Letters to the Editor 09-12-2003
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Fair Thanks - Warsaw Schools - Tootsie Roll Thanks - Prayer Vigil - WCS School Board - School Closings
Fair Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:Fair week is always an exciting time for everyone involved. On behalf of the fair board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors, media, many volunteers and staff who made this year's fair possible.
We also appreciate the support of everyone in our community and surrounding areas.
We look forward to another great fair next year. The fair dates for next year are July 19-24. The NTPA Truck Pull and Show and Shine will be held July 23-24. See you then!
Steven R. Trump
President
Kosciusko County Fair Board
Warsaw Schools
Editor, Times-Union:Warsaw Community Schools has an immediate situation that needs to be addressed. There needs to be more money coming in or less money going out. Medical care is constantly increasing for all of us. Heating cost is higher for all of us. It is understandable expenses are higher for the schools. Some expenses that had been paid at the state level have been shifted to the local level. With the budget problems at the state, this trend is not likely to change anytime soon. For the past eight years, WCS has spent more than it has taken in. Should property taxes be raised? If you are on a fixed income, paying higher property tax seems unfair, especially when millions are being spent on new buildings.
How can we cut expenses? Should programs be eliminated? Should there be fewer teachers and more students per class? Should extracurricular programs be eliminated? Should athletics be eliminated? I don't think anyone in this community wants to see the children's education suffer or the activities that help build character in our youth eliminated.
Is closing the three grade schools a long-term solution to the budget deficit? Savings will be very minimal at first and the truth of it is closing the three grade schools commits WCS to building new grade schools. This will probably commit the taxpayers to pay $4 to $5 million a year until 2020 to service the debt. WCS will be able to raise property taxes for the general fund to operate the new facilities. An alternative is a referendum that has to be voted in every seven years to raise property tax for the general fund. Then you can scale back building programs and reduce the total property tax.
There is no easy solution but it makes no sense to me to close one of the highest ranked elementary schools in the state.
Bruce Ferguson
Warsaw
via e-mail
Tootsie Roll Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:I want to personally thank everyone who participated in the Knights of Columbus Council 4511 annual Tootsie Roll drive in May 2003. From the volunteers, to the businesses, to the mayor's office, to the chief of police, and most importantly to the people who drove by or donated at the store front all contributed to its success.
From the time about four years ago to the present that I have participated in the Tootsie Roll drive, my council has raised the most money in the state. The best part is 100 percent of the money raised stays in Warsaw, and, like previous years, we donated the money to the Cardinal Center and Special Olympics. We could not have done this without the great support from this city.
The people here definitely have a spirit of God about them. For I can truly say for Warsaw, that Warsaw lives the Bible verse of "whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me."
God bless you all.
Ed Waldschmidt
Grand Knight
Knights of Columbus
Council 4511
via e-mail
Prayer Vigil
Editor, Times-Union:I want to thank the Times-Union for the picture and brief explanation about the prayer vigil held on Monday night. A big thank-you to all those who participated.
I also want to take this opportunity to voice my concern about the school situation. I am concerned that Warsaw and Winona Lake are remaining silent about this issue. I hope that these two cities will realize that if the board decides on closing these three elementary schools that these kids from Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake will be coming to your schools. As you know, Washington and Eisenhower cannot accomodate all these kids - so what happens, your kids will be displaced! Your kids will be ripped from your schools and put in other schools. THINK ABOUT THAT. If you want to do something about this, folks, then join us in a demonstration today from 2-4 p.m. at the administration building in protest. And then on Monday, Sept. 15, come together and join us all day from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. for a public demonstration. If you have any questions, call me at 574-566-2808. Bring your kids, your families, your neighbors in Atwood, Claypool, Silver Lake, Warsaw and Winona Lake and tell Dr. McGuire, Jim Folk, Cathy Folk, Larry Chamberlain, Craig Allebach and Mark Minatel that we will not stand for our children to be ripped out of our schools and put in portable classrooms. Leave the schools alone or build onto Atwood, Claypool or Silver Lake so we don't have the overcrowding and, as Dr. McGuire says, a "rippling" of students.
Jason Gross
Pastor
Claypool UMC
via e-mail
WCS School Board
Editor, Times-Union:The school board meeting is fast approaching and emotions are running at an all-time high. Comments made about the money being spent on the high school improvements (voted on and approved more than a year ago), comments about potentially overcrowded classrooms and schools, and finally, about bringing your kids to the board meeting. With all due respect, while this does affect our kids, this does not need to involve our kids. People can sometimes lose control at meetings like this and I for one would not want to subject my children to a situation like that. Does closing the three smaller schools automatically mean that their quality of education will be affected? Does closing the three smaller schools automatically mean overcrowded classrooms and schools? In my opinion, the answer to both is a resounding NO. Please, please, please, take a step back and take a look at the facts and figures that are available on the school corporation Web site. These are not easy decisions for the school board, but our corporation is in a situation where these financial issues need to be resolved. Keep in mind, building funds and operational funds are and always have been separate accounts as mandated by the state. You say stop the building, OK, we'd still be in the same place we are now with the operational budget. If the board votes against the proposal, school-wide cuts will begin because if our ELECTED board cannot resolve the financial situation, the state government would probably step in and tell them what to cut and what to keep; not a good place to be. I will close with a plea for everyone: please, take the time to get the facts and take the time to look at the big picture. It's not just today, tomorrow or even next year, it's about the future years to come and the continued success and excellent education provided by the Warsaw Community School Corp.
Laura Wagner
Warsaw
via e-mail
School Closings
Editor, Times-Union:I am not a math whiz, nor am I a financial analyst, but I do know when things don't add up. We currently have 10 elementary schools with a total capacity of 4,094. If we allow the school board to close three of these schools (Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake), the total capacity will be reduced to 3,583 students. Do you know the current enrollment for our elementary schools? 3,592. Now, like I said, I'm not a mathematician, but I do know that if these three schools are closed and our students are moved into the remaining seven schools, we will be over capacity, with no room for future growth. This is not acceptable. On the news the other day, Mayor Wiggins stated that Warsaw's orthopedic industry is growing (referring to the DePuy expansion project). To me, that could translate to more families being recruited into Warsaw by these businesses. Who knows what the enrollment numbers will be in the future. The Gann-McKibbin enrollment projections for the past three years have been consistently below the actual enrollment count. We must speak out and let the school board know that we will not allow them to close three schools before a plan is in place to address the overcrowding. Dr. McGuire, in his radio interview, stated that he would need to build new schools at some point. Dr. Harman previously indicated that they would not close the schools until the new schools were built, to keep from redistricting twice. That is no longer the plan. I think there needs to be a compromise. I have my thoughts on possible solutions and I'm sure you have yours. My only hope is that you will attend the upcoming school board meeting on Monday and let the board know that you have an opinion and that they were elected to represent you and your concerns. If you think that this will not affect you because your children do not attend one of the three schools that are being targeted, think again! With the redistricting being slated to begin early next year, it will indeed affect all of us with students in the Warsaw school system.
Ginger Barnes
Warsaw
via e-mail
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- Fair Thanks - Warsaw Schools - Tootsie Roll Thanks - Prayer Vigil - WCS School Board - School Closings
Fair Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:Fair week is always an exciting time for everyone involved. On behalf of the fair board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors, media, many volunteers and staff who made this year's fair possible.
We also appreciate the support of everyone in our community and surrounding areas.
We look forward to another great fair next year. The fair dates for next year are July 19-24. The NTPA Truck Pull and Show and Shine will be held July 23-24. See you then!
Steven R. Trump
President
Kosciusko County Fair Board
Warsaw Schools
Editor, Times-Union:Warsaw Community Schools has an immediate situation that needs to be addressed. There needs to be more money coming in or less money going out. Medical care is constantly increasing for all of us. Heating cost is higher for all of us. It is understandable expenses are higher for the schools. Some expenses that had been paid at the state level have been shifted to the local level. With the budget problems at the state, this trend is not likely to change anytime soon. For the past eight years, WCS has spent more than it has taken in. Should property taxes be raised? If you are on a fixed income, paying higher property tax seems unfair, especially when millions are being spent on new buildings.
How can we cut expenses? Should programs be eliminated? Should there be fewer teachers and more students per class? Should extracurricular programs be eliminated? Should athletics be eliminated? I don't think anyone in this community wants to see the children's education suffer or the activities that help build character in our youth eliminated.
Is closing the three grade schools a long-term solution to the budget deficit? Savings will be very minimal at first and the truth of it is closing the three grade schools commits WCS to building new grade schools. This will probably commit the taxpayers to pay $4 to $5 million a year until 2020 to service the debt. WCS will be able to raise property taxes for the general fund to operate the new facilities. An alternative is a referendum that has to be voted in every seven years to raise property tax for the general fund. Then you can scale back building programs and reduce the total property tax.
There is no easy solution but it makes no sense to me to close one of the highest ranked elementary schools in the state.
Bruce Ferguson
Warsaw
via e-mail
Tootsie Roll Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:I want to personally thank everyone who participated in the Knights of Columbus Council 4511 annual Tootsie Roll drive in May 2003. From the volunteers, to the businesses, to the mayor's office, to the chief of police, and most importantly to the people who drove by or donated at the store front all contributed to its success.
From the time about four years ago to the present that I have participated in the Tootsie Roll drive, my council has raised the most money in the state. The best part is 100 percent of the money raised stays in Warsaw, and, like previous years, we donated the money to the Cardinal Center and Special Olympics. We could not have done this without the great support from this city.
The people here definitely have a spirit of God about them. For I can truly say for Warsaw, that Warsaw lives the Bible verse of "whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me."
God bless you all.
Ed Waldschmidt
Grand Knight
Knights of Columbus
Council 4511
via e-mail
Prayer Vigil
Editor, Times-Union:I want to thank the Times-Union for the picture and brief explanation about the prayer vigil held on Monday night. A big thank-you to all those who participated.
I also want to take this opportunity to voice my concern about the school situation. I am concerned that Warsaw and Winona Lake are remaining silent about this issue. I hope that these two cities will realize that if the board decides on closing these three elementary schools that these kids from Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake will be coming to your schools. As you know, Washington and Eisenhower cannot accomodate all these kids - so what happens, your kids will be displaced! Your kids will be ripped from your schools and put in other schools. THINK ABOUT THAT. If you want to do something about this, folks, then join us in a demonstration today from 2-4 p.m. at the administration building in protest. And then on Monday, Sept. 15, come together and join us all day from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. for a public demonstration. If you have any questions, call me at 574-566-2808. Bring your kids, your families, your neighbors in Atwood, Claypool, Silver Lake, Warsaw and Winona Lake and tell Dr. McGuire, Jim Folk, Cathy Folk, Larry Chamberlain, Craig Allebach and Mark Minatel that we will not stand for our children to be ripped out of our schools and put in portable classrooms. Leave the schools alone or build onto Atwood, Claypool or Silver Lake so we don't have the overcrowding and, as Dr. McGuire says, a "rippling" of students.
Jason Gross
Pastor
Claypool UMC
via e-mail
WCS School Board
Editor, Times-Union:The school board meeting is fast approaching and emotions are running at an all-time high. Comments made about the money being spent on the high school improvements (voted on and approved more than a year ago), comments about potentially overcrowded classrooms and schools, and finally, about bringing your kids to the board meeting. With all due respect, while this does affect our kids, this does not need to involve our kids. People can sometimes lose control at meetings like this and I for one would not want to subject my children to a situation like that. Does closing the three smaller schools automatically mean that their quality of education will be affected? Does closing the three smaller schools automatically mean overcrowded classrooms and schools? In my opinion, the answer to both is a resounding NO. Please, please, please, take a step back and take a look at the facts and figures that are available on the school corporation Web site. These are not easy decisions for the school board, but our corporation is in a situation where these financial issues need to be resolved. Keep in mind, building funds and operational funds are and always have been separate accounts as mandated by the state. You say stop the building, OK, we'd still be in the same place we are now with the operational budget. If the board votes against the proposal, school-wide cuts will begin because if our ELECTED board cannot resolve the financial situation, the state government would probably step in and tell them what to cut and what to keep; not a good place to be. I will close with a plea for everyone: please, take the time to get the facts and take the time to look at the big picture. It's not just today, tomorrow or even next year, it's about the future years to come and the continued success and excellent education provided by the Warsaw Community School Corp.
Laura Wagner
Warsaw
via e-mail
School Closings
Editor, Times-Union:I am not a math whiz, nor am I a financial analyst, but I do know when things don't add up. We currently have 10 elementary schools with a total capacity of 4,094. If we allow the school board to close three of these schools (Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake), the total capacity will be reduced to 3,583 students. Do you know the current enrollment for our elementary schools? 3,592. Now, like I said, I'm not a mathematician, but I do know that if these three schools are closed and our students are moved into the remaining seven schools, we will be over capacity, with no room for future growth. This is not acceptable. On the news the other day, Mayor Wiggins stated that Warsaw's orthopedic industry is growing (referring to the DePuy expansion project). To me, that could translate to more families being recruited into Warsaw by these businesses. Who knows what the enrollment numbers will be in the future. The Gann-McKibbin enrollment projections for the past three years have been consistently below the actual enrollment count. We must speak out and let the school board know that we will not allow them to close three schools before a plan is in place to address the overcrowding. Dr. McGuire, in his radio interview, stated that he would need to build new schools at some point. Dr. Harman previously indicated that they would not close the schools until the new schools were built, to keep from redistricting twice. That is no longer the plan. I think there needs to be a compromise. I have my thoughts on possible solutions and I'm sure you have yours. My only hope is that you will attend the upcoming school board meeting on Monday and let the board know that you have an opinion and that they were elected to represent you and your concerns. If you think that this will not affect you because your children do not attend one of the three schools that are being targeted, think again! With the redistricting being slated to begin early next year, it will indeed affect all of us with students in the Warsaw school system.
Ginger Barnes
Warsaw
via e-mail
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