Community Members Speak out at the City School Budget Hearings

Report on the School Budget Hearing <!--break--> <P>Concerned citizens packed into the East High School auditorium last Thursday to voice their concerns about the school budget recommendations for 2004-2005. More than 50 people spoke at the two-hour long hearing, expressing unanimous disapproval of the proposed closing of schools and reorganization of school programs. Strong concerns were raised about the lack of transparency and community involvement in the school budget process. </p><P> The proposal calls for the closing of Josh Lofton High School and School #36 and the reorganization of the Home Hospital Program by distributing teachers among the city secondary schools. It cited performance concerns as the reason the schools would be closed. In the case of School #36, building maintenance costs and lack of enrollment were also given as reasons for shutting down the school. Even after the proposed changes, the Rochester City School District would still have a 29 million dollar budget gap. </p><P> The teachers, students, administrators and community members who spoke were unanimously against the closing of Josh Lofton High School and School #36, as well and against the proposed changes to the Home Hospital Program (see <a href="/news/2004/04/2232.php">Community Comments at the School Budget Hearing</a>). </p><P> Josh Lofton students told stories of not being able to succeed in traditional, large school environments - many of them saying they went from near drop outs to high achievers. Administrators and teachers questioned the wisdom of closing one of the few schools in Rochester with small class sizes when the recommendation stated that smaller class sizes are needed. </p><P> Several speakers stated they were okay with shutting down the current Josh Lofton building because of the negative image associated with it - some were even in favor of the idea. But they said the Josh Lofton program was vital to students and needed to continue, even if it was relocated to a different building. </p><P> <BLOCKQUOTE><I>Communities talk about small schools, communities talk about schools of choice, communities talk about school programs. But we at Lofton don't have to talk about it, because, like the youth says, we're all about it. We're doing it. </i><BR><B>- Annett McMillian-Hitchenson</b></blockquote> </p><P> Community members, teachers and parents called School #36, "a true neighborhood school," and a "stabilizing factor" for the community. Many parents voiced concerns that their children wouldn't be safe if they had to walk the distance to get to School #45 or #9. Furthermore, they said, the last thing their neighborhood needs is another abandoned building. </p><P> Residents pointed out that city spent money last year to expand the playground and parking lot, and to install new curbs around the school, and that this money will be wasted if the school closes. The issue of school size again came up with some speakers pointing out the irony of under-enrollment; if smaller schools are is a goal, why close School #36 because it has too few students? </p><P> <BLOCKQUOTE><I>"It's a stabilizing factor in my neighborhood. I attended school 36, my children attended school 36 and now my granddaughter attends school 36. There are many programs at the school which will be lost if it closes."</i><BR><b>- Sheila Margaret-Schofford</b>. </blockquote> </p><P> Members of both the School #36 and Josh Lofton communities spoke on the caring, warmth and compassion of the teachers and administrators at the schools. Also, they questioned how much money would be saved by closing the schools, pointing out that the current staff of those schools would still be on the City School District's payroll, and that staff is the school district's highest expense. </p><P> Members of the home hospital program spoke against the new plan for their teachers. They were concerned that distributing teachers among the city's secondary schools will hurt their ability to match teachers to students in the most effective way. </p><P> <BLOCKQUOTE><i>"If students come to our department, I need to match the students specialized needs with the unique qualifications of our teachers. [...]If our teachers are scattered it will greatly reduce the probability of the student being matched with the most qualified teacher. </i><BR><b>- Deedee Ranger</b></blockquote> </p><P> Many community members raised concerns about the openness and transparency of the budget process. Some expressed the sense that said they felt the school board was, "just going through the motions," instead of truly using community input to base decisions on. They pointed out that the actual school budget wasn't made available to the public - only a summary of it. The feeling of non-involvement was exacerbated by the two minute time limit on comments at the hearing. Almost everyone who spoke had more to say than could be expressed within the two-minute time frame and some were visibly frustrated that they could not go on for longer. At one point, community member Howard Eagle asked the crowd, whom he identified as the School Board's "bosses", if there were any objections to him continuing his speech after his time was up. Although no one gave an objection (the crowd cheered him on instead), he was not allowed to finish his speech. (see <a href="/news/2004/04/2231.php">Howard Eagle's Comments at the School Budget Hearing</a> </p><P> <BLOCKQUOTE><I>The whole process makes public mockery of the idea of meaningful input from students, parents, and community members. How could anyone be expected to comment in an intelligent fashion regarding a budget that they are not even privileged to see, much less study?</i><BR><b>- Howard Eagle</b></blockquote> </p><P> Despite any feelings of exclusion from the process, the crowd appeared to have a lot of energy. Many said they would work to keep their schools from closing and to keep their programs intact. </p>

<p>Report on the School Budget Hearing</p> <!--break--><p></p><p>Concerned citizens packed into the East High School auditorium last Thursday<br /> to voice their concerns about the school budget recommendations for 2004-2005.<br /> More than 50 people spoke at the two-hour long hearing, expressing unanimous<br /> disapproval of the proposed closing of schools and reorganization of school<br /> programs. Strong concerns were raised about the lack of transparency and<br /> community involvement in the school budget process. </p> <p></p><p><br /> The proposal calls for the closing of Josh Lofton High School and School #36<br /> and the reorganization of the Home Hospital Program by distributing teachers<br /> among the city secondary schools. It cited performance concerns as the reason<br /> the schools would be closed. In the case of School #36, building maintenance<br /> costs and lack of enrollment were also given as reasons for shutting down the<br /> school. Even after the proposed changes, the Rochester City School District<br /> would still have a 29 million dollar budget gap. </p> <p></p><p><br /> The teachers, students, administrators and community members who spoke were<br /> unanimously against the closing of Josh Lofton High School and School #36, as<br /> well and against the proposed changes to the Home Hospital Program (see<br /> <a href="/news/2004/04/2232.php">Community Comments at the School Budget Hearing</a>). </p> <p></p><p><br /> Josh Lofton students told stories of not being able to succeed in traditional,<br /> large school environments - many of them saying they went from near drop outs<br /> to high achievers. Administrators and teachers questioned the wisdom of<br /> closing one of the few schools in Rochester with small class sizes when the<br /> recommendation stated that smaller class sizes are needed. </p> <p></p><p><br /> Several speakers stated they were okay with shutting down the current Josh<br /> Lofton building because of the negative image associated with it - some were<br /> even in favor of the idea. But they said the Josh Lofton program was vital to students<br /> and needed to continue, even if it was relocated to a different building. </p> <p></p><p><br /> </p><blockquote><i>Communities talk about small schools, communities talk about schools of<br /> choice, communities talk about school programs. But we at Lofton don't have to<br /> talk about it, because, like the youth says, we're all about it. We're doing<br /> it. </i><br /><b>- Annett McMillian-Hitchenson</b></blockquote> <p></p><p><br /> Community members, teachers and parents called School #36, "a true neighborhood<br /> school," and a "stabilizing factor" for the community. Many parents voiced<br /> concerns that their children wouldn't be safe if they had to walk the distance<br /> to get to School #45 or #9. Furthermore, they said, the last thing their<br /> neighborhood needs is another abandoned building. </p> <p></p><p><br /> Residents pointed out that city spent money last year to expand the playground<br /> and parking lot, and to install new curbs around the school, and that this<br /> money will be wasted if the school closes. The issue of school size again came<br /> up with some speakers pointing out the irony of under-enrollment; if smaller<br /> schools are is a goal, why close School #36 because it has too few students? </p> <p></p><p><br /> </p><blockquote><i>"It's a stabilizing factor in my neighborhood. I attended school 36,<br /> my children attended school 36 and now my granddaughter attends school 36.<br /> There are many programs at the school which will be lost if it closes."</i><br /><b>- Sheila Margaret-Schofford</b>. </blockquote> <p></p><p><br /> Members of both the School #36 and Josh Lofton communities spoke on the<br /> caring, warmth and compassion of the teachers and administrators at the<br /> schools. Also, they questioned how much money would be saved by closing the<br /> schools, pointing out that the current staff of those schools would still be<br /> on the City School District's payroll, and that staff is the school district's<br /> highest expense. </p> <p></p><p><br /> Members of the home hospital program spoke against the new plan for their<br /> teachers. They were concerned that distributing teachers among the city's<br /> secondary schools will hurt their ability to match teachers to students in the<br /> most effective way. </p> <p></p><p><br /> </p><blockquote><i>"If students come to our department, I need to match the students<br /> specialized needs with the unique qualifications of our teachers. [...]If our<br /> teachers are scattered it will greatly reduce the probability of the student<br /> being matched with the most qualified teacher. </i><br /><b>- Deedee Ranger</b></blockquote> <p></p><p><br /> Many community members raised concerns about the openness and transparency of<br /> the budget process. Some expressed the sense that said they felt the school<br /> board was, "just going through the motions," instead of truly using community<br /> input to base decisions on. They pointed out that the actual school budget<br /> wasn't made available to the public - only a summary of it.<br /> The feeling of non-involvement was exacerbated by the two minute time limit on<br /> comments at the hearing. Almost everyone who spoke had more to say than could<br /> be expressed within the two-minute time frame and some were visibly frustrated<br /> that they could not go on for longer. At one point, community member Howard<br /> Eagle asked the crowd, whom he identified as the School Board's "bosses", if<br /> there were any objections to him continuing his speech after his time was up.<br /> Although no one gave an objection (the crowd cheered him on instead), he was<br /> not allowed to finish his speech. (see <a href="/news/2004/04/2231.php">Howard Eagle's Comments at the School Budget Hearing</a> </p> <p></p><p><br /> </p><blockquote><i>The whole process makes public mockery of the idea of meaningful input<br /> from students, parents, and community members. How could anyone be expected to<br /> comment in an intelligent fashion regarding a budget that they are not even<br /> privileged to see, much less study?</i><br /><b>- Howard Eagle</b></blockquote> <p></p><p><br /> Despite any feelings of exclusion from the process, the crowd appeared to have<br /> a lot of energy. Many said they would work to keep their schools from closing<br /> and to keep their programs intact. </p>