Here's the link to the Powerpoint of the presentation given by Derrick Cox, PTC president of the Groves:
Thanks to Jennifer Ward for this summary. I've added a few things, and anyone else who remembers something we missed, let me know.
*The district summarized our financial situation and their proposal for fixing it, i.e. consolidating the Groves and Fairmount/NA and sending the 5th graders to NAMS.
*Our principal, Rich Sipe, with the NA principal in attendance, submitted an alternate consolidation plan: grades k-2 at NA and grades 3-5 at Oak Grove.
*The principal of NAMS presented what it would possibly look like to have 5th graders at NAMS.
*Derrick Cox, the Groves PTC president, presented a group of Groves parents' argument for a 4-day week.
Groves 4-Day Consolidation Plan
The remainder of the time was for questions and comments. Here's what I thought the general gist of the public response was:
*Adamant opposal to moving 5th graders to NAMS.
*A preference for a four day week over any type of consolidation.
*If consolidation is unavoidable, then the k-2 at NA, 3-5 at Oak Grove is the preferred model.
*District consolidation was touched on, though I think the district thinks of it differently from what I'm proposing.
*There was recognition that the root of the problem is in how the state funds education and that we need to also direct efforts there to promote long-lasting change.
* Two parents stated that their children were not challenged at NAMS like they had been at the Groves, and expressed their concerns that if 5th graders were sent to the middle school, the level of instruction would suffer.
*A modular unit at the Groves is too expensive. The district is not allowed by law to but a used modular, and setting up a new one would cost an estimated $85,000 (Mr. Sipe had given parents a similar number). Modular units also wear out faster than a "real" building.
Liisa Reid, Sandi Gordon, and Frank Bricker stayed for the entire meeting. Jerry Boehme was present, but had to leave early. Bill O'Bryan was not in attendance.
Dawn Davis spoke with Liisa Reid afterward and this was what she found out: "[Liisa Reid] is already familiar with at least some of the research presented last night. The Redmond school district did it for two years and just switched back to the five day week because it did not work for them. A big concern for the decision makers is that parents of secondary students oppose the four day week. It also sounds like there is hesitancy because we are a large district and it has not been tried at this level... Lisa also stated that in districts where big savings are to be found due to less substitute teachers it was because it takes a whole day to go to the doctor or the dentist and that is not the case in our area. "
