Friend us on Facebook
December 10th, 2010
Schools with 900 students?
Patrons of Mid-Del Public Schools have a historic choice to make on Dec. 14. Between state budget cuts and federal stimulus money expiring, Mid-Del has a budget that will drop by $10 million next year. District administration and the school board's solution is to borrow $190.9 million for 15 years to spend $120 million building mega-elementary schools that will house up to 900 students, then sell off the neighborhood schools. As I've gone door-to-door talking with families, some of which had three or more generations through our schools, I found not one that was supportive about the consolidations. It is imperative that voters know the facts and make an informed decision.
Mid-Del is a bit unique in its growth; following the formation of Tinker Air Force Base, well-planned with small school sites were built, allowing for optimal sized schools for our children and communities. Comprehensive education research including the most up-to-date studies provides overwhelming support of the great wisdom showed by former leaders creating neighborhood schools, the very keystones in the communities they serve.
This bond issue is to tear down or sell off nine buildings, build four new huge two-story elementary schools, while expanding two other elementary and two junior high schools, as well as repurpose one junior high as administrative offices. This is not bold " this is radical. It sells off some of the prime real estate that our founders handed down to us. That action might be a reasonable choice if it solved the long-term problems of underfunding; however, a quick sale of all the land would likely only cover half of the first year of the budget shortfalls. By 2012, we would still be in the hole, yet now saddled with 14 more years of debt and fewer real estate options.
There have been threats of cutting over 200 teacher positions if this bond fails. If this passes, we better make the new classrooms big enough to hold 40-45 kids because the teacher layoffs will just be delayed and amplified since this bond doesn't fix the problem. At least if we don't have 15 years of debt holding us back, we will be able to hire back those teachers sooner.
David Wall
Midwest City
Mid-Del is a bit unique in its growth; following the formation of Tinker Air Force Base, well-planned with small school sites were built, allowing for optimal sized schools for our children and communities. Comprehensive education research including the most up-to-date studies provides overwhelming support of the great wisdom showed by former leaders creating neighborhood schools, the very keystones in the communities they serve.
This bond issue is to tear down or sell off nine buildings, build four new huge two-story elementary schools, while expanding two other elementary and two junior high schools, as well as repurpose one junior high as administrative offices. This is not bold " this is radical. It sells off some of the prime real estate that our founders handed down to us. That action might be a reasonable choice if it solved the long-term problems of underfunding; however, a quick sale of all the land would likely only cover half of the first year of the budget shortfalls. By 2012, we would still be in the hole, yet now saddled with 14 more years of debt and fewer real estate options.
There have been threats of cutting over 200 teacher positions if this bond fails. If this passes, we better make the new classrooms big enough to hold 40-45 kids because the teacher layoffs will just be delayed and amplified since this bond doesn't fix the problem. At least if we don't have 15 years of debt holding us back, we will be able to hire back those teachers sooner.
David Wall
Midwest City
Copyright ©2011 Tierra Media Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission is prohibited. To obtain permission, contact us.