Welcome to the community development in support of Silver Street Elementary. We are citizens concerned with keeping and maintaining this community anchor and historic landmark.
Please feel free to express your thoughts and opinions about ways to benefit our community school.Tribune - March 30, 2010 - Athletics: the other half of education
3/31/10
Recent News
Tribune - March 31, 2010 - Reader suppots Silver Street and Wiseheart
Tribune - March 27, 2010 - CUMMINS: The future is in a schoolhouse
3/26/10
Tribune
Indiana reading scores stagnant
Hoosier students haven’t shown significant improvement in more than 15 years
By TARA HETTINGER
Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com
Hoosier students haven’t shown significant improvement in more than 15 years
By TARA HETTINGER
Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com
3/24/10
Tribune - March 24, 2010
GESENHUES: I can’t let it go
Should any of us??? What do you plan to do? Stay in New Albany? Move? Private school? Home school?
Should any of us??? What do you plan to do? Stay in New Albany? Move? Private school? Home school?
3/18/10
March 18 - News from the Tribune
Parents, professor talk about the best way to explain school closures to children
BAYLOR: Dear Pat (note: the Tribune isn't loading this, but if you scroll down, the whole letter is there)
“I can’t help but wonder if we’ve made a mistake in settling down in New Albany. This place is nuts.”
Clarksville school system asks voters for tax bump
Referendum in May could save staff if approved by voters
BAYLOR: Dear Pat (note: the Tribune isn't loading this, but if you scroll down, the whole letter is there)
“I can’t help but wonder if we’ve made a mistake in settling down in New Albany. This place is nuts.”
Clarksville school system asks voters for tax bump
Referendum in May could save staff if approved by voters
3/17/10
3/16/10
Governor criticizes Floyd school decisions
Courier Journal - March 15, 2010 - Governor criticizes Floyd school decisions
"INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mitch Daniels said Monday that New Albany-Floyd County school officials aren’t “as serious about the academic responsibilities they have as they could be” and could have made better decisions about budget cuts made last week and closing four elementary schools." click to read full article
"INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mitch Daniels said Monday that New Albany-Floyd County school officials aren’t “as serious about the academic responsibilities they have as they could be” and could have made better decisions about budget cuts made last week and closing four elementary schools." click to read full article
The News and Tribune
- Daniels critical of NA-FC School Corp. Plan - "Governor says he has been paying attention since he was 'personally attacked.'"
- CLERE: Jobs and education are the key
3/15/10
Governor criticizes Floyd County school decisions
INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mitch Daniels said Monday that New Albany-Floyd County school officials are “not as serious about the academic responsibilities they have as they could be” and made poor decisions last week in approving $5.6 million in spending cuts. ...read more
link to WAVE 3 coverage
Tuesday, April 20th - 6PM
Mark your calendars!
At-large school board candidates will be attending Destinations Booksellers in New Albany on April 20th @ 6pm to discuss their candidacy.
3/14/10
If they'd waited, they may have had a harder sell to close schools
Ind. General Assembly adjourns session
"The compromises approved early Saturday included ... allowing schools to tap into some property tax accounts to help offset a portion of $300 million in cuts for general operating expenses."
Board President Roger Whaley stated: "
Just so you know, we already tap into those funds so nothing really changes for us."
So this brings questions:
1. If this was already available, why did the general assembly even vote on it?
2. In Brad Snyder's presentation on the 11th, slide 4, he explicitly stated that property taxes were traded for higher sales taxes, and then included income tax and gambling, which, due to the economy/recession, is why we are now falling short of funds.
So which is it? And if we've already been tapping into the property tax funds, where was that in Brad's presentation? Further, how dependable is the "projected revenue" which Brad posted at the top of the formula he used to deduce we would fall $6.6 million short?
Various News
News and Tribune
Courier-Journal
WAVE3
(video doesn't start until about 3:00 minutes in)WHAS11
(there are four related links next to transcript)
WLKY32
FOX41
Of interest:
Four elementary schools in New Albany, Floyd County closing! (not a parody)
3/12/10
TO ALL TEACHERS
All statements I, Kathy Ayres, made last night (and anytime I've ever spoken) were entirely my own and not that of FOSSE. I apologize to all of you and want to be sure you understood my statement fully, as my three minutes limited the depth of what I could share
I am not blaming any of you or accusing you of not working hard enough or doing all you can to fight the fight. I know how hard all of you work and how much you care and I am very aware of the amount of personal time, money and passion you contribute. My recommendation to change insurance to a high deductible, higher premium came from significant research which could significantly lower your out-of-pocket expenses - actually saving you money - as well as a significant chunk of the overall corporation's budget. Whether you heard it or not, my recommendation was to change insurance across the entire corporation which would also aid in retaining insurance for those that will be losing it in 2012. I didn't have time to go into plan details in three minutes, and as it was, I was unable to finish my statement. Please know that I care very deeply for all of you and would never make a suggestion that I didn't honestly think would actually be beneficial to you. I apologize to everyone and hope you know this was not a personal attack and I was not judging you of not trying or caring. I know better. I blame the school corporation for not doing all they can for you and all employees - - and quite obviously, their concern cannot be for children having done all of this during ISTEP (and we won't go into the depth of the negative effects their plan will have).
Again, I apologize and hope you now fully understand my intent and I promise you - I love and respect you all from the bottom of my heart.
An Oscar winning performance!
(posted at the request of the author)
by Norma Condra
by Norma Condra
Last year, members of the Resources for Results (RFR) Committee reported that Wiseheart and Gardenour were always in favor of closing Silver Street Elementary. When last year's numbers showed that Fairmont Elementary had achieved "Exemplary" status and that Silver Street had not (last year they transferred a teacher and a special-education aide to other schools), those two board members paraded those results with giddy glee to certain committee members as an "in-your-face" gesture.
I almost came unglued when I heard Gardenour say she supports Silver Street, because she did not support it during the RFR meetings. However, I do believe Gardenour wanted to keep Childrens Academy open. After all, she "likes to think she represents all the children of Floyd County."
And when Wiseheart said she is in support of keeping schools open, she was telling the truth, but wasn't saying which schools she wanted to keep open. Wednesday evening Wiseheart met with Galena parents and told them she would do everything she can to keep Galena open. Funny, Wiseheart never promised the same to the Save Silver Street organization, and other Silver Street supporters, etc., during the YEAR of fighting to keep Silver Street open.
And a little known fact is that over three years ago, Galena was on the RFR committee's list of schools to be considered for closing, but was quickly removed due to its high performance rating and to keep Floyds Knobs parents happy.
When my husband and I were Silver Street's co-PTO presidents, we met with former school superintendent Dr. Dennis Brooks on several occasions to discuss school closure issues. During one of those meetings, Dr. Brooks stated that parents on the "hill" bought homes, such as those in the very affluent Woods of Lafayette, so their children could go to hill schools, and would be very upset if schools were closed there. We explained to Dr. Brooks that parents in downtown New Albany purchase homes in areas with walkable, neighborhood schools, and we reminded him that not everyone wants to live in a subdivision.
So you see, Dr. Brooks protected the "hill" schools by creating school closure criteria that included high performance standards. This would exclude "hill" schools from even being considered for closure. To expect diversely populated Title I schools to achieve ISTEP scores equal to schools comprised of a mostly affluent white mono-culture is unrealistic and unfair, yet the RFR committee's criteria was craftily orchestrated to do just that.
Galena and Childrens Academy were added to the mix under Dr. Hibbard’s “new” school closure criteria, which only looked at school building conditions and the inability to expand. Suddenly, no one on the school board wants to see schools close, but if it had just been Silver Street and Pine View, I doubt there would have been as much emotion and fervor over school closure from a school board predominantly made up of people who don't live in New Albany.
click here for complete dialogue
I almost came unglued when I heard Gardenour say she supports Silver Street, because she did not support it during the RFR meetings. However, I do believe Gardenour wanted to keep Childrens Academy open. After all, she "likes to think she represents all the children of Floyd County."
And when Wiseheart said she is in support of keeping schools open, she was telling the truth, but wasn't saying which schools she wanted to keep open. Wednesday evening Wiseheart met with Galena parents and told them she would do everything she can to keep Galena open. Funny, Wiseheart never promised the same to the Save Silver Street organization, and other Silver Street supporters, etc., during the YEAR of fighting to keep Silver Street open.
And a little known fact is that over three years ago, Galena was on the RFR committee's list of schools to be considered for closing, but was quickly removed due to its high performance rating and to keep Floyds Knobs parents happy.
When my husband and I were Silver Street's co-PTO presidents, we met with former school superintendent Dr. Dennis Brooks on several occasions to discuss school closure issues. During one of those meetings, Dr. Brooks stated that parents on the "hill" bought homes, such as those in the very affluent Woods of Lafayette, so their children could go to hill schools, and would be very upset if schools were closed there. We explained to Dr. Brooks that parents in downtown New Albany purchase homes in areas with walkable, neighborhood schools, and we reminded him that not everyone wants to live in a subdivision.
So you see, Dr. Brooks protected the "hill" schools by creating school closure criteria that included high performance standards. This would exclude "hill" schools from even being considered for closure. To expect diversely populated Title I schools to achieve ISTEP scores equal to schools comprised of a mostly affluent white mono-culture is unrealistic and unfair, yet the RFR committee's criteria was craftily orchestrated to do just that.
Galena and Childrens Academy were added to the mix under Dr. Hibbard’s “new” school closure criteria, which only looked at school building conditions and the inability to expand. Suddenly, no one on the school board wants to see schools close, but if it had just been Silver Street and Pine View, I doubt there would have been as much emotion and fervor over school closure from a school board predominantly made up of people who don't live in New Albany.
click here for complete dialogue
3/11/10
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING TONIGHT'S MEETING!!!!!!
From Mindy Johnson at the Save Galena FB site:
My mother is employed at Hazelwood Middle School. She let me know that Bill Briscoe has informed their school resource officer that not everyone who wishes to speak tonight will get to. Only a few representatives from each school (?) will be allowed to speak. I have no idea how they plan on determining this. Also, he has informed all officers that will be supervising the crowd that as the meeting/voting begins, if the crowd becomes loud and unruly they are ordered to clear the auditorium and no one will get to see the vote. So unless we want to read about the results in tomorrow's news papers, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try to hold shouting/anger/frustration, etc. so that we may all remain present for this meeting! Thank you and KEEP PRAYING
3/10/10
EMAIL YOUR IDEAS TO BUDGET SOLUTIONS!
EVERYBODY:
I just set-up a gmail account for all community members to deposit their NA-FC school budget solution ideas. While "I don't want my school closed because..." is valid, it is not a solution. Our School Board members need to hear what all the great minds of New Albany and Floyd County can offer to turn this boat around! Please send your ideas, no matter how small or how large or how obscure to: NAFCrecommendations@gmail.com
I just set-up a gmail account for all community members to deposit their NA-FC school budget solution ideas. While "I don't want my school closed because..." is valid, it is not a solution. Our School Board members need to hear what all the great minds of New Albany and Floyd County can offer to turn this boat around! Please send your ideas, no matter how small or how large or how obscure to: NAFCrecommendations@gmail.com
We have just over a day before the vote!!
News and Tribune Letter
Reader: People of New Albany owed more than a ‘cut and run’ plan
NEW ALBANY — I submit an open letter to Dr. Bruce Hibbard and the New Albany Floyd County School Corporation’s Board of Trustees.
I have read the school corporation’s expenditure reduction plan, and offer my concerns for consideration.
First, I note the lightening speed to which this process has been presented to the public. On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the corporation alerted the media they would reveal the details of their Expenditure Reduction Plan on March 4, conduct a public hearing, a.k.a. a formality, on March 8 and vote on the plan on March 11. Interestingly, the deadline to file for school board candidacy for the May primary was Feb. 19. Is the implementation of the plan all sewn up, to include preventing angry parents from running for available school board seats? ...continued
News and Tribune Letters - March 9, 2010
Responding to NA-FC’s cost saving proposal
For a quarter of a century, I have watched the NAFC schools slip further and further away from doing what is best for their clients, the children and families of Floyd County. The need for cutting costs may be necessary, but in spending more and more money for programs to try to leave no child behind, the school system is on the brink of not only leaving more children than ever behind, ...continued
For a quarter of a century, I have watched the NAFC schools slip further and further away from doing what is best for their clients, the children and families of Floyd County. The need for cutting costs may be necessary, but in spending more and more money for programs to try to leave no child behind, the school system is on the brink of not only leaving more children than ever behind, ...continued
3/9/10
News Coverage of Open Hearing
News and Tribune - Hundreds attend NA-FC's meeting on proposed school closures
News and Tribune - CLERE: Let's point forward instead of fingers
Courier-Journal - Dozens air views on plan to close New Albany schools
Talks from Open Hearing
If anyone would like us to post what you said last night at the open hearing, please post it into the comments or email it to savesilverstreet@gmail.com and we will post it for you.
Lawmakers split on property tax bill impact on education
Panel of Republicans and Democrats offer views in CEEP Education Policy Chat
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19. 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A group of four members of the Indiana General Assembly disagreed on what should be done, but each offered suggestions for additional consideration on school funding and other policies during today's CEEP Education Policy Chat at the Indiana Memorial Union.
The panel, split evenly with a Democrat and a Republican from both the House and Senate, spoke this morning at the final policy chat of the spring series, sponsored by the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy (CEEP) and the Indiana University School of Education.
...continued
3/8/10
NA-FC Budget Reduction Plan
Budget Reduction Information/ Plan
3. Examples
6. Proposed District Maps (click on top link to get to map links)
WHAS 11 - 3/8/2010
"Our communities all over the country need to focus on our police, our fire, our education and our small businesses. That's what's going to bring America back," Kathy Ayres, concerned resident, said.
Public invited to sound off at New Albany/Floyd Co. School Board meeting
The meeting is tonight at 7PM at NAHS. If you plan to speak, you need to arrive by 6:30 and sign-in.
Public invited to sound off at New Albany/Floyd Co. School Board meeting
The meeting is tonight at 7PM at NAHS. If you plan to speak, you need to arrive by 6:30 and sign-in.
3/7/10
Meeting is SET!
A big thanks to Destinations for doing this for us on such short notice!
Place: Destinations Booksellers
604 East Spring Street, New Albany
Time: 1PM-3PM
Dueling Grounds will also be open to serve, but without soup.
Let us hear from you!
Do you think this reduction is necessary or unnecessary?
Do you think this reduction will have a positive or negative impact?
Do you think the school corporation is doing everything they can?
Have you thought of alternatives they haven't presented?
Do you think the school corporation should offer the tax referendum?
As a resident, do you feel the school corporation has followed a "best use of taxpayer dollars" over the years?
If you live in New Albany-Floyd County with school age children, what are your plans if these changes are made?
Same question to home owners without school-aged children or children attending private schools.
If you don't live in NA-FC, would you ever consider moving your child into this school district if these changes are made?
...would you consider buying a house in New Albany/Floyd County?
What are your thoughts to these questions or others not asked?
3/6/10
Meeting of the Minds
I would love to meet with interested individuals tomorrow to go over various thoughts, ideas and considerations. Please let me know if you would be interested, what times you would be able to meet, and suggestions of locations.
Thanks!
~Kathy
3/5/10
Fox 41 - MEMO: Plan to cut Floyd County schools budget
Posted: Mar 05, 2010 10:31 AM EST
Fox 41 News has obtained the full text of a memo distributed by Dr. Bruce Hibbard, the superintendent of the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation. The memo details a proposed plan to cut the school system's budget -- including plans to cut four schools.
3/4/10
Budget cuts to eliminate four New Albany-Floyd schools
BY BEN ZION HERSHBERG • BHERSHBERG@COURIER-JOURNAL.COM • MARCH 4, 2010
Four elementary schools attended by more than 1,000 students would close as part of $6.6 million in budget cuts recommended Thursday by New Albany-Floyd County Schools Superintendent Bruce Hibbard.
The proposals, developed after the state ordered public school spending across Indiana to be cut $300 million this year, also include moving all fifth-graders from elementary to middle schools. But they would not require any layoffs of full-time teachers, Hibbard said.
The elementary schools that would close at the end of the school year are Silver Street Elementary, Pine View Elementary, Galena Elementary and Children’s Academy of New Albany.
link to full storyLinks to Restructuring Plan Proposal
NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- The New Albany-Floyd County school district has released its proposal to deal with massive budget cuts Thursday.The proposal (click here for full text) puts services or entire schools on the chopping block.
Interview Volunteers Needed
We need volunteer interviewees from all over the county - not just Silver Street's neighborhood! Various news sources are looking for people to talk to about their views and how these budget cuts will impact education as well as the community. Now is not the time to be camera shy! We need to get this info out to everybody! Please, please consider doing this. If you are willing, please email your name and phone number to savesilverstreet@gmail.com and we will pass it on to those in the media when they ask. Everyone I've dealt with is SUPER nice and very easy to talk to. They're regular people, just like the rest of us.
WHAS 11
March 4, 2010
WHAS just reported on the school issues at noon. Currently, there is nothing on their website, but hopefully there will be soon. They may possibly run it again at 5PM.
Edited to add: They just put up the link: Local school system to possibly close some schools due to budget cuts
4 Floyd County Elementary Schools On Chopping Block
From WLKY
Schools, Services May Be Targeted For Cuts
POSTED: 7:56 am EST March 4, 2010
UPDATED: 11:40 am EST March 4, 2010
NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- The New Albany-Floyd County school district is releasing its proposal to deal with massive budget cuts Thursday.
The proposal may once again put services or entire schools on the chopping block.According to the New Albany News and Tribune, Superintendent Bruce Hibbard and his administrative team plan to present 57 recommendations to the New Albany School Board and to the public Monday night. (continued)link to full WLKY storyUPDATE: Superintendent asking board to close four schools
News and Tribune
March 4, 2010
By CHRIS MORRISChris.Morris@newsandtribune.com
FLOYD COUNTY — Bruce Hibbard admits his first big decision as superintendent of the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. won’t win him any popularity contests. However, he said it will save jobs and improve the overall education of the 11,000 students in the corporation.
Hibbard, along with his administrative team, released a plan Thursday that calls for numerous cost-cutting measures including the closure of four elementary schools and placing fifth-graders into the corporation’s three middle schools.
“I am going to ask the board to do three things that get superintendents fired. But this isn’t about Bruce Hibbard, it’s about this school system and how we can improve the academic achievement,” Hibbard said. “In three years, if we are not doing a better job, I will take the blame. continued
3/3/10
3/2/10
Funding Update, School Board Meeting
From NA-FC School Corporation website's News and Features
February 26, 2010
Here is an explanation from the Indiana Association of School Business Officials
Here is an explanation from the Indiana Association of School Business Officials
K-12 EDUCATION FUNDING REDUCTIONS
(The following information is from IAPSS and IASBO)
On December 28, 2009, Governor Daniels announced that funding for K-12 education would be reduced by $297 million in calendar year 2010 beginning with the January distribution. The State Budget Agency has recently determined that the amount of savings needed to balance the state's budget from public school education funding is $298,437,168. The Budget Agency in conjunction with the Department of Education has developed a methodology to make the reductions to each school corporation. The DOE will be distributing a new DOE 54 on January 14 that will reflect the reductions and methodology.
Click here to read entire explanation
News and Tribune article "BALANCING ACT: NA-FC schools need to cut $6.6 million to balance budget this year"
Brad Snyder on Funding Reduction
What is the Scope of the Problem?
- The State of Indiana initially gave a 0% increase for 2010 and 2011
- NA-FC averages a 2.5% annual increase
- This represented a $1.8 million loss to NA-FC in each of the next 2 years
- In December our Governor announced that further cuts (3%) would be coming to K-12 Education.
- On 1/6/2010 the DOE revealed the actual cut would be 4.55% to both 2010 and 2011
- This represents $3.2 Million to NA-FC for each of the next 2 years.
- This cut becomes a new floor of funding. Permanent not temporary.
Is there anything else that was cut?
- The State reduced Adult Ed. Funding 9%.
- This represents another $25K loss to NA-FC each year
- The State eliminated Professional Development Funds.
- This represents another $135K loss to NA-FC each year
- Summer School Reimbursement was reduced to 74%.
- This represents additional $99K loss to NA-FC
What is the root cause of the problem?
- The recession of the State's economy has slowed. Revenue from income tax, sales tax, and gambling has lowered.
- 2 years ago the State designed a new formula to redistribute tax dollars which eliminated property taxes from the public schools
- Our worst nightmare of this new plan has now come true.
- Stable property tax revenue has been replaced with unstable income tax, sales tax, and gambling $.
What does this mean per student?
- School funding is based on a Student Count
- The 4.5% represents a cut of $283 per student.
- When considering the initial 0% 2010 reduction combined with the additional 4.5% cut, the amount per student becomes $442.
How will we re-coup this money?
- We won't.
- The Governor and Legislature control the funding stream, only they can provide funds.
- We have no local control to raise our taxes except through a voter referendum.
What is the cumulative impact?
- The initial 0% revenue increase was forcing NA-FC Schools to cut $3.2 million. The additional professional development, adult ed., summer school and the 4.5% December cuts now require that we reduce spending by $6.6 Million to balance revenues with expenditures.
- We have $4 million of Cash Reserves on hand
- $2.5 million must be accounted for by the year end of the year.
CLERE: Facts can be educating
By ED CLERE
Guest Columnist
Guest Columnist
Education continues to be a hot topic, and it will get even hotter Thursday if, as expected, the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. announces school closings.
Facts are likely to be overwhelmed by misinformation, emotion and politics, so I'm going to try to set the record straight in advance.
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