Parents argue to save schools

Cordley and Centennial school parents took advantage of a light school board agenda Monday evening to argue for the preservation of their respective schools.

A coalition of three Centennial parents urged board members to revisit studies performed on the two schools, asking them to think of elementary school students before extracurricular facilities.

Laura Denneler pointed out that while Centennial’s location might not be as central as Cordley’s, it is in a high-density student area.

Brent Lamb argued that traffic was less of a concern for Centennial than Cordley, and Garth Myers outlined Centennial’s larger open areas that could allow for expansion.

“A lot of this, I believe, are things the board has not considered,” Denneler said after the meeting.

The school board is involved in a comprehensive facility study. The goal is to write a 20-year facility master plan and put together a package of building improvements for a bond issue set to go before voters in 2003. The preliminary cost is more than $50 million.

The board has tentatively agreed Centennial, East Heights and Riverside schools should be closed.

But at Monday night’s meeting, parents of Cordley students questioned whether Centennial’s location was more ideal and the context given to traffic statistics near the two schools.

“Once again, there seem to be two sets of numbers here,” said Joe Casad.

The ambiguity is just one reason an additional study session is scheduled next Monday, said school board President Scott Morgan.

He said the session, set from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the district service center, 110 McDonald Drive, would give board members a chance to dispel rumors and outline some potential solutions to the school-closing controversy.

People need a clearer understanding of what the board is planning, Morgan said.

In other business, board members discussed upcoming budget discussions. Supt. Randy Weseman outlined ways in which the district was prepared to handle the $1 million it lost due to state budget cuts and enrollment declines.

“This is an important process and one we want to engage the public in,” he said.

Board members reached a balanced budget last year, Weseman said, and he believes they will be successful again.

But, he added, likely with less money.