tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post2260807458552222842..comments2023-11-07T06:56:59.563-05:00Comments on Ann Arbor Schools Musings: But Was It Worth It?Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10531344380743742801noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-50289176376658194372010-03-10T16:37:01.987-05:002010-03-10T16:37:01.987-05:00Fascinating beginning - left me waiting for future...Fascinating beginning - left me waiting for future posts. I moved here (no kids) just as all that was happening and I'll be interested to see your analysis.Vivienne Armentrouthttp://localannarbor.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-30019785239822181782010-03-10T13:19:20.169-05:002010-03-10T13:19:20.169-05:00Anon,
I will get to the unintended consequences-...Anon, <br /><br />I will get to the unintended consequences--hopefully within the week.<br /><br />YpsiAnon--I think that's a question for people in other school districts--who is satisfied with their school district's approach to these issues?<br /><br />In fairness to all the districts, theinstability of the current state budget, and the lack of ability for local school districts to take charge of their own income stream (they cannot levy funds directly) make it difficult to have the longer timelines that they used in 1985 and--as you point out--in Ypsilanti in 2005.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10531344380743742801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-11695247225207124312010-03-10T10:08:16.210-05:002010-03-10T10:08:16.210-05:00In Ypsi, one elementary was closed in the '90s...In Ypsi, one elementary was closed in the '90s (Fletcher), and there are still hard feelings about it. Those feelings are not because a school was closed, but because this was not the targeted school. It was a last-minute switch that caught the public off guard.<br /><br />When the two elementaries (Ardis and George) were closed in '05, everyone knew for the entire year that buildings had to close. An enrollment decline had become an enrollment plunge, and the buildings were operating well under capacity. Of 6 elementaries, 2 were "safe" (well-attended and stronger academically) and 4 were being debated for closure. The programs that had made 2 of these schools special had already been abandoned, and many of their strongest supporters had moved on. Whether that played a role or not, those were the 2 that were chosen. <br /><br />Before the decision was made, there were many opportunities for public input, and I believe the school board considered a lot of that input in their deliberations. At least, I think most of the public felt that way. By the time of the announcement, administration already had a plan in place on how to implement the changes and how to address the needs of the children. I didn't witness a lot of anger and anguish, perhaps because people were better prepared.<br /><br />This time is a completely different story. Not only are things going too quickly, but the proposals were prepared without public input. The public presentations of the proposals asked for feedback and suggestions, but there is no evidence that any of it has been considered. There is a very strong feeling here that it's a "done deal," and the board and administration have done little to disprove this feeling. There has been nothing concrete presented that shows a transition plan. <br /><br />There are so many things wrong with this process that I expect a giant enrollment drop come fall, as parents move on to someplace where they feel they may be heard. (That would be an example of an unintended consequence.) <br /><br />Now, where that magical school district is, I am hard-pressed to say! Are there any public school districts in the area that ARE listening?<br /><br />- YpsiAnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-64306522766229336182010-03-10T08:11:50.379-05:002010-03-10T08:11:50.379-05:00I am curious about the unintended consequences. W...I am curious about the unintended consequences. What do you observe there? It is a good questions to address before, not after.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com