To the editor:
Several incidents have occurred during the process to close Wakarusa Valley where facts were not presented in an open manner. Enumerated below are examples of discrepancies and/or misinformation.
Parents of Broken Arrow students were not notified directly of the potential boundary changes leading many BA parents to realize the impact for their families just days before the vote.
At the March 28 school board meeting, USD 497 presented incomplete and misleading information on bus routes.
Dr. Doll stated on March 28 that the task force was never told to cut $3 million from elementary budgets. However, within the task force Draft for Discussion dated Jan. 31, 2011, the task force was told to plan for budget cuts of $3 million. When task force members asked to look at other budget items, they were told to look only at elementary schools.
The public was told that closing schools was necessary because of the $3 million shortfall as well as future projected budget cuts. Yet now full-day kindergarten at Sunflower and BA will be funded by the savings realized by closure of WV.
The budget cuts necessary to reach $3 million were not revealed until the March 28 meeting, preventing the public from meaningful interaction with the district about these cuts or the possibility of saving an additional, relatively small portion to save WV.
As we continue to move forward, transparency and consistency are vital to maintain trust in our elected officials, district administrators, and the process of school consolidation.
Comments
Getaroom 6 years, 2 months ago
Oneeye, perhaps you are seeing a bit less clearly with your monocular view of the world. Were you ever a child or have you ever had children? What a snipe comment!
Cogito_Ergo_Es 6 years, 2 months ago
Well that is Wilbur's mantra! He repeats it in comments for EVERY article related to schools. And I can virtually assure you no one from the rural Wakarusa Valley area will be voting in favor of another bond issue! Even those that live out here that do not have children attending elementary school will not vote for it simply because it makes no sense. Why would you close a perfectly good building with no facility problems, only to come back and ask for my of my tax dollars to build a new school our rural children won't even go to???? And surely, Wilbur, you've read enough of these online comments to know that the people of Lawrence are fed up with capital funds being used for athletic fields, large land purchases on the east side, and big shiny buildings for administrators. I think the people of Lawrence will make the right choice this time.
grimpeur 6 years, 2 months ago
The sad reality is that many voters--voters who might otherwise be generally in favor of necessary school bonds--will be unlikely to support future bond issues, especially for capital projects that might have been funded already if not for the hasty and ill-planned stadium fiasco and related squandering of precious resources.
Cogito_Ergo_Es 6 years, 2 months ago
Yes, it is likely this current board and administration will go down as the ones that valued fields more than school buildings. That's their legacy.
Synjyn Smythe 6 years, 2 months ago
Ms. Hart: You were deceived.
"As we continue to move forward, transparency and consistency are vital to maintain trust in our elected officials, district administrators, and the process of school consolidation." I was taught that trust must be earned and can be easily lost. What did Doll ever do you earn your trust to begin with? Minder? Morgan? You were railroaded. Minder's "new urbanism" beliefs make it impossible for him to objectively view rural issues. He infected Doll and the process and saw Baldwin's closure of rural schools as a license to steal yours!
Richard Heckler 6 years, 2 months ago
Vote NO on all incumbents Tuesday April 5
kravist1 6 years, 2 months ago
It's not just the lone incumbent you want to keep off the board, its Keith Diaz Moore, Rick Ingram, and Randy Masten. They are all affiliated with SONS, the organization that through Jessica Beeson's maneuverings on the task force committee, spearheaded the charge to close Wakarusa instead of one of the other downtown schools which would have saved more money. Shannon Kimball was also on the taskforce and voted "Yes" to the closure, and supported the flawed conclusion that "class size doesn't matter".
kugrad 6 years, 2 months ago
That is a flat out lie followed by another lie.
SONS never "spearheaded the charge to close Wakarusa instead of one of the downtown schools." There is not one iota of truth in that assertion. SONS, as an organization, did not seek only to keep certain schools open. To the contrary, they opposed closing Wakarusa. You are simply wrong.
While I can't speak for Ms. Kimball, I have spoken directly with her and I know that she believes strongly that class sizes do matter.
It it not helpful, during an election season, to put false information out there.
Stephen Roberts 6 years, 2 months ago
I am confused was Sonja on the Elementary School Task Force or did she want to be on the BUDGET committee? Her complains about the district not being open concerns me. Is she so special that Dr. Doll needs to consult her on all decisions?? Maybe she should run for school board!!!
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