To the editor:
If you move from living within a large city, San Francisco or the Hyde Park area of Chicago, Hillcrest Elementary School is the only choice for an elementary school if you are looking for international diversity.
Almost three years ago, I was offered a corporate move to Kansas, and my first thought was, “Are you kidding, and where would I send my daughter to school?” I saw the west side and almost turned down the job until I discovered Hillcrest Elementary School.
We felt right at home to find students with economic diversity, liberal-minded parents and teachers, professors’ children, international students to ensure high educational standards. And now, after I buy a house two blocks away, invest in and complete a major renovation, the school board is thinking of closing the school. I want my money back and will run back as fast as possible if Hillcrest closes.
Comments
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Liberty_One (anonymous) says…
See ya!
commuter (anonymous) says…
Oh poor Gail. I must have missed the fine print on the purchase contract of my house that says "The school your child will attend will be XXX forever".
I do find it funnt that she states "We felt right at home to find students with economic diversity, liberal-minded parents and teachers, professors’ children, international students to ensure high educational standards." Aren't liberals supposed to advocate for change?? but yet she does not want to change?? What an oxymoron.
By the way, why didn't she look at the east Side schools, Merrill would tell us that they have all of those and they are great neighborhood places for kids??
punkrockmom (Nikki May) says…
And, Cordley has cultural diversity. I know several ESL students that go there. Oh, wait, you wanted more diverse. There aren't a large number of professors' kids there. And the educational standards (in a district that shares all that) might be different with no professors' kids.
cato_the_elder (anonymous) says…
Lawrence has always been diverse, which has been one of its most engaging qualities, without being San Francisco or Hyde Park in Chicago - which are so lock-step committed to leftist politics and socialist boondoggles of all kinds that they are about as far from "diverse" as anyone could imagine.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Isn't it odd that she shown the west side and not Hillcrest or beautiful old east Lawrence.
She was smart buying a home in the Hillcrest district and doing the rehab project considering the horror stories that fill conversation regarding new home construction.
So lets not close any valuable resources aka neighborhood schools.
I am willing to pay a little more tax for my beer and wine.
I am also willing to pay Kansas sales taxes for all online purchases dedicated to public school funding. This would somewhat level the playing field for local business as well.
I am also willing to consider this as a dedicated source to assist USD 497 medical insurance, academic salaries,school supplies and school fees.
This could become available as a dedicated City of Lawrence USD 497 user fee:
http://www2.ljworld.com/polls/2003/ma…
However I also support all further construction of major projects such as the sports project(tax increase),school buildings and property purchase be approved by USD 497 taxpaying voters.
labmonkey (anonymous) says…
Holy crap....get your nose out of the air. Your feces do stink like everyone else.
Run back, run back as fast as you can. Those conservatives who carry their Bibles and guns are going to get you. If you want diversity (which does have something to do with exposing your children to people not like you), why not send them to a rural school or a KCK school? You do not want diversity....you just want to be around people like you.
Look, I can understand not wanting your school to close but the tone of this LTE is just offputting. I am against any school closing, and for more efficient use of tax dollars (hmmmm.....new sports complex built last year, now they want to close schools this year.....great priorities, Lawrence), but if they do close down a school, this LTE would make you root for Hillcrest shutting down.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
Oh, do let us take tiffin on the veranda so we may admire the topiary.
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
Mariposa (anonymous) says…
Gail, I think you wrote a letter that was well wrote and needed. I can understand your frustration and disappointment. After making all the changes you did and thinking you were settled in, now to find out that the school, the main reason for the change, is not going to be there, would make anyone want to scream.
Ricky_Vaughn (anonymous) says…
Wish I had enough money to pick up and move at the drop of a hat. Gail if you thought KS would be anything like SF you received some bad information.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
I thought it was statistically proven that Pinckney is the most diverse elementary school in the district? The boundaries include OWL to the south and the lower income apartment complexes and mobile home parks to the north. I believe the racial make-up there is very near only 50% white. As far as "liberal-minded" goes, well, now that would be homogeny, not diversity.
I'm sure Hillcrest is a great school, but I think this letter is more emotion than fact. Either way, I don't want any of them to close.
Mariposa (anonymous) says…
All right, everyone who has a different opinion from Thing, just pack it up and leave Lawrence.
Now.
Oh, you forgot one little thing, Thing, this paper is on the Internet and you can access the Internet from anywhere.
So, no matter where I live, I can still post on here.
Ain't technology grand?
lindseydoyle (anonymous) says…
I find it really ironic that those who say they want diversity don't have a lot of tolerance for diversity of opinion. How diverse is Lawrence, culturally? Not very. Look at the demographics.
labmonkey (anonymous) says…
Mariposa-
Nobody is disputing that it sucks to have a school closed after you bought a house and fixed it up in a neighborhood. What people hate is the high and mighty tone of this letter. She does more harm for her cause than good but taking the "I'm from San Francisco and Hyde Park so I am better than you" tone. Not to mention she claims to embrace diversity when she actually wants to just put her children in a school with people just like them. That is not diversity.
AreUNorml (anonymous) says…
this person sounds so uppity, while at the same time wanting her children to experience those poor ethnic individuals. Is this the reincarnate of Nancy Pelosi?
labmonkey (anonymous) says…
Yes yes, I have heard the separate pots of money argument used before. It still comes from the same source...the taxpayer.
And what I said about priorities still rings true. They should have concentrated on keeping schools open instead of worrying about the prestigue of building a new sports complex.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
A corporate move to Lawrence? really now and what company would that have been. Anyone in the corporate world should be able to instill education and provide diversity no matter where the child goes to school. Again, it is a bunch on mindless parents who want someone else to do their job.
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
I'm still confused as to why this letter writer chose Lawrence for her destination for the corporate move. What corporation is there in Lawrence that she would be employed at? I thought Lawrence didn't have any jobs for corporate folks and they all had to work elsewhere. Where is the rest of the letter, Gail?
lindseydoyle (anonymous) says…
How do people get the attitude that they're doing Lawrence such a great favor by living here and it would be such a tremendous loss to lose them?
leslie (Leslie vonHolten) says…
Just want to go on record: We moved here from Chicago (and I worked in Hyde Park, at U of C). Our kids go to New York Elem and we're very happy. Let's fight to save all of the schools.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
Dahhhhling you should have consulted in me befaw your move. Ahhhh, could hahve saved you some grief. ahfter all
areyousure (anonymous) says…
And why is it so diverse - could it be the students from Stouffer Place that used to be bused to Hillcrest. Now, they have to walk from 19th to the school with not many safe options. And Schwagler is only 4 blocks away.
If Hillcrest is closed, those students might be able to walk four blocks to Schwagler and the ESL resources will be available there. Diversity will still exist. It just might be located a few streets south.
honeychild (Mel Briscoe) says…
"If you move from living within a large city, San Francisco or the Hyde Park area of Chicago, Hillcrest Elementary School is the only choice for an elementary school if you are looking for international diversity."
worded very confusingly... as if there is a hillcrest elementary in both san fran and chicago.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
Hillcrest would make a mighty fine senior center, it really would. Let's get some imagination in this town. Keep the playground for the folks around it to take their grandkids .
Stouffer Place kids should be going to Schwegler. Other kids of diversity,whatever the heck that is, can go to Sunset or be bussed like they are now.
Hillcrest is a real nice location for a senior center. Hopefully the muckity mucks in this town wont let it slip from their hands, they did some time ago, pass up a wonderful site on Kasold that had the Catholic church on it.
Since the taxpayers already own the Hillcrest school, it's just a transfer of property and nothing comes off the tax rolls.
Part of the playground come become a true garden, gardened by seniors who know how to garden. Actually it would become a showplace , like a botannical garden right in the center of the city. The school offers space for groups who might want a place to meet also.
Hillcrest Senior Center! A truly adaptive reuse and no money needs to be spent to do so.
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
Pilgrim2 (Anonymous) says…
Actually your post may be a bit dishonest. I wonder if the people who voted to support the sports upgrade would have done so if they knew the education mission was in jeopardy.
I believe we could have taken the sports initiative back to the people and asked to spend that money on education!
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
leslie (Leslie vonHolten) says…
I gather you have a well paying corporate job (or work for the University at a good salary). I might humbly point out that not everyone in Lawrence has the amount of money you apparently do. Have you looked at the commerce department statistics – Kansans have a much lower average income than Chicagoans. Maybe the rest of us just can not afford the breadth of schools you desire and that we currently have? That $5 mil shortfall is not likely to go away anytime soon. Or maybe some of you with a lot of money could pay a lot more? Classic problem here in Lawrence – intelligent, well meaning and clueless intellectuals want us to recreate big city living right here with less than 5% of the population of a major metropolitan area
riverat (Joe Hyde) says…
Wow, folks; I'm pretty sure that all Ms. Kernes is saying is that coming here from out-of-state, she initially had reservations about moving to Lawrence and securing a good education for her daughter. Then she discovered a really nice school and found a good house to buy near to that school, and everything was cool.
Then suddenly talk starts up about closing down that school, and she's unhappy about it.
I don't think her honest disappointment and alarm justify any of the vicious remarks being hurled at her here.
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
unsavoryagent (Anonymous) says…
Merrill never pays for anything he wants - other get to pay!!!
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
riverat (Joe Hyde) says…
Maybe it was the tone of the letter and not the heart felt concern for her children that drew the comments.
labmonkey (anonymous) says…
Uh riverat, if you cannot sense the Holier than thou tone of this LTE, then you have very little reading comprehension.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
The LTE makes the school sound like a Thomas Kincaid painting populated by a Steven Speilberg cast.
mr_right_wing (anonymous) says…
Yep.....If Hillcrest closes..game over brother!!
Closing Hillcrest will destroy Lawrence faster than Quantrill could have ever dreamed!
If Hillcrest were to close, what would be the point of living?
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…
It looks like a cold house with not much warmth.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/jan...
Lynn731 (anonymous) says…
Don't let the door hit you in your liberal butt. Thank you, Lynn
Mariposa (anonymous) says…
The house is lovely but it looks like it needs some touches like pictures on the wall, some rugs, flowers.
She says she wants her money back.
From who?
Back to San Francisco or to Chicago?
You know, when I re-read the letter it makes less sense than the first time.
Why is that the only school in Lawrence that she will permit her child to attend? What sort of students is she trying to keep her away from.
I should have read the letter more critically the first time keeping in mind the remarks of Leonard Pitts.
Lo siento.
sunny (anonymous) says…
Gail is not too concerned about her sweet little child. She thought of herself and her 'corporate move', rather than keeping her child close to the childs father.
Rather selfish if you ask me.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
isn't it funny that several people who are commenting on Lawrence schools don't even live in Lawrence and are just generally clueless as to what our schools are like. We don't want any of our schools to close and are willing to pay more in taxes to keep them open. Why don't you guys move to the south where education is barely funded. Or Texas. Don't they not have income tax? And to pass all the state assessments and make themselves look good were the first to dummy down their curriculum. Or Alaska. The citizens often get a kick back on the oil pumped out of there. Of course, after all the bonuses are paid and the politicians get their share. And you don't even have to speak proper English. Just a Alaska kind of thingy that those there citizens likey.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
So again, the house is in a residential area and can become a rental. 3 unrelated. Now you gonna bounce this off J/W. I also thought there were no corporate jobs in this town and that is why people drive out every day to Topeka and Kansas City. Something is amiss.
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
tomatogrower (Anonymous) says…
Hi, why don't you move somewhere that has more wealthy people to pay all the taxes you want for your own desires. Oh,wait a minute, wealthy people do not pay taxes???
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
Live long and prosper.
overthemoon (anonymous) says…
Every single post here makes broad assupmptions and misses the point that we should all see. It is the schools like Hillcrest that are a draw for the businesses that we'd like to see come here. It is the uniqueness of Lawrence, not the banal beigeland development that draw people here. We are killing our town by not recognizing this.
Mixolydian (anonymous) says…
Smug alert
bethann (anonymous) says…
My children attended school in Davis, CA and in Hyde Park, and when we moved here (quite enthusiastically I might add) we were very happy to send our youngest, the 6th grader, to Quail Run. Part of the reason was the attractiveness of him being able to walk right up the street to attend school (in the neighborhood!). Neighborhood schools are wonderful and should be preserved for all children whenever possible. At the very least, decisions about closing schools or reallocating programs should never be made, as the tone of your letter implies, by pitting programs or community members against each other. Our goal should be to help each neighborhood and its corresponding school to flourish. Thriving neighborhoods add up to thriving communities at large. (Also-there are many ways for families in Lawrence to connect with the international community whether or not their children attend Hillcrest. I know, because our family did and continues to do so.)
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
overthemoon (Anonymous) says…
Well, I respect your opinion but I am not sure everyone thinks that way??
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
Pilgrim2 (Anonymous) says…
You are right as it stands. My reference suggests that we may be allowed to increase our contribution and that is what I was thinking when I wrote the note. It is easier to win support for tax increases if the populace feels they have not been taken.
jafs (anonymous) says…
Wow - people don't like this woman.
I agree the tone is a bit off-putting, but let's look at some facts:
She moved here with a good job and wants to live/work in Lawrence, which will benefit local businesses.
She bought an existing house in an existing neighborhood, not a new development, reducing sprawl.
She spent a fair amount of money on renovations (some energy efficient ones), benefitting a number of Lawrence businesspeople.
She wants her children to go to neighborhood schools with some diversity.
By all means, let's chase people like this away - then the only folks who'll move here are the transient homeless ones.
Boosh (anonymous) says…
Anybody else reminded of the ol' High Heel Pregnant Mary Kay Ice Slip Incident
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/aug...
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
jafs (Anonymous) says…
Hi, Does this only apply to mothers protecting their cubs? What about the retirees who moved here, into an exisitng neighboorhood volunteered for a number of social causes, fixed up their home and are now being taxed out of it by people that want everything and worse want someone else to pay!!!
jafs (anonymous) says…
Moderate,
I'm not sure what you're referring to at all.
The point of my post was that although this woman's tone is a bit unpleasant, her move to Lawrence will benefit Lawrence in a variety of ways.
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
Pilgrim2 (Anonymous) says…
That is what the referenced bill; would do!!!
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
Pilgrim2 (Anonymous) says…
Not really, I did not vote for it - you know all that about majority rule!
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
jafs (Anonymous) says…
I did not understand your post that way. I do hope she turns out to be a positive influence - but you know that personal desires really should play back seat to the larger consequences- like higher taxes for everyone.
jafs (anonymous) says…
Again,
Her move benefits Lawrence in the ways I specified in my post.
It's not that complicated.
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
jafs (Anonymous) says…
Well, I guess I need to be more clear. We are not benefited by people who believe that other people owe them things. We have way to many politically correct victims.
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
jafs (Anonymous) says…
see:
http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/loyal...
jafs (anonymous) says…
George,
Your take that this woman believes that others owe her things seems off to me.
She has a good job.
She bought and renovated a house.
She researched and found a neighborhood with a good school.
She moved across the country.
I don't see a "victim" mentality at work here at all.
After carefully researching and finding a neighborhood with a good school for her child, she is simply upset that the school may now be closed.
If I had put the time/energy/money into finding that neighborhood, buying and renovating that house, and moving, I'd be upset too.
And, you again completely fail to see the benefits of her choices I listed in my first post.
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
jafs (Anonymous) says…
Well sir/mam, I view the threat to leave unless her kids school was protected as the cry of a "victim" . I am glad she did her homework, we need more of that. However, change happens. If we need to close schools they should all be on the block and financial and academic decisions made. It is very unfair to support schools, however diverse, with low pupil-teacher ratios when there are schools with much higher ratios. Be nice if we could afford to fix it for all but if we cannot then some sacrifice may need to be made.
jafs (anonymous) says…
Interesting - I see her threat to leave as the action of an empowered person who sees that she has choices and the ability to change her situation. Hardly the outlook of a "victim".
And, for the last time, why do you fail to recognize the concrete benefits to Lawrence of this woman's decisions that I specified quite clearly in my first post?
By the way, if any schools are closed, does it not follow that class sizes in the other schools will immediately increase? The children need to go to school somewhere, don't they?
So, by your logic, we close the schools with lower pupil/student ratios and send those children to the other ones, which already have higher ratios, increasing them even further?
Hmm.
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
jafs (Anonymous) says…
Interesting - I see her threat to leave as the action of an empowered person who sees that she has choices and the ability to change her situation. Hardly the outlook of a “victim”.
I am not going to argue that with you. I can see it that way too,
Well, my understanding is that many of our smaller schools have lower pupil-teachers ratios - so the displaced kids could go to those schools.
I do agree we should try to balance those ratios. The SOS people want to increase class size in schools with already large pupil-teacher ratios. That isn't good either.
I do not want to do this but I resent being mislead. See soon to come blog about framing issues.
Moderate (George Lippencott) says…
see:
http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/loyal...