On Monday, the Newton Community School District Board voted 5-2 to close Emerson Hough Elementary, a decision that has created much controversy and emotional outrage. Closing schools is nothing new to Newton but the manner in which this school was closed has many in the community scratching their heads in bewilderment. I have been a Newton resident for 40 years and have seen our school system change many times. Each time a school was closed it was due to declining enrollment and student safety. What makes this time different was the choice to keep an older and smaller school open and closing a larger more modern school along with grade level realignment.
Washington Elementary was the first to close, then Central West followed by Central East (or Central Junior High), then Lincoln Elementary and finally Kellogg Elementary. Each time one of the above schools was closed it was due to building age, efficiency and maintenance costs and handicapped accessibility. Student safety being the top priority. Why then was Woodrow Wilson, a building just a few years newer than Lincoln kept open? Many in the community are calling it a conspiracy because four of the board members live in the Woodrow area. One board member even stated he was basing his decision on personal reasons. Two schools I attended were closed, and I had to deal with transportation to other parts of town — but the right schools were closed and we understood why.
The common reason given for voting for Woodrow by board members was the location of the school in relation to the other three schools and transportation. I’ll give it to them that it is in a better location than Emerson but from a cost saving or business stand point it doesn’t fly. If location was the deciding factor then our students today would be attending Central Middle School not Berg Middle School. Why was Berg kept open and not Central? Building age, heating and maintenance costs and handicapped accessibility. Transportation from the southwest side of town to Berg is quite a commute by Newton standards.
From a business standpoint, after Lincoln was closed the land was sectioned off and houses were built on the former site. I agree with Mrs. Benson that the Woodrow property would be more valuable even though more houses could be placed on the Emerson property. Here is a reality check though, who is really building houses in Newton right now?
Who really cares though? The decision has been made.
Those who are crying conspiracy, I ask you this: why isn’t anyone from your part of town on the school board? Apathy is why. My wife and I have been involved with the Aurora Heights PTA for five years now and I am very disappointed with the amount of parental participation in PTA. We have only two or three parents who are not on the PTA board show up for monthly meetings. As home room parents, only two parents per grade participate in activities. We can’t even get enough parents to work one shift at the concession stand. We have to use PTA money to pay teachers to work those shifts. The $50 dollars they receive is used to buy extra supplies for their classrooms. Last month Citywide PTA met to discuss the future of the PTA. Thank God for the handful of parents that do continue to head your school’s PTA.
I know people are busy but there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of little league or soccer coaches. It takes a lot less time to be PTA president or a school board member than it does to coach a softball team. Parents from all schools need to participate in their children’s schools. If athletics aren’t your strong point then run for school board or start participating in PTA. Anyone can run for school board and all schools should be represented. Apathy is the real conspiracy here and even I am guilty of this as this commentary should have been written much earlier.
To the school board, thank you for the time you take out of your busy lives to make important decisions that affect our students’ education, and I am sure in your minds you made the right decision. To the rest of us, learn from this. If you don’t get involved others will be making decisions for you.