• Title I services have been cut back in K-2 grades.
• The elementary counseling program has been eliminated.
• The high school 4x4 block schedule was replaced with a block 5 trimester, cutting qualified staff.
• Summer school classes were dropped.
• The drivers' education program was overhauled.

Concerned Citizens

Editor, Times-Union:

My last letter to the editor asked a few questions and I briefly would like to share some of the answers with the readers. I have learned that we have a great group of people who have formed the CCQE (Concerned Citizens for Quality Education). The Web site is www.educatethechildrenfirst.org These people have nothing but the best intentions for what is at stake for our community and the future problems we face (including a much higher tax bill) if we allow the Warsaw School Board to go through with this plan of theirs. I think that most people think that we cannot win or change the outcome - and that is the problem, we give up so quickly, we throw our hands up in the air, we do not exercise the determination to say that we do have a right to be heard, have a right to change, a right to be involved in what these actions will do for our pocketbooks. I encourage each person no matter who you are to visit the Web site listed often and also to come and bring your families to the weekly meetings. There were children at the meeting last night. Right now it is every Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pete Thorn Senior Center (Lucerne Park) on Park Street in Warsaw. Even if you cannot attend the meetings, you can still be involved and make a difference. What I did learn tonight was compelling because, folks, these people that we elected to office have a mission and don't care who they trample on to make it happen. Don't think that you are too small or too less important. If you are a WCHS taxpayer or have children in the Silver Lake, Claypool and Atwood schools - not to forget Washington, Madison and Jefferson, you are affected by this and need to be involved. The hundred-million-dollar question that I got asked tonight was whom I was referring to in my last letter to the editor? I wasn't pointing to anyone in particular, but just giving a gentle nudge to those who need it to become involved and to those who have the talents great and small needed to overturn a "giant." Are you one of those people?

Jennifer Hyden
Winona Lake

Letters to the Editor 10-28-03

Elected Officials
Editor, Times-Union:

I am reading that the majority of the community is against the recent proposals/rulings of the school board and superintendent. My question that maybe someone can respond to is - what rights does a community have to override the decisions of the elected school board officials? Do we as a community need to gather signatures to make a majority? I read something about a lawsuit, would it take more people getting involved with that? Do we need to figure the process to start a recall on the school board? What gets me is that a lot of people have written in to the Times-Union, even if it represents hundreds of other voices, and still no one on the school board has realized or acknowledged that the solution they came up with is not going to work and that they need to go back to the drawing board. I still maintain that there are a lot of good minds in this community and that a workable solution can be found.

When elected officials cannot hear the voices of those they represent, they should step down and quickly. Power, prestige, ranking - it all crumbles when the foundations fall beneath you. The community is the foundation. My question to the community is, do you want to do something about this mess or are you just going to keep venting in each day's paper hoping this is a bad dream and will suddenly go away. Someone needs to step up to the plate as the community spokesperson (you know who you are) and get the ball rolling. I imagine the people on the school board are good people, but they are not serving the interests of the people - just remember in the long run of things that not all people are right for all jobs.

Jennifer Hyden
Winona Lake

School Board

Editor, Times-Union:

I could not agree more with Mr. and Mrs. Sadler's letter in Monday's paper. If California can recall their governor, why can't we have a vote and see if the majority of the people in the Warsaw school district feel the board members are representing the people as a whole?
The people that don't want to get involved because they do not have children in the school system had better get involved, because they are paying for all this, regardless of if they have children in school or not. Instead of spending money on the administration building, if they needed more room, why couldn't they have moved into some of the portable units they are going to put the kids in?

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kolbe
Warsaw

Letters to the Editor: 10-22-03

School Issue

Editor, Times-Union:

I wanted to share with you a letter my daughter wrote regarding the school situation (the small schools being closed). My daughter attends Sacred Heart, but lives in Claypool. She goes to therapy at Claypool school, and is often at Silver Lake school where my sister has Brownies meetings. I myself went to Claypool, and can hardly imagine the school not being there; especially since it's not even that old. It's not even entirely paid for, is it? Anyway, below you will find my daughter's letter. Callie wanted to attend the prayer vigil, which meant she would miss a couple hours of school, so we asked her to write a paragraph sharing her feelings about the school situation in exchange for going. What she ended up writing was a letter to Dr. McGuire and I found it interesting enough that I'd like to share it. These are her words, and show how she feels on this situation.

Dan Green

Dear Dr. McGuire,
I was at the meeting listening to what you said and what everybody else said. I think they were trying to say don't close the schools. Mrs. Shively had a good point. She said we need schools in our towns. I think it is good to save our school because it is important to save Claypool, Silver Lake and Atwood schools. I think the kids at Claypool School, Silver Lake and Atwood do not want to ride the bus an hour and a half each way like me. I think 160 more kids cannot go to Eisenhower because Eisenhower can not handle 160 more kids. It will be too crowded! I think that we need to pray for Dr. McGuire and everyone on the school board and we need to pray for the people that want to close Claypool, Silver Lake and Atwood. I think Claypool is a very good school and a beautiful school. I hope it does not get closed. I think Claypool has a beautiful and very big gym, a very big cafeteria, a nice art room and a nice playground and very big classrooms. It is only 17 years old and it is a beautiful school. You should come and see it. They have a nice library and it has a big basketball court and a big soccer field. I wish my school had a big art room like Claypool's. They all are nice schools especially Claypool. Atwood has a very nice big playground and so does Silver Lake. If the schools got closed it will mess up everything at Eisenhower. Eisenhower is already full and so is Washington. If the three schools get closed everyone at Claypool, Silver Lake and Atwood will be sad and our moms and dads will be upset and we will be unhappy too. Why would you close a beautiful school? I do not understand why you want to close three very beautiful schools.
Please, Dr. McGuire, I think that you should not close Claypool, Silver Lake and Atwood because I think that you told the four people to vote yes. Now please tell them to vote no and let us have our schools back.
Callie Green
Second-grader
Sacred Heart

Letters to the Editor: 10-21-03

School Issues

Editor, Times-Union:

Your News Views in the Oct. 11 paper covered a multitude of if's, and's and but's in the past, present and future. I agree with you about 75 percent. I attended the Sept. 15 school board meeting. It made me ill to sit there and watch the cold, vindictive, uninterested expressions on the faces of the four board members. It was such a farce. Those people were standing there pleading for them not to close their schools. Oh, they sat through their comments but they did not hear them. These people from Claypool, Silver Lake and Atwood had actual figures with back-up papers for proof.

They asked Mr. McGuire if he had any figures to substantiate a savings of $300,000 a year if they closed these three elementary schools, and he said, "No." Well, how can that be? He has no figures to close those schools but he and his five school board members, namely Allebach, Chamberlain, Cathy Folk, Jim Folk and Minatel, borrowed $30 million and have no figures to show for it? They are closing three schools because they cannot afford "the luxury" of them but they can afford to borrow $30 million for a $7 million sports complex, an addition to the Administration Building and an auditorium.

Now, I ask you, are these more important than keeping our elementary schools? These schools were the subject of this whole matter, not all this building. Why are we closing these schools, then having to bus these little K- to sixth-graders more than an hour in the dark so they can go to an overcrowded classroom or be shoved into a "chicken coop" and in the same breath borrow $30 million for unnecessary building?

If they do close these schools and they save $300,000 the first year then over $600,000 the subsequent years, maybe they could apply these savings toward the $30 million debt. It would cancel out the debt in approximately 50 years. This is the mess our new superintendent and his five school board members have gotten us into. We had two members who voted against closing these schools but that was not enough. This whole mess is ludicrous and I think we should have a recall on these five board members. If you don't believe me, Warsaw taxpayers, just wait until we start paying taxes on the $30 million payback.

Bill and Jeannette Sadler
Warsaw

Letters to the Editor: 10-10-03

School Controversy

Editor, Times-Union:

We are getting a lot of different things from the majority of the school board and superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools. They cannot transfer sixth-graders to the middle schools, which would utilize available space, because some papas and mamas don't want it. But, we can close three schools which no parents want, and utilize portable classrooms on the pretext that it would save bundles of money. The amount of money claimed for saving is quite questionable. Portable classrooms are not inexpensive to operate and maintain.

Another factor resulting from closing the three schools is the additional mileage that these small children must be transported, which is also costly. But the worse thing is how much longer these children must be on buses.

Another thing, they talk about the so-called saving amount from closing some schools, but they have no hesitation to go in debt $30,000,000 for sports and entertainment with the resulting annual interest expense.

Fred R. Yohey
Warsaw

Warsaw School Board

Editor, Times-Union:

This morning I watched the news about the lawsuit against the Warsaw School Board. I would like to applaud those people who are trying to make a difference. They rank up there, in my opinion, to our forefathers who led the Boston Tea Party. To Mr. McGuire, you say that the three small schools are a luxury we cannot afford. Then what do you call a $30-million sports complex? I suppose you think it is an educational need. I suppose it is a stepping stone to a better education. Yes, I know your favorite line. That the money for the stadium is a whole different fund and the majority is in favor of it. But it is still tax money, it was just allocated to that certain fund, and it's too bad we live in a state where we give too much power to a small committee of people. We as taxpayers should be able to have this issue on a ballot, then we would have the majority point of view, not just yours.

Brian and Marcia Goodman
Warsaw

Editor's Note: The sports complex portion of the Warsaw school's building program will cost approximately $7 million. The remaining $23 million includes a performing arts center and adminstrative and cafeteria expansion.

Letters to the Editor: 10-7-03

School Closings

Editor, Times-Union:

The current WCS administration, and a portion of the school board of trustees, portrays the Sept. 15th vote to close the three rural elementary schools - Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake - as the end of the story. I, on the other hand, think this is where it begins.
To this day, there has never been a study to support the closing of these schools and to absorb the students within the existing elementary buildings. However, there have been at least two studies that have recommended a new school in the southern district and one in the northwest section. Furthermore, to date there has never been sufficient documentation from the Finance Department to justify the projected cost savings generated by these school closures. From the lack of facts and data given, how could any rational person, in good faith, have been able to arrive at the present conclusion?

When logic and good documentation are missing from a recommendation, no one should be expected to accept this form of decision-making. We as citizens, taxpayers and parents should now hold the administration and the board accountable for their actions. We should demand leadership that endorses a logical, long-term plan for our school system.

Brenda Dotson
Silver Lake

Letters to the Editor: 10-4-03

Save Claypool School

Editor, Times-Union:

I am so happy to see the outpouring support to save our school. I know that the vote was completed, I was there. I also know that it is honorable to say you have made a mistake and slow down and think out a more sensible solution. Claypool Elementary is a great school, with a great staff and wonderful facilities. It is in a great location, and it seems illogical to just shut it down and move all those kids to an already overcrowded school. I went to Claypool all of my elementary years and am thrilled that my children are going to such a fine school.

I would plead with Dr. McGuire and the school board to step back and see the wrong in the decisions that you have made and take an honorable step forward by admitting the mistake and correcting it. I don't have the answers, but I know there is one better than the one laid before us now.

Donata Grimm
Claypool

Letters to the Editor: 9-29-03

Warsaw Schools

Editor, Times-Union:

I'd like to say a few things about what has been going on in the Warsaw school system.
After years of doing everything the school board can think of, they'll soon have all the schools in their system in Warsaw except for Leesburg and Jefferson. They weren't satisfied with getting rid of all the high schools, but now they want all the schools. I know someone will say there are other systems that took high schools and I agree, but most of the towns were left with a school.

What will it be in two years or maybe three years, and they'll be saying Leesburg needs to close, and if Winona Lake is lucky maybe they can keep Jefferson.

Now is the time to stop them from doing away with what community pride is left in the towns of Claypool, Atwood and Silver Lake by letting them keep their schools. As far as I'm concerned, the system was wrong to even do away with the high schools, but that's another story.

Patty Robinson
Claypool graduate
Warsaw

Close-Knit Schools

Editor, Times-Union:

I applaud everyone who is speaking up in regards to the closing of the three elementaries. I know it is one thing to complain and another to help these elected officials see other alternatives. I am sad to see Atwood Elementary close because that was my school. We were a small close-knit school and everyone was able to get the proper one-on-one attention they needed. One teacher per class size. I know that Warsaw is proud of its athletic program, but to say that program is exempt from cuts is clearly unacceptable. I think that students will respect a program more if things are not guaranteed and handed to them on a silver platter. If they have to fight and work a little bit harder to have a nice basketball or football program or if the students take it upon themselves to clean and maintain the swimming pool or ideas like that, costs could be cut across the board. I hope that all of the parents that have the capability to come up with and present workable alternatives to this "mess" to go for it and submit it to the school board. Sometimes it takes a bunch of good minds to create a solution. I believe that if the school board officials are "willingly" being close-minded in order to ride the storm, then they need to resign and be replaced immediately by capable people that will hear the interests of the community and are not afraid to say, yes, we are making cuts to the athletic program and other areas that people see with rose-colored glasses. I hope to read in the future that the community does indeed prevail and that we will be in line to meet future demands, enrollment and costs of educating our children.

Jennifer Hyden
Winona Lake

Athletes

Editor, Times-Union:

What does the closing of Atwood, Silver Lake and Claypool elementary schools mean to our elementary atheletes? Each elementary school in the Warsaw Community School system has approximately 120 student athletic positions (soccer, volleyball, girls basketball, boys basketball, girls track, boys track and cheerleading). The closings will eliminate approximately 360 elementary athletic positions throughout the school corporation. However, it will not necessarily be Atwood, Silver Lake or Claypool student athletes who will be eliminated.

It might be your daughter, who has the gumption to try out for soccer, or your son, who is small for his age but tries out for basketball anyway. It could be my granddaughter, who has cerebral palsy but wants to play anything that involves a ball. These children make the team at the small schools.

What if Judi Warren, 1976 Indiana Miss Basketball, or Kevin Ault, 1996 Indiana Mr. Basketball, were children in our school corporation today? Would they be successful if they did not attend Claypool Elementary School, but were redistricted to a large school? Probably, but two other children would miss the opportunity to participate and grow through athletics. What happens to them? Multiply those two children by 180 and you have 360 children each year that will not be allowed to share in the joy of athletics.
Fast-forward a few years to these 360 children in high school. Will they still be in school? What kind of grades will they achieve? The relationship of athletics to dropout rates and grades is well documented.

If you think the school closings don't affect you, you're wrong. They affect each of us in different ways. Remember the pebble in the water?

Mary Green
Claypool

Letters to the Editor: 9-23-03

School Numbers

Editor, Times-Union:

Here are some figures as of Sept. 22, of our current enrollment in our schools.

School Current Capacity +/- 2002
Leesburg 470 493 +7
Madison 444 493 +2
Lincoln 430 493 +10
Harrison 590 625 -14
Jefferson 306 384 +9
Washington 419 470 +7
Eisenhower 535 625 +19

Closed schools Students +/- 2002
Atwood 148 +13
Claypool 148 -4
Silver Lake 153 +6
Middle & high schools
Lakeview 572 1200 +26
Edgewood 480 750 +23
High School approx. 1875 2000 +62

WCS current elementary students - 3,643; current capacity of remaining seven schools - 3,583, 60 students above overall capacity. Elementary students are up approximately 73 students since 2002.

Angela Fulton
Silver Lake

Letters to the Editor: 9-22-03

Concerned Citizens

Editor, Times-Union:

As you know, on Sept. 15 the Warsaw Community School Board of Trustees voted to close three rural elementary schools, Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake, at the end of this school year.

Due to the negative impact of this decision on the children of WCS and the potential stifling effects on the growth and development of our community, we would like to invite your membership in a recently formed group called Concerned Citizens for Quality Education. The goal and attitude of the organization's members is to give a quality life and education to the children and to provide quality input to the WCS school board. In addition, we feel it is necessary to work toward keeping our schools fiscally responsible and accountable to the parents, taxpayers and our community.

Through your encouraged participation and with adequate financial support, we hope to pursue a more feasible solution than the currently imposed changes.

Please join me for our next meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw. I look forward to seeing you there.

All donations will be appreciated and should be made payable to: CCQE, mailed to: CCQE Treasurer, P.O. Box 353, Warsaw, IN 46581

Dan Spangle
Silver Lake

Entertaining Article

Editor, Times-Union:

I found the article on the school board very entertaining on Tuesday. This is my favorite quote : "The proposed closings are projected to save approximately $300,000 the first year, and more than $600,000 in subsequent years, McGuire said. But the issue of aging buildings still will need to be addressed in the future." Claypool School is 17 years old if I have my facts straight. There are three buildings in our district that are younger. They are the high school, Eisenhower and Harrison.

Those buildings are about 10 years old. Does that mean they will need replaced in seven years? That is the concern, right, Mr. McGuire? Small aging buildings? Claypool wouldn't be a small school if you added on like Dr. Harman was planning. Silver Lake, Claypool, some Eisenhower and Jefferson kids that live on that side of town could all go there. The district lines are very close together. That would be a big school, right? Then Jefferson kids could go to Eisenhower and send some Eisenhower kids to Washington. (Since there is room, according to that article, to absorb Claypool and Silver Lake kids.) Why build a school in Winona when those kids live so close to Eisenhower and Claypool? I don't live on the south side, but this makes more sense to me. It also seems like less busing. I wouldn't want my 6-year-old to ride the bus for an hour and a half. Heck, I wouldn't want to ride that long ... three hours a day is too much commuting. I challenge you to do that before and after work every day, Mr. McGuire, and see how your job performance is. If you aren't willing to drive to Silver Lake and back before and after work every day for the rest of your term, then don't make those kids do it for 12 years.

Kami Rhodes
Leesburg

Cost Of Closing Schools

Editor, Times-Union:

These figures were presented to the WCS Board on Sept. 15. These are the same figures Mr. McGuire disputed without looking at them or asking one question about them. I am submitting them to the public. If anyone has any questions about how I came up with these, please free to e-mail me at hopeful_one_@hotmail.com

Actual Financial Effect
Closing Silver Lake Elementary

Annual COST to close Silver Lake Elementary - 4,575

In a report, WCS' projected potential maximum cost savings for closing Silver Lake School included the elimination of all salaries, wages and benefits at the school. Each person has been assured they will have a job. Those costs will not be saved by closing the school:

Librarian - $16,226
Administration - $65,994
Principal secretary - $19,188

Custodian - $43,212
Benefits (split three ways) - $50,641

In that same report, WCS' projected potential maximum cost savings for closing Silver Lake School included the elimination of custodial and utility costs. The cost to the Transportation Fund was not taken into account when showing cost savings. The Transportation Fund cost increase has been calculated based on adding one bus. Some of the following costs will be saved, but some of the custodial and utility costs will increase because of the added number of students at Washington:

Custodial supplies - $(5,200)

Gas heat - $(23,911)
Water - $ (3,734)
Lights - $(13,859)
Computed added costs at Washington - $18,587

Net actual cost savings to General Fund - $(28,117)

Computed Transportation Fund cost increase - $32,692

Annual cost to close Silver Lake Elementary - $4,575

There were no other cost savings projected in the report by WCS Report dated 8/19/03.
Added costs do not include cost of portables, added repairs and renovations, new school bus, costs of redistricting, cost of maintaining closed schools and others.

Similar computations are available for Claypool and Atwood. Same conclusion.

WCS' report of Projected Potential Maximum Cost Savings for Closing Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake is available.

Computations of added costs at Washington and transportation cost increase are available.

Angela Fulton
Silver Lake

Atwood

Editor, Times-Union:

Dear Students, Faculty and Parents of Atwood School:

As the final chapter was written last week in the long debated school closings, it is with sadness on your behalf that I write this letter.
It has been apparent to all of us in this community how much devotion you have to the students and staff at Atwood school. You should be very proud of your community for the integrity you showed.

Please know that our hearts go out to you as you bid farewell to your wonderful school. We want you to know that our Madison family welcomes you with open arms and looks forward to meeting each and every one of you.
Please let us know how we can make this transition easier for you. Our thoughts are with you at this time.

Shelley Holderman
President
Madison PTO

Letters to the Editor: 9-17-03

Closing Schools

Editor, Times-Union:

At recent Warsaw School Board meetings, several parents have threatened to remove their children from the Warsaw school district if the Claypool, Silver Lake and Atwood elementaries are closed. This decision by these parents to remove their children, if carried out, is to be applauded and encouraged since they are exercising a basic human right of freedom of choice and personal control over their children's education. This choice will place an additional financial burden on their family budgets which, over the long run, will be worth it if it is properly done.

Which brings us to the issue of taxation for public schools. If and when these parents do remove their children from the Warsaw school district and send them to another school district, a private or religious school, or home-school them, whatever local property taxes specifically go toward the Warsaw school district should be removed from their tax bill. This would free up additional resources and relieve these parents of the burden of double taxation for a government service that they no longer use.

And on a final note, for those parents who cannot or have made a choice not to remove their children from the Warsaw school district, they should find the extra time to correct any area of their child's education that is not being taught or poorly taught by the school district.

Alex Houze
Leesburg

Majority Rule

Editor, Times-Union:

Well, the highly educated that we elected finally done it. They have made their history, they sure have not learned from it. They must have missed the government class that says majority rules this country. Well, now your kids and mine can go to school in mobile homes, and let me say that the first severe storm that comes and these kids stay in a mobile trailer for safety, well, let's hope that never happens even though the National Weather Service recommends people to leave mobile homes whether they are tied down or not. Dr. McGuire, what are you going to do with our children when the bad weather comes, because you can't ignore that like you have the people of this community. I can see a lawsuit that will cost more than $300,000. The lawsuit that will come if children are hurt in a traffic accident with a bus that is over capacity, I am sure that a jury will value a child at $300,000 or less. I am sure I have never managed a lot of money but, if I am short each month, I don't spend as much. Not this school board, we are short $500,000, let's spend $1.5 million on an office building, $30 million on a football field, and who knows what else. Most of this is just me blowing off, but I added something that Dr. McGuire and the rest of the board have not, and that is common sense. Well, the last thing that they cannot control is that the next election - they will learn that majority rules. They are no longer the school board, they are the school puppets, Dr. McGuire's puppets. To the school puppets that were elected to look out for the interest of the people that elected them, you have failed the people that elected you.

Don Hause
Silver Lake

Letters to the Editor: 9-15-03

Warsaw Schools

Editor, Times-Union:

This letter is written in response to the Laura Wagner letter to the editor. You urge the public to please take time to look at the school Web site.

I would also suggest that the taxpayers get involved. The site's information is not only interesting but also very informative. Let's look at some numbers in the General Fund, for example. The cost to maintain the swimming pool is budgeted for $114,374. I believe that when the pool was installed people did not realize it would cost this much to maintain annually. While I endorse athletics, we must keep the costs in perspective.

Over the years we have continued to add expenses to the General Fund that are excessive. While we are contemplating the closure of three rural elementary schools, the majority of administrators will be getting raises next year, some as high as 10 percent. Even the business department is getting a 3.8 percent increase in pay to $94,573.00 - this is just one individual's salary.

We touched on the General Fund, let's move to the Transportation Fund. In last Saturday's Times-Union, Dr. McGuire was asked will there be additional cost for busing the rural students to Warsaw? Although he had no figures, he did say that the bus replacement line and the transportation line are separate funds and they are fine. "We will probably have to add a route or two." His statement is contrary to information provided on the Web site.
The Transportation Fund states that due to the loss of revenue from the state in 2004, there will be no increase in the operating budget and that expenditures will be very closely monitored and they may be forced to reduce services. What are we to believe?

I have looked to the WCS Web site many times, trying to find the alleged $300,000 dollar cost savings to justify the current proposal to close these three elementary schools, to no avail. Please join me for the WCS board meeting, today at 7 p.m. at Edgewood Middle School, if you are truly interested in the facts. Your presence, comments and questions will surely send a message to your ELECTED school board trustee.

Morris Jones
Silver Lake

School Closings

Editor, Times-Union:

In the midst of all the hoopla concerning the closing of these schools, the poor attitudes of some board members and this reccurring $300K figure, I wonder if our good school board has considered what they will do (besides being voted off next fall) after we close these schools.

Will the old dilapidated buildings be torn down? Of course they will, otherwise we'd still have to maintain them, and at what cost? I'll bet the cost of demolition will be more than $300,000. What about the foster schools? Making the class sizes bigger is one thing, but won't you still have to cut teaching jobs? Or will we just have two teachers per class and two principals in three of the schools?

One thing that comes to my mind is wondering how we got to this point. I mean, when things get tight in our personal budgets, we normally cut spending. We don't go knocking down walls in our house and move the kids into Mom and Dad's room, or spend $92,000 on a new tool shed, do we? I'd sure hate to tell my kid that she will now be sleeping in the bathroom because I can't afford to heat her room, but with the money I'll be saving, I'll be able to build her a NEW room with a guest wing to boot.

You know, if the board (besides Ron and Gene) wants to close these schools, there isn't any amount of letters to the editor that will change their minds, but I would ask you to carefully consider the impact you will have on this community, both financially and socially, when you vote. Thanks to Ron Yeiter, Gene England, Becky Thomas and the other remonstrators for standing up for us. Someone has to.

Scott Wickens
Warsaw

Voice Of Reason

Editor, Times-Union:

First, I would like to say to Laura Wagner, THANK YOU for being a voice of reason in this highly emotional debate. You were right on in statements about the different funds and about the state stepping in if a solution cannot be found.

I do not have children in the Warsaw Community School system, but I am a taxpayer in and graduate of the system. I fully understand those patrons that do not want their town schools closed and their children to be bused to other schools. I also understand, though, that a child's education is what a child and a family make it. And unfortunately, no matter what, in the end money will win out. If you can't make a school system financially sound, then do you have a quality school system at all? I do not believe that it makes sense to do nothing or to do something halfway right now. If it needs to be done, it needs to be done.

About 20 years ago, WCS needed a new high school. Taxpayers complained about the expense. The school board, against its better judgment for the future, gave in and instead built a school FOR ONE GRADE. Within three years, WCS was forced to build a whole new high school anyway. In my opinion, that was a wasteful decision. Please do not force them to repeat this.

I agree that children should not be forced into other schools, thereby overcrowding them. I think the original plan of a new Prairie Township school and a new school in the southern part of the county to house Claypool and Silver Lake students may be the best long-run option. Newer buildings last longer. Older buildings cost to remodel, repair and maintain now, and will only cost more in the future.

For everyone involved, let's think about the future and what is best down the road, not just right now. Please make an informed, intelligent decision about all the issues involved.

Deb Wulliman
Warsaw

Letters to the Editor: 9-12-03

Warsaw Schools

Editor, Times-Union:

Warsaw Community Schools has an immediate situation that needs to be addressed. There needs to be more money coming in or less money going out. Medical care is constantly increasing for all of us. Heating cost is higher for all of us. It is understandable expenses are higher for the schools. Some expenses that had been paid at the state level have been shifted to the local level. With the budget problems at the state, this trend is not likely to change anytime soon. For the past eight years, WCS has spent more than it has taken in. Should property taxes be raised? If you are on a fixed income, paying higher property tax seems unfair, especially when millions are being spent on new buildings.
How can we cut expenses? Should programs be eliminated? Should there be fewer teachers and more students per class? Should extracurricular programs be eliminated? Should athletics be eliminated? I don't think anyone in this community wants to see the children's education suffer or the activities that help build character in our youth eliminated.
Is closing the three grade schools a long-term solution to the budget deficit? Savings will be very minimal at first and the truth of it is closing the three grade schools commits WCS to building new grade schools. This will probably commit the taxpayers to pay $4 to $5 million a year until 2020 to service the debt. WCS will be able to raise property taxes for the general fund to operate the new facilities. An alternative is a referendum that has to be voted in every seven years to raise property tax for the general fund. Then you can scale back building programs and reduce the total property tax.
There is no easy solution but it makes no sense to me to close one of the highest ranked elementary schools in the state.

Bruce Ferguson
Warsaw

Prayer Vigil

Editor, Times-Union:

I want to thank the Times-Union for the picture and brief explanation about the prayer vigil held on Monday night. A big thank-you to all those who participated.

I also want to take this opportunity to voice my concern about the school situation. I am concerned that Warsaw and Winona Lake are remaining silent about this issue. I hope that these two cities will realize that if the board decides on closing these three elementary schools that these kids from Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake will be coming to your schools. As you know, Washington and Eisenhower cannot accomodate all these kids - so what happens, your kids will be displaced! Your kids will be ripped from your schools and put in other schools. THINK ABOUT THAT. If you want to do something about this, folks, then join us in a demonstration today from 2-4 p.m. at the administration building in protest. And then on Monday, Sept. 15, come together and join us all day from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. for a public demonstration. If you have any questions, call me at 574-566-2808. Bring your kids, your families, your neighbors in Atwood, Claypool, Silver Lake, Warsaw and Winona Lake and tell Dr. McGuire, Jim Folk, Cathy Folk, Larry Chamberlain, Craig Allebach and Mark Minatel that we will not stand for our children to be ripped out of our schools and put in portable classrooms. Leave the schools alone or build onto Atwood, Claypool or Silver Lake so we don't have the overcrowding and, as Dr. McGuire says, a "rippling" of students.

Jason Gross
Pastor
Claypool UMC

WCS School Board

Editor, Times-Union:

The school board meeting is fast approaching and emotions are running at an all-time high. Comments made about the money being spent on the high school improvements (voted on and approved more than a year ago), comments about potentially overcrowded classrooms and schools, and finally, about bringing your kids to the board meeting. With all due respect, while this does affect our kids, this does not need to involve our kids. People can sometimes lose control at meetings like this and I for one would not want to subject my children to a situation like that. Does closing the three smaller schools automatically mean that their quality of education will be affected? Does closing the three smaller schools automatically mean overcrowded classrooms and schools? In my opinion, the answer to both is a resounding NO. Please, please, please, take a step back and take a look at the facts and figures that are available on the school corporation Web site. These are not easy decisions for the school board, but our corporation is in a situation where these financial issues need to be resolved. Keep in mind, building funds and operational funds are and always have been separate accounts as mandated by the state. You say stop the building, OK, we'd still be in the same place we are now with the operational budget. If the board votes against the proposal, school-wide cuts will begin because if our ELECTED board cannot resolve the financial situation, the state government would probably step in and tell them what to cut and what to keep; not a good place to be. I will close with a plea for everyone: please, take the time to get the facts and take the time to look at the big picture. It's not just today, tomorrow or even next year, it's about the future years to come and the continued success and excellent education provided by the Warsaw Community School Corp.

Laura Wagner
Warsaw

School Closings

Editor, Times-Union:

I am not a math whiz, nor am I a financial analyst, but I do know when things don't add up. We currently have 10 elementary schools with a total capacity of 4,094. If we allow the school board to close three of these schools (Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake), the total capacity will be reduced to 3,583 students. Do you know the current enrollment for our elementary schools? 3,592. Now, like I said, I'm not a mathematician, but I do know that if these three schools are closed and our students are moved into the remaining seven schools, we will be over capacity, with no room for future growth. This is not acceptable. On the news the other day, Mayor Wiggins stated that Warsaw's orthopedic industry is growing (referring to the DePuy expansion project). To me, that could translate to more families being recruited into Warsaw by these businesses. Who knows what the enrollment numbers will be in the future. The Gann-McKibbin enrollment projections for the past three years have been consistently below the actual enrollment count. We must speak out and let the school board know that we will not allow them to close three schools before a plan is in place to address the overcrowding. Dr. McGuire, in his radio interview, stated that he would need to build new schools at some point. Dr. Harman previously indicated that they would not close the schools until the new schools were built, to keep from redistricting twice. That is no longer the plan. I think there needs to be a compromise. I have my thoughts on possible solutions and I'm sure you have yours. My only hope is that you will attend the upcoming school board meeting on Monday and let the board know that you have an opinion and that they were elected to represent you and your concerns. If you think that this will not affect you because your children do not attend one of the three schools that are being targeted, think again! With the redistricting being slated to begin early next year, it will indeed affect all of us with students in the Warsaw school system.

Ginger Barnes
Warsaw

Letters to the Editor: 9-8-03

Concerned About Education

Editor, Times-Union:

The Concerned Citizens for Quality Education not-for-profit organization is in the process of being formed due to the recent actions of the WCS School Board. On Sept. 2, board members were elected, committees chosen and a very positive mission statement has been prepared. The CCQE organization welcomes all taxpayers and concerned individuals within the school district to become members.

The goal and attitude of the organization's members is to give a quality life and education to the children and to provide quality input to the WCS school board. In addition, we feel it is necessary to work toward keeping our schools fiscally responsible and accountable to the parents, taxpayers and our community.

We invite all taxpayers and concerned individuals to attend the next two meetings, today 7 p.m., Claypool Lions Club, and Wednesday, 7 p.m., Kosciusko County Community Foundation meeting room. Also, be sure to mark your calendars and attend the WCS school board meeting Sept. 15, 7 p.m., Edgewood Middle School. Because children are asking many questions about their future schools, please feel free to bring your child to the meetings, they have concerns too!

For more information, contact the CCQE board - Bruce Ferguson, Vallerie Rowland, Dan Spangle or myself.

Becky Thomas
CCQE Chairman
Warsaw

School Redistricting

Editor, Times-Union:

First, I would like to agree with Mary Green in her letter in Thursday's paper in regards to the several board members not at all being concerned with what the public has to say. I too have been to these board meetings and have witnessed the same nail cleaning, staring at the ceiling and eye rolling. Respect is earned and they can't expect the taxpayers and parents to respect them when they show us none.

Second, I listened to Dr. McGuire's interview on the radio Friday morning. I am amazed that a school system that has so many financial problems decides to cut eight teachers, five counselors, drivers training and some maintenance, and chooses not to release one assistant coach or reduce any part of the athletic department. Dr. McGuire continues to tell us that he is very concerned with our children's education. In my opinion, some of the $326,000 that goes to coaches and athletic trainer services could be cut too. I was told by Dr. McGuire that he will not cut anything from athletics. There needs to be another answer than to bus all students to the town of Warsaw. If we all wanted our children to go to Warsaw, we would move there. Dr. McGuire finally admitted that our kids will ride the bus longer than they do now. Living three miles from Claypool school, my children get home after 4:30. What time will it be by going north five more miles during a very busy time of the day?

Third, all parents need to realize this will affect all children. Redistricting will either move your child or your child's best friends and make your schools very crowded. So no, this doesn't only affect Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake. It will affect every child in elementary in WCS.

Vallerie Rowland
Claypool

Letters to the Editor: 9-4-03

School Closing

Editor, Times-Union:

Edmund Burke said the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Gene England and Ron Yeiter are to be commended for holding the moral high ground with respect to the school closing issues. They have demonstrated courage and tenacity in representing their constituents as well as all Warsaw Community Schools patrons. Thank you, gentlemen!

On Sept. 15, the Warsaw School Board will meet to again discuss the closing of three elementary schools. I encourage everyone to attend, if for no other reason than to witness the behaviors and attitudes of the members who represent your interests. During the July board meeting, I was stunned to see eye-rolling, nail cleaning, fidgeting and very little eye contact from several board members as patrons expressed their concerns. As Mr. Yeiter and Mr. England spoke, some board members literally turned sideways to avoid eye contact. I assumed the television cameras made some members uncomfortable and contributed to these behaviors. However during the August board meeting, I witnessed more of the same behaviors.

Surely this school board has the cleanest fingernails in Indiana. Perhaps they should now concentrate on clean hands and clear consciences.

Mary Green
Claypool

Letters to the Editor: 9-2-03

School Savings?

Editor, Times-Union:

I read with interest Mr. Thorpe's findings of the so-called savings the Warsaw school system could realize by closing three schools. This is fine, but in order to close these schools it requires the construction of new buildings at an estimated cost of $3 million. How far would the so-called savings go toward the interest cost for financing these buildings? Also, the additional space realized by the new structures would take regular operating expenses. We need to get the projected figures for the proposed change in order to know whether to support this idea or not.

For some reason, there appears to be no movement on the part of the school board or superintendent to move the sixth grade to the middle school. Is it possible that such a move might prove no need for new buildings? The superintendent has indicated that 6-7-8 middle school configuration is the most common middle school structure in the state.

Fred R. Yohey
Warsaw

Letters to the Editor: 8-27-03

Warsaw Schools

Editor, Times-Union:

It is amazing how many times this past week I have read in different newspapers and heard on the radio the amount of money Warsaw Community Schools will save if the three small elementaries are closed. The figure changes just like many things about this whole issue change. Some days we hear a savings of $300,000, a conservative estimate, to $688,000, a totally unbelievable figure. What I would like to see is how much this whole proposal will cost us. Where are the figures on the other side of the equation? How much will it cost to bus these children into Warsaw and how much will it cost to refurbish the portables they will be bused to? How much are the utilities for these added spaces? Why can't we get the real figures on both sides so that an educated decision could be made if it is truly prudent to move ahead with this closing plan? It is my understanding that most if not all of the staff at all three elementaries have been guaranteed their positions, including the principals, so what kind of savings do we really have? I do not see savings in the general fund that we so desperately need (according to the financial department) if all of the staff is retained, their salaries and benefits will remain and those come from the general fund.

Another question that comes to mind is, do the parents of the other elementaries realize that all of the students from the elementaries that they propose closing will be put in with their children, causing larger class sizes, over-crowded lunch rooms, etc.? I do see the need to build a new school in the Prairie Township area and I also agree that putting Silver Lake and Claypool students together in a school makes sense; it would make a nice size school for the southern part of the district, but do it in a new building in a more feasible location. Let's do it right the first time. Claypool and Silver Lake have both been promised new schools many times over - build us one. My feeling is, build a new school in the southern part of the district, build a new school in Prairie township, taking care of the truly overcrowded situation, and leave Jefferson Elementary alone for now. Quit wasting taxpayer money to hire professionals to do studies and then not listen to them.

Kathy Lokotar
Silver Lake

Letters to the Editor: 8-25-03

School Redistricting

Editor, Times-Union:

It comes to my attention through media and paper that our fair city and county is cruising for a bruising. The issue at hand - school redistricting.

It seems every organization, no matter how small or large, gets bogged down in bureaucratic manure. Like for example: we can only pave streets or do repair on sewage lines in different years because of the way money is distributed. For some reason it costs "less" to pave the streets one year and tear them up the next to lay down sewage lines and repave, than to lay sewage lines and pave in the same year. Hello!?
Well, it appears that to have smaller schools with less students costs about $300,000 a year more than the school corporation has. But, and this is a big but, we somewhere have $62 million to build two new "bigger and better" schools. At least that was what was explained initially. The reasoning behind not using that money to keep what we already have is because of how money is distributed.

One must have a college education to understand the logistics of what was just presented. The reasoning being, most normal intelligent people can't understand the logic behind such.

What is amazing is our country has been built by thousands of men and women who attended small township or block schools. They got wonderful educations by highly educated individuals. There were no computers, television, calculators, faxes, copy machines, multiple telephone lines, air conditioning, the list continues endlessly. No drama department (although each spring and fall there were fantastic plays put on by juniors and seniors called Thespians), no major auditoriums (although we had fall, Christmas and spring concerts in the gym and it was always filled to capacity). We didn't have a gym that held 5,000+ but the gyms were always filled with families for basektball games and sock hops and family fair night and science fair night. The Home Ec department always had a huge fashion show with clothes the department had made all year. This too was well attended.

In the summer the gym was used for various activities, one being the 4-H judging for the township, and band rehearsals for summer shows.

It is an assumption, but the remonstrators for these proposals, too numerous now to mention, probably remember the above-mentioned activities taking place in those respective small schools. The wish is for their children to have the same wonderful, rich memories. Can't say as I blame them for wanting something so treasured for their treasured kiddos.

Phyllis L. Barger
Warsaw

Letters to the Editor: 8-22-03

School Board

Editor, Times-Union:

The local school board obviously needs to attend a class in economics. Only in Warsaw would a government unit spend $30 million plus interest to save $300,000 per year. If they are in such dire straits in their budget, why is $1.75 million being spent on a new administration building? Surely the administrative people can rough it like most of us taxpayers and not have a plush office.

Ruben Rose
Warsaw

Letters to the Editor: 8-20-03

Study The School Issue

Editor, Times-Union:

I agree with David Kolbe that we need to take some time to allow an independent committee to study the school issues. This committee must not have ties to current board, superintendent or Grace College.

With this study the superintendent and board could be mandated to furnish said committee all information as to costs, etc., covering the many offerings that have been furnished monthly.

The school board and superintendent must be held accountable for the wasted money that takes place on a regular basis. Two current issues of waste is the new air conditioning recently installed in buildings suggested to be closed. Also I understand new carpeting has been purchased for two of the proposed closings.

We must not be blackmailed into making hasty decisions. Threats to cut programs and lay off teachers is an old standby to get what certain interested parties want to push through before any thought can be given to the issues.
We do not need a rubber stamp school board. Congratulations to those who have not conceded to the pressure thrust upon them.

Paulene Holderman, taxpayer
Warsaw