A few thoughts:STAMFORD - Parents, students and staff at Toquam and Rogers magnet elementary schools finally may learn the fate of their schools at a special meeting tonight.
At the meeting at 7 tonight on the fifth floor of the government center, the Board of Education is scheduled to vote on which school to close and how to transfer its students to the new state-funded Environmental Magnet School under construction in the Cove.
"We are going to come out and continue to try to show our support. I think the term we are using is 'cautiously hopeful,' " said Jeff Herz, the father of three Toquam students.
Because enrollment is declining and the state is providing money to build the environment-themed school, the Board of Education decided to close an older school. The proposal to shut Toquam in Springdale created controversy because it is academically successful.
Mayor Dannel Malloy and Rogers parents have pushed to close Rogers and move its students, staff and its International Baccalaureate program from that aging building on Lockwood Avenue into the new Environmental Magnet School.
At a meeting in May, the board voted not to close Julia A. Stark Elementary School on Glenbrook Road but left Toquam's fate in limbo, so the scenarios for moving Rogers' students could be studied.
"Educationally, financially and politically, moving Rogers to EMS makes more sense to me," said Thano Chaltas, a Rogers parent.
At the regular board meeting last Tuesday, Chaltas unveiled the results of the Rogers working group, which recommended that Rogers expand to include kindergarten through eighth grade at the new school.
The Environmental Magnet School was envisioned as a prekindergarten through eighth-grade program. Another alternative, to make it a kindergarten through fifth-grade program, would require permission from the state and put nearly $40 million in state funding at risk, according to the group's report.
If Rogers continues operating as is, the city will have to spend $10 million to $15 million to bring it up to code, Chaltas said.
I never said we will "try to" show our support. As Yoda said "there is no try, do or do not" Either we will be there and show our support or not bother and won't show up tonight. I am planning on being their tonight, and hopefully everyone else from Toquam that has been dragged through this mess for the past 10 months will also be there to show the Board that Toquam will not go quietly (note we are going to Tiernan's after the vote win or lose)
I did say that I hope the board has heard from the parents and the mayor that closing Toquam is a mistake
I hope the board heard what the community has said; from the Mayor, the Parents and the working committee that Rogers should be the school that is closed and relocated to the new Environmental Magnet School.
I pledge if the Board chooses to close Toquam tonight, that I, like Yoda above, will continue to fight for what is good for my children and the city of Stamford even if I have to move the dingy swamps of Degobah to make this happen.
Regardless of the outcome, I am glad that this vote is finally happening. This debate has been going on too long, and the majority of the district is tired and scared that their school might be the next one targeted for closure. It would seem that the proposed school closing of the month, might finally be a thing of the past.
Separating the school closure issue from the redistricting process, might be the smartest thing this board of education has done since I have been following this mess. By deciding on the one issue, they can move forward and implement the redistricting plan over a number of years, rather than forcing all changes by September 2009.
Although this vote is necessary and the decoupling of the issues is an intelligent decision, to call for a vote in the middle of the summer, when almost no one is paying attention to the school board (especially after the board asked the superintendent to create a redistricting plan to be presented August 26), seems almost ludicrous.
Right now, the Stamford Times is showing that 75% of those taking the poll believe that Rogers should be closed.
Finally, to echo the sentiments of other Toquam parents, the best part about this battle has been that we have been drawn together as a community and hopefully can use this camaraderie and experience gained this year, to build a stronger Toquam for this coming school year. We can focus all the energy we have used to make signs, attend Board meetings and organizational meeting, to help build a stronger school and better scholars.
Shouldn't that have been the goal in the first place?
1 comment:
Too bad the real Yoda (I know) couldn't be there. A few mind tricks and the threat of some Jedi whoopin' and people come around so much quicker.
Post a Comment