I've been reading about the Warsaw Community Schools building/redistricting stuff in the newspaper.

I think it's too bad that a number of WCS patrons seem to have lost faith in the school board's ability to make decisions regarding the education of their kids.

I also wonder how big a number of patrons have actually lost faith. I wonder if it is just patrons around Silver Lake, Claypool and Atwood, where the school board is proposing to close schools, or if people outside those areas have raised eyebrows.

It's always difficult and unpopular to close schools, and the school board is charged with making difficult decisions.

I understand that.

But I think the school board might have been able to smooth things over with the public a little better than they did.

In July 2002 finance manager Rande Thorpe said the school corporation was facing a deficit and that "reductions in staff and programs are not just possible but likely" unless new revenue is received.

Then, in October, the board went ahead with a proposed $41-million building program.

That building program was originally proposed in March 2002. But in April 2002, Thorpe said that, because of the education budget cuts at the state level and the uncertainty of state financing, "We believe it's prudent to keep those things on hold" until it's clear what funding is coming from the state.

I would like to note here that to this day - 16 months later - it is still unclear what funding is coming from the state.

The $41-million plan proposed in October included the following:

• A new three-section school to be built in Prairie Township to replace Atwood Elementary;

• An auditorium and performing arts center at Warsaw Community High School;

• Outdoor physical development facilities at WCHS, including a track; football, softball and soccer fields; band practice area; and "all related infrastructure to support these facilities";

• A weight and wrestling room at WCHS;

• An addition to the central office building to house technology and other support services.

In November, the board approved a scaled-back, $30 million plan which included everything but the new school - everything but the educational part, and added changes to the WCHS cafeteria and administration offices.

I suppose one could argue successfully that the auditorium and performing arts center is educational, but not purely educational.

The rest, however, is athletic or administrative.

In April of this year, after a demographic study, there was a proposal to close Atwood and Silver Lake, build a new school in Claypool or renovate the existing school in Claypool and build a new school in Prairie Township.

In May, it was recommended that Atwood, Silver Lake, Claypool and Jefferson elementaries be closed with news schools built in Winona Lake and Prairie Township.

In June, it was recommended that Atwood, Silver Lake, Claypool and Jefferson be closed with a new school in Winona Lake and renovation at Claypool. The Prairie Township School is now off the table.

The board actually approved this plan in June at a cost of $30 million.

In July, a group of patrons started remonstrance procedures to halt the building program.

Superintendent Dave McGuire, to avoid "dividing the community" changed gears again.

As it stands now, Silver Lake, Atwood and Claypool will be closed and nothing will be built.

So you can see where some people probably might be wondering what in the world is going on.

It's tough keeping up.

Closing a school is simply a matter of a board vote and is not open to remonstrance.

And closing the schools will save the corporation almost $700,000 a year. (Their goal is to save $300,000.)

But you know, there really do seem to be some drawbacks to the current plan.

I think closing schools in Atwood, Silver Lake and Claypool will really hurt what is left of those towns. You can't hang a price tag on something like that.

You need look no further than any other small town that lost its school to see the result. It's predictable. It's inevitable.

The town loses its school and inherits a big empty building for its trouble.

Some 450 students will be displaced through redistricting and have long bus rides every day.

I am fairly confident that the level of parent participation in elementary school activities will decline for those kids. It's easy for mom and dad to run to parents' night when the school is right around the corner.

The use of portable classrooms, which will likely be necessitated by this plan, also doesn't sit well with lots of parents.

And I think, generally, people tend to wax nostalgic about small schools because most people in their late 40s or older actually went to one.

Nonetheless, the school board is charged with making a decision regarding the future and financial health of the school corporation. And I think they're trying to be good stewards of our tax dollars.

And perhaps we simply can't afford the luxury of small schools anymore.

But I think a large part of what is fueling the fire of discontent among some patrons is a seeming state of indecision and mixed signals.

And while I am familiar with how school funding works and realize there are different funds for operations and construction, I am sure it is difficult for some taxpayers to rationalize a $7-million athletic complex on the one hand and elementary kids placed in portable classrooms on the other.

Or a $30-million, largely non-educational building program on the one hand and the need to save $300,000 a year by closing elementary schools on the other.

All of it is tax money.

It's clear there is no easy solution and no matter what is decided, some will disagree.

My hope for the situation is that the school board is able to clearly communicate its vision for the corporation to the taxpayers and fully justify its actions.

There must be no ulterior motives or no hidden agendas.

If the board members and administrators can do that, I think they will have a good chance of re-gaining the faith of their patrons. [[In-content Ad]]