less than 5 years and I will tell you what.... it is the worst case of professionalism and communication I have EVER seen. There are never clear answers. Tradition outweighs education. And it is sad!!!!

If I acted like this at the job I have I would be sued!!!!!!!! And to be quite honest neither one of my children will be in ACS next year. Like, I said in another post!!!! I have options, and thank God I do. I am just hoping that I can get some questions answered for the people who aren't as fortunate as my family.