Alpena Public Schools Superintendent Brent Holcomb met with approximately 70 parents at Sunset Elementary School Monday night to answer any questions they had about school closure.
Parents voiced many concerns they had if their school was to close, including whether Sunset was adequately represented at the district's restructure committee, whether other schools had been looked at for closure and why Sunset was the best choice; how transitions would be handled for students, especially for this year's fifth-graders who, under the district restructure committee's most supported scenario, would be relocated to Thunder Bay Junior High when they enter sixth grade next year; and whether current faculty and staff would follow the students to their new schools.
Holcomb told parents that district administrators and parents want to do the same things.
"The things I'm most concerned about is the same things you're concerned about," he said. "I'm concerned about the security, the safety, the transportation, keeping the isolation."
One parent wanted to know on a scale of one to 10, how close the school is to being closed as there are a lot of people under the impression that it's a done deal. Holcomb said it's past a five but the board of education has yet to have that conversation.
"As much as I would like to tell you and be a people pleaser and to say 'We're not going to close Sunset' I would feel bad about that," he said. "My recommendation, almost to a T to the school board has to be, 'I think Sunset needs to close.'"
The district faces what administrators have dubbed, "the double whammy" where budget reductions from the state and a declining enrollment in the neighborhood of 100 students each year have whittled away at the district's foundation allowance. District administrators are projecting a 2010-11 budget that is $3-4 million in the red and, because the district cannot raise its own taxes or ask for millages, the only way to balance the budget is to cut until expenditures equal the income.
It's estimated that closing Sunset would save the district $201,345 and the closure of Long Rapids Elementary School, $164,075. The schools are candidates for closure because the district needs to save money. The schools also have some of the smallest enrollment numbers in the district.
Pending the schools closure, Sunset students in grades K-5 would be relocated to Ella White Elementary School. The district's ad hoc committee is considering moving the district's sixth-graders to many of the unused classrooms in the Thunder Bay Junior High School.
Holcomb wanted parents to walk away with an understanding of the school district's current situation and why they are considering some of the things they are and said from that standpoint, he thought the meeting was successful.
During the meeting, parents also heard from school board member Susan Bowen and Ella White Principal Melissa Schaedig, both of whom have had experience with prior school closings.
On Wednesday, Holcomb will meet with parents of students attending Long Rapids Elementary School and the meeting will be conducted in the same format.
"We're just going to go out and try to talk with Long Rapids parents - hopefully try to build that same understanding about what's going on in the district," he said.
The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the school. On Feb. 18 at 6 p.m., the district restructure committee meeting will meet for the last time in the cafetorium of Thunder Bay Junior High. Holcomb expects the committee to make a recommendation to the board of education at that time.
Anyone can download the frequently asked questions and send feedback to APS administrators by clicking on the "district restructure committee" tab on the district's Web site www.alpenaschools.com. Holcomb can be reached by calling 358-5040 or APS administrators Diane Block, Pat Sampier, Hans Stevens or Joyce McCoy by calling 358-5200.
Crystal Nelson can be reached via e-mail at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.
