Patrons Express Displeasure With School Board
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Almost 100 people, including two state representatives and one state senator, packed into the conference room at the Warsaw Community Schools' administration building Monday, and almost all of them were there to voice their dissatisfaction with the superintendent and board.
The issue drawing so much fire was the superintendent's proposal to close the district's three smallest schools - Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake - and move the students into the remaining schools in Warsaw.
The proposal is the third since May made by superintendent Dr. Dave McGuire. The previous proposal - to renovate Claypool and build a new Jefferson Elementary - was remonstrated against, and the board voted Monday not to challenge the remonstrance.
McGuire caused a vocal reaction when he read his opening statement. One of the issues he mentioned was other programs that could be cut to save the small schools.
One question raised is why not cut sports, the gifted and talented program and special services and avoid cutting the small schools, he said. "My questions is, why cut services for many so a few can have a shorter bus ride?"
His statement was met with boos and shouts of "come on!"
Becky Thomas, one of the organizers of the remonstrance, told McGuire and the board, "I think right now people are not trusting you and the board for making these decisions," and questioned McGuire for changing his mind frequently.
"I find it ironic that I'm accused of not listening to people, then when I do, I'm accused of changing my mind," McGuire said.
Most of the patrons who spoke to the board Monday expressed a lack of confidence in the board's ability or willingness to listen to the public.
David Kolbe, a parent of four students in Warsaw Community Schools, recommended a community committee to study the issue and get back to the board in six months with recommendations.
"Nobody has a clue as to what you guys are doing," Kolbe said. "... You haven't made a case for closing the small schools."
Many other parents present asked for more specific figures on the cost of keeping the small schools open.
McGuire's opening statement Monday said closing the small schools would save approximately $300,000 per year.
"We have asked for specific figures on these cost savings. Show us," said Jeff Dotson of Silver Lake. "It's easy to spend money when it's not your money. Show the public where you can save this money."
McGuire said he and Rande Thorpe, WCS business manager, will get the figures together and post them on the WCS Web site.
Jennifer McCloughan, of Atwood, said many of the people present supported the original plan to build a new school in the northwest portion of the district and one in the southern part.
"If you had stayed with your original plan, we wouldn't be here right now," she said. "Can you go back to that plan?"
"I'm afraid we cannot turn back the clock," McGuire said.
"You've changed your mind all those other times, why not now?"
"There was no point where we said there would not be a northern school," McGuire said. "It's just not now. ... If the decision was made immediately to build, it still would take three years. We can't afford to keep those schools open in the meantime."
Several people said they would take their children out of Warsaw Community Schools before they would let them be bused from a small town and put into a portable classroom.
"I won't send my kids to a mobile home," one father said.
The board will vote next month on whether or not to close the three schools.
The school board also:
• Heard Thorpe's report on the 2004 budget. The proposed budget is $49,951,333 and, Thorpe said, includes no salary increases for teachers or administration.
Most of the budget is the general fund, which comprises salaries and benefits, and one of the problems is the rising cost of health insurance coverage, which increased more than $800,000 this year.
"The growth in our budget next year is benefits, pure and simple," he said.
Local school corporations also must totally pay for teachers' retirement funds, where in the past the state had contributed to this fund.
Still, expenses are greater than income, Thorpe said, and cuts will have to be made.
"None of the cuts that we will make will be pretty," he said. "... My biggest fear is that we've waited too long to make some cuts."
• Extended McGuire's contract for one year.
• Accepted base bids of $1,794,135 for construction on the administration building. Construction is slated to begin Sept. 1 and to be completed by April 30.
Warsaw School Board members are Craig Allebach, Larry Chamberlain, Gene England, Cathy Folk, Jim Folk, Mark Minatel and Ron Yeiter. The board meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the administration building. [[In-content Ad]]
Almost 100 people, including two state representatives and one state senator, packed into the conference room at the Warsaw Community Schools' administration building Monday, and almost all of them were there to voice their dissatisfaction with the superintendent and board.
The issue drawing so much fire was the superintendent's proposal to close the district's three smallest schools - Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake - and move the students into the remaining schools in Warsaw.
The proposal is the third since May made by superintendent Dr. Dave McGuire. The previous proposal - to renovate Claypool and build a new Jefferson Elementary - was remonstrated against, and the board voted Monday not to challenge the remonstrance.
McGuire caused a vocal reaction when he read his opening statement. One of the issues he mentioned was other programs that could be cut to save the small schools.
One question raised is why not cut sports, the gifted and talented program and special services and avoid cutting the small schools, he said. "My questions is, why cut services for many so a few can have a shorter bus ride?"
His statement was met with boos and shouts of "come on!"
Becky Thomas, one of the organizers of the remonstrance, told McGuire and the board, "I think right now people are not trusting you and the board for making these decisions," and questioned McGuire for changing his mind frequently.
"I find it ironic that I'm accused of not listening to people, then when I do, I'm accused of changing my mind," McGuire said.
Most of the patrons who spoke to the board Monday expressed a lack of confidence in the board's ability or willingness to listen to the public.
David Kolbe, a parent of four students in Warsaw Community Schools, recommended a community committee to study the issue and get back to the board in six months with recommendations.
"Nobody has a clue as to what you guys are doing," Kolbe said. "... You haven't made a case for closing the small schools."
Many other parents present asked for more specific figures on the cost of keeping the small schools open.
McGuire's opening statement Monday said closing the small schools would save approximately $300,000 per year.
"We have asked for specific figures on these cost savings. Show us," said Jeff Dotson of Silver Lake. "It's easy to spend money when it's not your money. Show the public where you can save this money."
McGuire said he and Rande Thorpe, WCS business manager, will get the figures together and post them on the WCS Web site.
Jennifer McCloughan, of Atwood, said many of the people present supported the original plan to build a new school in the northwest portion of the district and one in the southern part.
"If you had stayed with your original plan, we wouldn't be here right now," she said. "Can you go back to that plan?"
"I'm afraid we cannot turn back the clock," McGuire said.
"You've changed your mind all those other times, why not now?"
"There was no point where we said there would not be a northern school," McGuire said. "It's just not now. ... If the decision was made immediately to build, it still would take three years. We can't afford to keep those schools open in the meantime."
Several people said they would take their children out of Warsaw Community Schools before they would let them be bused from a small town and put into a portable classroom.
"I won't send my kids to a mobile home," one father said.
The board will vote next month on whether or not to close the three schools.
The school board also:
• Heard Thorpe's report on the 2004 budget. The proposed budget is $49,951,333 and, Thorpe said, includes no salary increases for teachers or administration.
Most of the budget is the general fund, which comprises salaries and benefits, and one of the problems is the rising cost of health insurance coverage, which increased more than $800,000 this year.
"The growth in our budget next year is benefits, pure and simple," he said.
Local school corporations also must totally pay for teachers' retirement funds, where in the past the state had contributed to this fund.
Still, expenses are greater than income, Thorpe said, and cuts will have to be made.
"None of the cuts that we will make will be pretty," he said. "... My biggest fear is that we've waited too long to make some cuts."
• Extended McGuire's contract for one year.
• Accepted base bids of $1,794,135 for construction on the administration building. Construction is slated to begin Sept. 1 and to be completed by April 30.
Warsaw School Board members are Craig Allebach, Larry Chamberlain, Gene England, Cathy Folk, Jim Folk, Mark Minatel and Ron Yeiter. The board meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the administration building. [[In-content Ad]]