Parents Voice Concerns about Plan, by Louisa Murzyn, NWI [Gary IN], March 20, 2007

Parents Voice Concerns about Plan

By Louisa Murzyn
NWI [Gary IN]
March 20, 2007

http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2007/03/20/news/top_news/doca247c2d6224b75b8862572a4001d52b3.txt

St. John — Dozens of teachers and parents filled Monday night's School Board meeting to oppose the Lake Central School Corp. contingency plan to open Clark Middle School in January if the building now under construction is not ready for students in August.

Lake Central Teacher Association President Bob Gustas said a midyear move would be disruptive to students, teachers and the educational process. He requested that if the contingency plan is enacted that teachers and students not move into the new school building until August 2008 instead of January.

Gustas also presented the board with a list of other concerns.

Superintendent Janet Emerick said she had not received one e-mail or phone call regarding the contingency plan, which has been in progress for months.

"We also desperately want Clark to open this fall," she said. "We're concerned more about the disruptive environment of overcrowding. It never occurred to me that anyone would want to endure that for two semesters."

Class sizes would be large because there would not be enough classrooms. The deadline for whether Clark will open in August will be May 1.

Assistant Superintendent Rocky Killion said the contingency plan had been on the discussion agenda with the union several times before Monday night's meeting and no one had disagreed with the contingency plan as presented.

"I don't think this was fair to the administration, and I think it's irresponsible to have a building that is done sitting there for eight months while you have teachers traveling in carts from room to room because of overcrowding," he said.

Kolling teacher Phil Krygsheld said no disrespect was intended. "We trust your wisdom and decision," he said. "We're on the same side. The teachers want to know what's going to happen but we just keep being told to wait."

Parent Pam Gentz said it felt like feedback wasn't important. "We've been told what to do and not given a voice in the matter," she said.

Member Nancy Gary expressed admiration for the teachers, but struggled with the prospect of leaving the building idle.

"Help me explain to the people I see at the grocery store and church how we incurred this debt yet are making a conscious choice to keep the school vacant knowing that most of the property owners don't have a child in our schools," she said.

Member Margaret Clark felt residents were afraid of the unknown and asked for optimism. "Keep telling yourself we're going to be in there in August. We'll make it," she said.

Member John DeVries said students are adaptable and weren't being given enough credit. Member George Baranowski said he toured the construction site today and thought the discussion could very well be moot.

"From what I can tell, we should be close to getting the school finished on time," he said. "You can't tell from the road, but there's a lot of work done on the inside."