The Herald-Mail
http://www.herald-mail.com/
09/29/2009
Redistricting panel won’t recommend school building delay
By DAN DEARTH
dan.dearth@herald-mail.com
dan.dearth@herald-mail.com
HAGERSTOWN — A committee responsible for making redistricting recommendations for 20 of 26 elementary schools in Washington County will not suggest delaying the construction of the proposed Eastern Primary School.
Redistricting is being considered to alleviate overcrowding. If it is approved, about 1,500 elementary students could be affected, and many of them would be sent from their current schools to Eastern Primary School.
The Facilities Enrollment and Advisory Committee met Tuesday to review redistricting recommendations that were made by the public during three forums held this month. One of the most popular proposals from the public was to delay building Eastern Primary School on the east end of Hagerstown.
Many people who spoke at the forums said South County would be a better spot for a new school.
Committee co-chair Adam Lewis said the group needed to decide at its Tuesday meeting whether to recommend delaying the construction of Eastern Primary School because the Washington County Board of Education is to vote on awarding contracts for the $25 million project next week.
The committee voted 5-3 against recommending to the board that the project be delayed.
Lewis, Darin Lewis and Dirk DeVault were the committee members who voted to delay construction. John Bellistri, James Micco, Bert Iseminger, Gwynne Cavey and Kira Hamman voted against recommending a delay.
Adam Lewis said he believed the board would approve the contracts for Eastern Primary School regardless of the committee’s vote. He said the board acquired the land for the school without consulting the committee.
“The board never asked for the committee’s or public’s input on the site,” Adam Lewis said.
Iseminger said Eastern Primary School needs to go forward because that area of the county will need a school when development resumes.
He said he didn’t have enough expertise to doubt the professionals who determined that Eastern Primary School would be among the best solutions for redistricting.
“What justification do I have to say that?” Iseminger asked. “I don’t have that ability.”
Iseminger said he also supported Eastern Primary School because the funding was in place.
About $14 million of the project would be provided by the state, Deputy Superintendent Boyd Michael said. The remaining $11 million would come from the county.
Rob Rollins, executive director of school operations, told the committee the school system already received approval from the state to proceed with Eastern Primary School.
“Eastern Primary was picked because we thought it would help the most kids,” Rollins said. “We felt that would be the best place to put a school to meet the greatest need.”
He said additions to overcrowded schools would cost more than building a new one.
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| From: niverd Tue 29 Sep 2009 11:56:53 PM EDT | So much for listening to the public. I think Mr. Lewis' observation is quite telling: “The board never asked for the committee’s or public’s input on the site,” Adam Lewis said. Also regarding Mr Rollins' comment "He said additions to overcrowded schools would cost more than building a new one." So when were these estimates done and who had a chance to review them? This whole process was a joke from the start. The BOE will do whatever it wants to in spite of the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of its past (ie Rockland Woods). Incompetence lives on in Washington County. |
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| From:never_trust_u Wed 30 Sep 2009 12:15:05 AM EDT | Lets take account of the ones who voted against the delay: (1) one is a WCPS bus driver (2) one is a neighbor of Dr. Morgan (3) one is a former county commissioner who is close friends with BOE President Wayne Ridenour, sits on the zoning appeals committee and who publicly stated it is okay to change schools multiple times because he did himself as the child of the military. Even Mr Iseminger said it may take many years, but the area near Eastern will eventually be developed. Eventually....how about addressing South County NOW!!!! Thank you to the FEAC members who had the courage to at least consider the recommendation of suggesting to the BOE to delay the acceptance of the bids for Eastern. |
| From: SafeTfirst Wed 30 Sep 2009 06:09:12 AM EDT | The public forums seem to be held at the wrong time in the process. Perhaps public input should be sought prior to funds being applied for and contract bids initiated and the members of the FEAC should not be stakeholders... I would think all of the relationships mentioned by never_trust_u above would make each of the FEAC members ineligible - sort of like jury selection. How sad for the children and families who will be affected. Does anyone know who owned the property for the new Eastern Primary? There's more than likely a link back to someone in position as well. Children do better in smaller neighborhood schools not the larger ones. Schools add to community and are the center focus. Remove the school from the community where the attendees family lives and you've created additional stress and headaches for the families. Add Pres. Obama's extra time to the school day and families will only see their children in time for a bath and bath. Schools will be raising our kids as the only ones who see them |
| From:AConcernedMom Wed 30 Sep 2009 06:13:57 AM EDT | I too want to thank those that stodd up for the right thing, and not the political thing. Yes, seeing who voted against stopping Eastern.... It is exactly for these reasons we as parents filed a formal complaint with the State Ethics Department. We do not need another shiny new school in Hagerstown (sorry Art Callaham), we need to address South County without disrupting 1500 kids. ANYONE who says that ripping 1500 kids out of their schools is the best thing for the kids, is not thinking of the kids at all, are they. They are hoping they will just push this through, and over time parents will forgive and forget. With elections right around the corner, they are committing political suicide. There are parents working in groups on stopping this, and parents working on plans for the upcoming elections, to make sure the public knows how any of these elected officials do NOT care for the citizens, nor the children of our district. |
| From: brihunt Wed 30 Sep 2009 07:02:46 AM EDT | I think the FEAC just held the forums for show. They new from the beginning that there was no way of stopping or delaying the process. I am glad to see that at least three had some sense. I guess they will be the only three who will be re-elected to their post. I know I will not re-elect and I will make sure my friends and family will not re-elect the four who clearly do not care about the little ones. When you are selfish you do not deserve to work in a county of non-selfish people who care about their kids. My daughter will not being moving to this school. I will do everything I can to make sure this does not happen. If the school is in the east then the children to attend it need to come out of the east. My daughters elementary, middle and high school are all within 3 to 5 blocks from my house and I refuse to send her 10 miles out of her way because the four on the FEAC and the board do not have anything else to do but to interrupt little kids lives!!!!!!!!!! |
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