I imagine this is what recess is going to look like to a bunch of 4th, 5th and possibly 6th graders next year at the Intermediate School.
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Let's recap and get up to speed for those who might have missed this - NASD is "reorganizing" starting with the 09-10 school year. The elementary schools will be K-3, the "old" (if 10 years can be considered "old") middle school will house the 4-6th graders, the new middle school (perhaps you've seen it.... a small little project over on Friedenstahl) will have the 7-8th graders and the high school will continue to accommodate the 9-12th graders.
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So what's the problem? Have you been to the existing Middle School and looked around? There's nothing outside for the 4th, 5th and 6th graders to do next year for recess. Just parking lots and fields (including a nice, $80,000 regraded soccer field).
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When the redistricting plan was presented at a past board meeting, it was specifically stated that the children at the Intermediate School would have plenty of opportunity and time for outside recess.
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I have asked at more than one board meeting about this and whether the administration has any plans. I asked whether there was any plan for a playground or equipment, keeping in mind that 4th and 5th graders will be coming from schools where they have equipment. Also keeping in mind that we are talking about 9 year olds.
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What was the board's response? Well, I can distinctly remember Ms. McDonald quipping "I don't know how much they would even use something like that".
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So what do they have in mind? Right now, it appears nothing. Have fun kids.
9 comments:
Ross--
Im sure in the next year or so, we can construct a 3 million dollar playground. Something that can rival Hershey Park would be up our alley. And then we can hire a "full time" playground director to watch after the kids at an annual salary of $85,000. And hopefully we can build the playground a block or two away and pave the walkway with gold bricks, because we want it to be first class.. might be fantasyland, but hey up here who knows?
Ryan,
I don't doubt our board will want a top notch, Parkland caliber playground, but I should point out Brad made the post not me;-)
Also, not to put words in Brad's mouth, but I think the larger point is that this plan (new building/grade levels) was not thought through very well.
The playground is one instance, the road connecting HS and MS another, and transportation a third.
Each one is an example of not thinking this plan through very well and costing taxpayers more in every instance.
Ah, they don't need recess. That was the policy for years at LNES under Rose Allshouse for 5th graders. All done in the name of "preparing" them for the MS, which actually was a lot easier and less dictatorial than LNES.
Yet again this administration has proven that they couldn't find their way across the street with a map, GPS and tour guide.
Lesky is an idiot and the board is a bunch of morons for going along with this stupidity.
I am sure Ryan is on the money. We will build the biggest and the best, because some other district has done it. It could be named the Vic Lesky Playground.
Better yet, the kids could sit around and do absolutely nothing during recess, then they to would be qualified to run our district.
Sorry, that was mean. Our kids are smarter than this administration.
As expressed above, we probably should be careful what we wish for.
Kenny Butz will want a toy train ride, so he can play engineer with all the kiddies. And little man Vic will be his conductor. Any kid who does not behave on the train will be sent to over to Melosky's class for some good old fashioned discipline, and to learn "who the **** he is."
Seriously, Mrs. McDonald's response does not surprise. She is an out-of-touch social climber who could care less about our kids. I remember when she was "Liason" or school board rep in training at LNES. Talked down to everyone, talked a lot, said nothing.
Yes, it seems as in most of this new school project, things have not been completely thought through. I get the feeling that they focused so much on the campus/building concept that a couple details got lost along the way.
For example, there will be nearly 1100 kids at the MS. What are the logistics in scheduling recess? Will only the 4th and 5th graders get recess? Will there be a separate recess for each grade? Even so, you are talking about over 300 kids per grade level. Not exactly a small, controllable number.
I'll ask these questions again and again until I get some (any?) answers.
Really - is it necessary to get so personal and mean? This is a public forum and this is not the place for comments regarding how ONE person feels about another. I happen to know and like all of the individuals that were so ruthlessly described. Is it any wonder we have a hard time getting volunteers and dedicated individuals to run for the school board? Please keep the comments fair and balanced - or those of us who are optimistic people will quit reading this blog.
I agree with the last post and anyone who has been reading knows, feel free to provide constructive criticism, but there is no place for attacking individuals.
Frankly, if they are that bad simply pointing out the actions they take instead of calling them names will be more effective.
Thanks all for reading!
Bushkill Volunteer,
Yes, I was being personal, but not being mean, only factual.
That was the policy of the former LNES principal. I could revise history and say it wasn't, but that would be just a lie. I ask, who should I have attributed that policy to, Elvis?
As for calling out Lesky, maybe I should have named all the board members as well, but we do have a couple that have the public's interest in mind, but not enough.
Simple fact, this Superintendent (there, I didn't use his name) and this Board have done to us pretty much what you have seen done by AIG, Enron, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, Global Crossing, etc.
There is no one else to blame. This is the leadership and the people making the decisions, not you and I. We don't even factor into the equation except as the chumps that get the bill.
If you are happy with the proposed 10%+ tax increases over the next few years and think the "Super" and the "Board" are doing such a great job, more power to you.
I think they have completely sold out the taxpayer to build their little empire. Who else should we blame and call out?
Maybe Elvis?
Simple solution.. buy more soccer balls? ;-)
...Hand stitched and autographed by the USA Olympic Team, of course.
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