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Thread: Attn: Parents of city school students- more elementary schools scheduled to close.

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    Gold Member Night Owl's Avatar
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    Attn: Parents of city school students- more elementary schools scheduled to close.

    From the Buffalo News website, http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial...10/1053954.asp

    At least 4 schools to close out of 8 being considered
    By PETER SIMON
    News Staff Reporter
    12/10/2003

    Buffalo school officials are considering which of eight elementary and middle schools might be closed next fall as the system continues its efforts to cut costs and streamline operations.
    "At least four schools will close," said Superintendent Marion Canedo. "We simply can't afford to operate as many buildings as we have in the past."

    Eight schools already have been shut down in the last two years, and the district is committed to closing at least three more in both 2004-05 and 2005-06. Seventy-one schools are now in operation.

    Schools targeted for possible closing are: Follow Through Urban Learning Lab, 167 E. Utica St.; Harriet Ross Tubman Early Childhood Center, 33 Ash St.; School 18 Annex, 179 Albany St.; School 40, 89 Clare St.; School 43 Academy, 161 Benzinger St.; Campus North School 63, 120 Minnesota Ave.; St. Lawrence Academy School 86, 756 St. Lawrence Ave.; and WEB School 171, 1409 E. Delavan Ave.

    Proposed closings will be outlined at three public meetings over the next month, and the Board of Education hopes to make a final decision on Jan. 28.

    The closings are designed to save $8 million, as the district has outlined in its financial plan to the state control board, and to balance building use with declining enrollment. The number of schools closed will depend on that bottom line, said Andy Maddigan, a district spokesman.

    Some of the closings would be permanent, and the buildings would be turned over to the city. Others would involve "suspension of service," with the district holding on to the buildings for possible reuse at some point as schools or for other purposes.

    School officials are continuing to weigh their options, and "until we have the public meetings and get that feedback, nothing will be decided," Canedo said.

    Opposition already has surfaced from parents, staff members and community leaders at schools that might close.

    The Committee to Save School 40 has collected 360 signatures on petitions asking that the school remain open, and Dana S. Kazukiewicz, a committee organizer, has twice addressed the Board of Education.

    She said Tuesday that the school has strong programs, a talented and dedicated staff, and that many of the 235 students in grades prekindergarten through six walk to and from class.

    "To close it would be a travesty," Kazukiewicz said. "It would totally destroy the neighborhood."

    Protests also have been organized at several other schools slated for possible closing. Canedo said she sympathizes with the concerns of parents and teachers, but that economic necessity makes school closings essential.

    "I have never been to a building where people weren't upset and didn't say: "Close their building, not ours,' " she said. "They're all difficult. They're all heart-wrenching."

    In some cases, Canedo said, programs would remain largely intact, and simply move to new buildings. In others - including School 40 - pupils would pick new schools individually and be dispersed throughout the city.

    Public meetings will be held Monday at the Pfc. Grabiarz School of Excellence, 225 Lawn Ave.; Dec. 18 at Waterfront Elementary School, 95 Fourth St.; and Jan. 8 at Southside Elementary School, 430 Southside Parkway. All the meetings will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

    The meetings also will outline possible program and grade changes at other city schools.

    For example, Buffalo Traditional School, 450 Masten Ave., would be renovated and used as the future home of the Buffalo Academy for Visual & Performing Arts.

    ********************

    QUOTE:Proposed closings will be outlined at three public meetings over the next month, and the Board of Education hopes to make a final decision on Jan. 28.
    I surely hope the decisions will be held over until the end of the school year. Two years ago, Indian Park Academy was slated to "suspend services" and with this the Buffalo Board of Education planned the school to be shut down mid-year while the students were on Winter break. The community and parents fought them for at least to have the school complete the year. The parents won for the sake of their children and Indian Park Academy closed in June instead of January. The consideration on closing schools is always a difficult call, but the disruption of the children during the schoolyear brings too much chaos and confusion especially to the young students.

    Here are the dates again... anyone who has children in the public schools should consider attending these meetings.

    Monday at the Pfc. Grabiarz School of Excellence, 225 Lawn Ave.;
    Dec. 18 at Waterfront Elementary School, 95 Fourth St.;
    and Jan. 8 at Southside Elementary School, 430 Southside Parkway.

    All the meetings will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

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    UNSTABLE FOR CHILDREN

    This only achieves one thing for the school children. It's a lack of stability.

    Parents should protest the fact that they are spending a bazzillion dollars on reconstruction, but can't get funding for neighborhood schools.

    Buffalofamily.

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    Gold Member Night Owl's Avatar
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    I'm just in a pondering mood...

    these are a few quotes from what was written to start this thread.
    Seventy-one schools are now in operation.

    "At least four schools will close," said Superintendent Marion Canedo.

    Eight schools already have been shut down in the last two years,

    The closings are designed to save $8 million,

    Now, there are 71 schools in the city of Buffalo that are opened and according the New York State Lottery website $41,615,006.32 was given to aid Buffalo's education. Which means from basic math about $586,126.85 should be going to each school; this just coming from the NYS lottery alone. Combined with other revenue streams I am wondering why the Superintendent said "We simply can't afford to operate as many buildings as we have in the past."

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    Member Curmudgeon's Avatar
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    Simple: those remaining buildings are operating at less then 90% capacity. Many people are moving away.....
    Data is not the plural of Anecdote.

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    On the contrary, when comparing the 2000 census with 1990's, the population of students attending elementary and high school is higher in the city of Buffalo than ten years ago.

    Nearly 10,000 students (a thousand children per year) enrolled into school in ten years time is a lot, which means a large majority haven't 'moved away' and it's is evident that Buffalo still needs to keep many of its schools open. As of June (2004) 12 city schools, most being elementary will be shutdown in a three year time frame. All of this, while $41,615,006.32 from lottery funds was given to the Buffalo schools for education this Fiscal year.

    Curmudgeon, with the estimation you gave, only about 10% of the school buildings don't meet 100% capacity. IMO- I would much rather see 10% less students in a school building than the measure of 125% above capacity due to over-crowding.

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    *UPDATE* *UPDATE* *UPDATE* *UPDATE*

    The following four schools have been selected and will begin suspension of services as of July 1st, 2004. Information revealed at the Jan. 8th public meeting at South Side School in South Buffalo.

    School #40 - 89 Clare Street

    School #8 Follow Through Urban Learning Lab - 167 E. Utica Street (at Masten)

    School #86 St. Lawrence Academy - 756 St. Lawrence Avenue

    School #63 Campus North - 120 Minnesota Avenue


    Permanent closure is set for schools #40, #63 and #8 in September of 2004. School #86 is being considered as a swing school. Students will be arranged in various other school buildings for the 04/05 school year.

    Complete article: The limitations of Choice… Buffalo Public Schools.

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    Member Curmudgeon's Avatar
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    I don't know where you're getting your numbers from, but most of the cities schools have excess capacity. It only makes sense to close your oldest/costliest schools and consolidate schools. I don't think you're going to have "overcrowding" issues for a LONG time.
    Data is not the plural of Anecdote.

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    Gold Member Night Owl's Avatar
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    As the original article from the Buffalo News states 4 out of 8 city schools will close as a result of finances. That is the standard quote given by the Superintendent, Marion Canedo on serveral occassions. The decline in population isn't much of a factor as the situation of money is.

    I don't know where you're getting your numbers from,

    The information I received came from a public meeting at South Side Elem. school where the Buffalo School officials handed it out. Optaining this information came from appearance at the meeting.

    Their DRAFT included the 4 schools scheduled to close (suspend services) as of July 1st, 2004. The DRAFT, a rough copy resolution, is said to be their final decision.

    It only makes sense to close your oldest/costliest schools and consolidate schools.

    Yes, this is true. However, Marion Canedo said during the meeting that the only way for the BPS to receive additional funding for reconstructional projects from the state is by closing aprox. 8 schools within a few year time period.

    One school building in particular is only 30 years old. It will close while a fifty (or more) year old building remains open. She also said that once a school building is closed down, they will never reopen as a 'school' persay, some buildings will either be used for PBS services/storage or the keys will be handed over to the city of Buffalo.

    Also, there are a few misunderstandings with the 'school Choice Plan'. Marion Canedo said at the meeting that proximity gains first choice.

    Her words:
    "If you live near a school, then you have first choice on the list"

    but from a letter mailed to parents of public school children, the 'Choice' will only come from lottery or enterence exam.

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    Member Curmudgeon's Avatar
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    One school building in particular is only 30 years old. It will close while a fifty (or more) year old building remains open.

    true. but if you happen to have all the oldest shcools in one area, you wouldn't want to close all those schools. I'm sure there's a logical process to the school selection process. We have too many schools (and libraries) for our smaller population. consolidate and save money.
    Data is not the plural of Anecdote.

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    Member citymouse's Avatar
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    Curmu,
    This is your most serious fault. You are assuming logic plays a part in the school boards decision. That is where you are sadly mistaken. When it comes to Goverment and goverment agencies like the school board. Logic and common sense are not a factor in the process used to detrmine the course of action. Never trust a politican or any one who is publicly funded to take a common sense approach to any budget or spending.
    You put to much faith and trust in people who have a proven track record of not deserving it.
    "If you want to know what God thinks of money just look at the people he gave it to."

    By the way, what happened to biker? I miss the old coot.

  11. #11
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    We have too many schools (and libraries) for our smaller population

    As a matter of fact, there are currently 41,300 students enrolled in Buffalo Public schools. That's not counting the amount of parents who've opted to send their children through 6 to 7 different Charter schools or nearly a dozen private/Catholic schools in the city.

  12. #12
    Member Curmudgeon's Avatar
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    the number of students currently enrolled (41,300) has absolutely no bearing on how many schools should be closed. You could have 500 schools or 3 schools. If you have too many for the current enrolees, it's time to close some!

    All city schools operate at less then the buildings capacity, some WAY below capacity. That's the only statistic that matters.

    Does anyone here actually have any experience being financially responsible for anything? I'm beginning to think not.
    Data is not the plural of Anecdote.

  13. #13
    Gold Member Night Owl's Avatar
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    just to recap this thread:

    Curmudgeon said Quote:

    - those remaining buildings are operating at less then 90% capacity. Many people are moving away.....

    - I don't think you're going to have "overcrowding" issues for a LONG time.

    - We have too many schools (and libraries) for our smaller population.

    - the number of students currently enrolled (41,300) has absolutely no bearing on how many schools should be closed.


    and then asks the question:
    Does anyone here actually have any experience being financially responsible for anything?

    I posted all of this so that I can ask the question:
    What are your posts more geared toward... population or cost with our City Schools?

    I'm beginning to think not. was unnecessary.

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