Feedback reveals tension on school boundaries
Dec. 24—In a setting where months often go by with no public comment, St. Joseph Board of Education members got an earful at their recent meeting, mostly focused on school service areas.
Jennifer Ray, Jeff Leake, Bob Miller and City Councilman Madison Davis took turns to weigh in on the district's long-range plan, which envisions possible changes over time at the elementary and middle school levels. A final vote on the plan is expected before the end of the current academic year, and its implementation could begin in July.
"When you look at long-range planning, in some communities, long-range planning, boundaries alignment, those things take several years," Davis said. "In a couple of months, seven people are going to decide for this entire community what those boundaries are going to look like for everybody for next year. Not for two years from now. Not so you can plan but for next year."
Ray, an attorney with children enrolled at Skaith Elementary and Truman Middle schools, called the plan misguided and incomplete. In a follow-up interview, she said the district should bring balance to the high school system first. Currently, Central High School's student body is larger than the enrollments of Benton and Lafayette combined.
Ray supports a two-high-school model via the construction of two new structures funded by a bond issue, a concept Superintendent Gabe Edgar has said he favors but which has thus far not gained traction in the school board.
"And that way, all at once, we can have the high schools built and the boundaries changed," Ray said. "And when you do that, you're offering to the community, 'Hey look, I know we're changing boundaries, guys, and that's a huge change, but here's the incentive, here's why: These are the great things we're able to offer.' Right now, they're not doing that."
Leake, a teacher and coach at Lafayette High School, said he retains confidence in the process. It is correct to start the reform conversation with the lower grade levels, he said, because this will produce a better outcome for those students as they age. He said one obvious problem to solve now is to end the disjointed system in which some sixth-graders go to elementary school, and some go to middle school, based on where they reside.
"If we want to look at data, let's look at our sixth-graders and how our sixth-graders that are in the middle school really aren't having the same experience as our sixth-graders in the elementary schools," he said. "There's no community members out there begging for their sixth-graders in the elementary school to be in the middle school."
Each of the speakers said they don't intend to run for the Board of Education, but the election of April 2 nonetheless could have a big impact on this conversation, since up to three new board members could gain office. The candidates currently are Warren Ingram III, Mike Moore, Ronda Chesney, Sean Connors, Jacob McMillian and incumbent LaTonya Williams. The last opportunity for people to file will be from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, at the district's Administration Building, 1415 N. 26th St., the former Noyes Elementary School.
Marcus Clem can be reached at marcus.clem@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NPNowClem
