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Posted on Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 5:58 a.m.

'Not on the backs of Pioneer': PTO rallies community to discuss budget proposals

By Danielle Arndt

08262012_Pioneer_High_School.JPG

Pioneer High School staff and parents have some concerns about proposals being considered to balance the 2013-14 year budget and the school's PTSO is hosting a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday to discuss them.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com file photo

The Pioneer High School Parent-Teacher-Student Organization has some concerns about the initial proposals the district administration has targeted to close its budget gap for the 2013-14 academic year.

And while budget reductions have occurred repeatedly for years now throughout the Ann Arbor Public Schools, stakeholders in the Pioneer community are growing weary of what they perceive as an unfair number of cuts affecting their building.

Many members of the Pioneer PTSO feel "Pioneer is the first one to take cuts and be accommodating," said group member and high school parent Maureen Frost.

"We recognize that cuts have to be made and that everyone has their own selfish issues and things they don't want to have happen, but we feel these kids have shared in the sacrifice."

The group is rallying staff, students, parents and other community members to discuss the proposals on the table this year, which include eliminating the seventh-hour option at Huron and Pioneer, moving the Roberto Clemente alternative program into Pioneer, eliminating or significantly reducing the funding for Pioneer Theatre Guild and cutting high school sports or increasing pay-to-participate fees.

These were among a preliminary list of possible budget cuts the administration proposed in December. Superintendent Patricia Green and her cabinet will make their formal recommendation on cuts for the 2013-14 academic year at Wednesday's regular school board meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at the Ann Arbor District Library.

But before that, the Pioneer PTSO is hosting a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the school cafeteria to rally around their students.

"We are in education mode," an email the PTSO sent around stated. "We need to let families know what is happening and we need to let board members know that Pioneer is not always the school that has to make sacrifices to support other programs. We have to unite as a school, as a community, to work together."

The PTSO invited current ninth-, 10th- and 11th-grade families to participate in the meeting, as well as eighth-grade families from Tappan and Slauson middle schools, which feed into Pioneer High. Board members and central administrators also were invited to hear staff and parents' concerns. But as of Friday, PTSO leaders were unable to confirm whether any administrators planned to attend the event.

One of the biggest beefs Pioneer families have is being blindsided by the proposal from administration to move the Roberto Clemente Student Development Center alternative program to a wing of the comprehensive high school, Frost said.

She said the idea to move in Clemente was not communicated to the Pioneer community until the recommendation already had been made public. She added overcrowding continues to be an issue at the school.

Pioneer had a fall enrollment of 1,651 students, which is over its building capacity of 1,615 students. Huron's fall enrollment was 1,612 and Skyline's was 1,501.

Colleen Creal is a counselor at Pioneer helping to organize Tuesday's PTSO meeting. She said among the benefits administrators cited for housing Roberto Clemente at Pioneer is the alternative high school students would be able to participate in Pioneer's elective courses. However, as a counselor, she said scheduling for electives and even core classes is already an issue. And with the seventh-hour option on the table it is expected to become even worse, Frost added.

"There are a lot of important things the board has to decide, but not on the backs of Pioneer High School," Creal said. "We are bleeding staff and students and want to redefine ourselves but these changes aren't helping."

She said Skyline High School was constructed to help alleviate overcrowding at Pioneer. But shortly after the school began to see fewer students, the Community Education and Recreation Department was moved into the building. Then this year, the district opened up the school to in-district transfers for 2013-14, bringing in another 25 students to the already full building, Creal said. She added Pioneer's class sizes are larger than the other comprehensive high schools and the school had more in-district transfer requests than the other buildings.

The counselor feels as though the board is out of the loop and hopes Tuesday's PTSO meeting can repair some misconceptions.

"There are a lot of concerned parents, the morale in the staff is low... Every time we turn around, we are being asked to handle more students," Creal said. "We don't think the board knows some of this stuff, that it's not being communicated or that the central administration is not painting an accurate picture of how strongly the community feels."

Creal added that as a counselor, she recommends the Roberto Clemente experience each year for many students who are not able to be successful at Pioneer.

"... These are kids who would love to (succeed) here but for whatever reason, it's too much for some... I've seen kids leave here and do amazing things in a smaller setting," she said.

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.

Comments

tyger

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 8:59 p.m.

Pioneer feels increasingly like a large, second-rate university, where students are numbers rather than names. Rules are enforced according to whim, learning issues are ignored by teachers, and it is all too easy for students who were successful at Tappan and Slauson to get lost in the crowd. And now they want to take away one of the only things PHS has that is truly high-quality and nationally acclaimed (the Theatre Guild), a program which provides real job skills and a place to be after school for dozens of kids who really need community support. "Great schools" brought many of us to this town in the first place, and justified the higher property taxes. If we have to pay private school tuition to get a decent education, might as well live in a real city.

jns131

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 2:07 a.m.

Privatize Palace Balas. This is why moral is so low. It is like the Detroit City Council. They have no idea how to prioritize a budget. Save the hub and make the teachers pay. Sad sad sad.

DJB

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 1:31 a.m.

It does seem that most of the pain of these cuts are at the High Schools.

Alden

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 12:23 a.m.

thank you Pioneer PTSO, for organizing this.

tully

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 8:29 p.m.

I have had kids in both Pioneer and Roberto Clemente. I have seen Pioneer over it's capacity 7 years ago. I was more than pleased with Skyline opening to provide a different model of education but also to create some space to walk within the halls of Pioneer. To see program after program squeezing out the last remaining space at Pioneer is frustrating. Because I have had kids in both programs I can say from experience that reason I don't want Clemente at Pioneer is not because of "those kids". Hate to tell many of you but "those kids" are at Pioneer too. Clemente succeeds because it is a smaller space. Less distractions. Roberto needs to stay in it's current location under the excellent supervision of Ben Edmondson. If Clemente needs to move possibly they could move in at Balas? Let the administrators have a taste of overcrowding for a bit.

GeeWhiz

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.

Could somebody clarify the differences between Roberto Clemente and A2 Tech.

DonBee

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 7:33 p.m.

Roberto Clemente is for students who are trying and not making it for whatever reason in the factory high schools. Most have come to high school without the right knowledge to succeed, having been promoted by the prior schools with their age mates. They want to make it and Roberto Clemente gives them that chance. AATech is for students who struggle for mostly non-academic reasons, like having had to take time out to have a child or family issues, etc. Again it is students who want to make it but could not in the factory high schools. In both cases the staff has to take the time to deal with the underlying issues the students arrive with and encourage them to stay the course and succeed. The programs are very different. Roberto Clemente runs during normal school hours, some of the AATech work is done outside of normal hours by teachers who are going the extra mile (or 100 miles). In some cases students in both schools end up back in the factory high schools after a year or two and do well, having been helped past the issues they were having. In both cases the schools help reduce the drop out rate and help students who otherwise may never have had a chance to succeed in life.

Charles Curtis

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 5:27 p.m.

I believe in the broadest strokes, RC is aimed at kids who have skills but are overwhelmed by bigger school, and A2T is more for behavior issues. But would need a school employee to give better description, or AA.com could post something.

Jim Mulchay

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 5:05 p.m.

A suggestion - that is unlikely to be acceptable to anyone - (1) Convert Skyline to Community HS with increased enrollment and it's own extra curricular activities; (2) Put Roberto Clemente into Huron as a "school within a school"; (3) Put A2Tech into Pioneer as a "school within a school"; (4) dispose of Community, Roberto Clemente and A2Tech; Another alternative - WISD take over Roberto Clemente and A2Tech..

DonBee

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 7:26 p.m.

Mr. Mulchay - The alternative would reduce the funds available to run these two schools. AAPS gets almost $2000 more per student than WISD would get running the schools from the state. There is no room anymore - now that the portables are gone and Pioneer and Huron have been reconfigured (mostly more office space) to only hold 1600 students, neither would be able to accept back the roughly 300 students that your suggesting. The better option is to leave Community alone, but make anything outside the community building be the complete responsibility of the student and their family e.g. sports, special classes, etc. Move Roberto Clemente into Stone with AATech and move the online programs from Community to Skyline. Community is not a high cost school according to what figures have been released and moving/closing Community would probably drive 50-200 students out of the district, removing any cost savings.

Macks Pizza

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:39 p.m.

Calm down Pioneer community. The RCDC program will NOT be coming to your building.

dotdash

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 3:15 p.m.

When AAPS makes decisions about closing schools and consolidating and cutting programs, I hope they have their eye on who is defecting away from AAPS to other alternatives -- not just the private schools, but the International Baccalaureate program at WiHi and other alternative programs. Those are the places with growing demand, especially among those who can afford to chose and to transport their kids. Imagine what will happen if the state's proposed voucher program goes into effect and I can take my School Aid money to Greenhills or WiHi or some internet school. All of a sudden, private school tuition will be reachable for those who are $8000-10,000 away from it now. The exodus from AAPS is going to make our heads spin.

kris

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 2:43 a.m.

Excellent points here. Many of my neighbors and coworkers have the financial capability to send their kids to private schools but choose not to because they want their kids to have a competitive sports experience or musical/theater opportunities that have traditionally been offered at AAPS high schools. Continued cuts to these programs will have parents enrolling their kids elsewhere...private schools, charters, schools of choice districts like Saline etc.

J. A. Pieper

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:34 p.m.

And, don't forget, those of us at the elementary level see it happening already due to the discipline gap policies. Those who can afford to choose, are also among our most involved parents. They help support the buildings through the PTO, and many other activities. Eventually, it will catch up to all levels, and everyone will feel it.

Basic Bob

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:17 p.m.

We need to close some buildings. Bricks and utility bills don't educate kids, and neither do principals. These costs can be shifted to hiring teachers and reducing class sizes.

Basic Bob

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 3:26 a.m.

@oxyclean, You need to back that up with facts.

oyxclean

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 1:18 a.m.

I agree. And Ann Arbor schools should be for Ann Arbor students. Why are our schools becoming more and more populated with Ypsilanti kids?

Chris Blackstone

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:12 p.m.

For people interested in school capacities, this article from Feb 2012 lists enrollment and capacity data for every Ann Arbor School http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-elementaries-operating-at-86-percent/

DonBee

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:01 p.m.

Roberto Clemente belongs in the Stone School building with the AATECH program. Both are unique and need to stay that way for success. What they don't need is two sets of utility and maintenance bills. What they do need is their unique academic programs. They work. Based on the last set of building by building statistics released by the district (quite a while ago), Pioneer was the lowest cost High School the district had, followed by Community and Huron (neck and neck). If you are looking for high school cuts, then Skyline is the first place to look, it is funding equity you want to seek. The problem is that the Skyline costs were probably inflated on a per student basis because the school was so new at the time. More transparency would make this discussion easier with more facts and fewer rumors.

thecompound

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.

In related news, Greenhills and Father Gabriel have seen a 100% increase in interest in their schools.... Not really, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised. Whatever is going on at Pioneer is downright scary. Are there any recordings of these announcements by the principal?

J. A. Pieper

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:26 p.m.

Dotdash, another issue that is dragging down AAPS is the Discipline Gap Policy instituted by Dr. Green. I don't know what is happening at any level but the elementary, but since we can't discipline, our stable families are seeking out other alternatives. Every time I hear of another family who is removing their children from our schools, I cringe. We are being dragged down in more ways than one!

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 3:15 p.m.

The staff hate them. The students hate them. Yet she does them as if she is off in her own little world.

dotdash

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:55 p.m.

It's true about interest in the private schools. To be fair, though, this has been brewing since Prop A passed, when Ann Arbor tethered its schools to the will of the state legislature (witness how they raided the School Fund to cover Higher Ed). With self-determination and good funding, Ann Arbor schools were good enough for most. But with the cuts to the school fund at the state level and with the new core standards and with the new plan for diversion of state funds to the voucher programs, Ann Arbor schools are going to be dragged down with the rest of the state.

towncryer

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.

Here is what I don't understand. The RC people don't want to move partially because the location plays into the RC experience (being out of the way, smaller building/rooms, less temptations, etc..), but the higher ups discount that and think its no big deal to move the program to Pioneer. HOWEVER, one of the biggest arguments for keeping Community right where it is is that the location is part of the Community experience. I am not bashing Community, but I don't just understand why the location theory works for one school and not the other?

aamom

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 5:43 p.m.

One difference is that the Community kids get high test scores and admittance to top colleges that reflects well on the district. The district likes to be well thought of. If they close Community, many of those kids have the ability to go to Green Hills, Gabriel Richard or that Washtenaw international Charter HS. That is money lost. I'm guessing if they close RC, most of those kids will just assimilate back into one of the AAPS high schools. No money lost. It sounds harsh, but that is the reality as I see it.

Basic Bob

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:04 p.m.

you are observing correctly. location and enivornment is important to both groups. the difference is 400 vocal chs students and generations of well-placed townie supporters vs. 60 silent rc students who have no means to make a public outcry and a handful of people in the community who care about these kids. most would put them all on a bus to someplace - anyplace - else. truth be told, they could both survive in a different building - the right one. chs at skyline and rc at stone. for once, the pioneer teachers are right and they should be left alone. but only because they are the wrong choice for these programs.

Charles Curtis

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:29 p.m.

I think the board of ed ought to take a close look at this. Why are you trying to overload a building that already is at its capacity? Why is their no discussion to move to scarlett, yes I know its a middle school, but its close to 40% under capacity? I am unsure why the move to pioneer is the proposal, is it to share the teaching staff? Is it to cut down on building overhead? I have had children in pioneer and my kids have had trouble trying to get the classes they wanted, and I can't see how adding more kids will change that. Its very difficult to even schedule a meeting with their counselors due to demand. The district has way to much overhead, too many buildings, and too many administrators at all the buildings, so I do think they need to move students from existing assignments, but take a step back and see what you can do to utilize what you have without having to do major renovations. Its a shame that the district leadership has rarely been forward looking and planning ahead. Instead we get lets wait til its a crisis. Skyline could have been built to have a wing for a specialty HS. The district bleeds our tax money, blames the state, economy, and everyone but themselves, but other districts in the area are getting less per student and doing more than AAPS is. And then look at extra fees, field trips, busing, athletics, etc is nearby districts...AAPS cuts and others do not.

towncryer

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:33 p.m.

Does Skyline not have the ability to create a wing within the existing building (I have never been in the school)?

Chris Blackstone

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:23 p.m.

The beginning of this article links to a different article about Roberto Clemente being a better fit at Pioneer than at A2 Technological. Since the current RC and A2T buildings are underutilized, why not move A2 Technological to the RC building? I agree that keeping RC open and focused on its mission of education at-risk students is important, but do we have an understanding of whether or not the population at Pioneer is going to rise or fall in the near- and far-term? I looked all over the AAPS Web Site for enrollment projections, but the only ones I saw were 10 years old.

kris

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:16 p.m.

When my older kids graduated from Pioneer a few years ago, the student population was close to 3000. I don't understand the big outcry of adding, what...80 kids or so from RC? Possibly there is more room at Skyline but the school is not served well by AATA bus routes due to its out-of-the-way location

Alden

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 12:29 a.m.

That was before more administration and rec and ed offices were moved to Pioneer.

sweetdaddy1963

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:02 p.m.

Can't we just all get along :) public schools are a mess the goal to be solvent is killing the innocent of just going to school, my boy still has three long years left of this give and take,smaller community then Ann Arbor with budget issues still bus there kids to school and sporting venue and we can't even do that! There's something to be said for communities that still care about the kids despite the lack of funds, because when it's all said and done all we have is each other?

WalkingJoe

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:51 a.m.

The people associated with Pioneer have always acted like the first born child who is jealous of the kids born after. "Why do I have to do that I was here first". It's always been the mentality at Pioneer that because it was the original Ann Arbor High School that is why it is "The" high school and therefore should be treated as such.

aaparent

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:47 p.m.

If Pioneer is the first born child, it's more like they are the ones who have to do extra work to take care of the younger siblings. It think it's more like Skyline was the prized child of the Lord? As long as all the principals are bringing up the Bible in announcements, we can think of Skyline as the most special and prized high school in the district. Why is it that Clemente's students who are already at risk can be shuttled around when they do not want to leave their building but those students at Community High are untouchable?

WalkingJoe

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:03 p.m.

I didn't say they should, it seems like when there is change Pioneer folks always whine how much they are being asked to do.

SemperFi

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.

You are wrong. PiHi should not have to shoulder the burden, it should be equally carried.

aaparent

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:34 a.m.

If these comments are accurate from people who are inside Pioneer and the new principal is suffering from the same problems as Pat Green (staying in office, not speaking to staff, working the paper and projections and theory, not realities in the building) how will the Clemente kids be helped moving to Pioneer when they currently have a principal who sounds more effective than the new hire at Pioneer? If the staff and PTO at Pioneer came out to rally publicly, things must be getting worse by the day there for staff. The BOE has an opportunity to not botch something in the interim superintendent plan. Sadly I think we will watch the next chapter of dysfunction play out but I hope I am wrong about this.

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 3:11 p.m.

Yes, but her minion will stop you at the door.

Charles Curtis

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:38 p.m.

I can say that the new principal at Pioneer is not one to communicate well. She sends out email blasts and uses the voice mail computer that really do not say much. I was told she would return phone call about a few of my concerns cpl months ago, well its a good thing I did not hold my breath. Never did. Not much of a difference from the previous principal in communication skills. But at least she doesn't use a bull horn to bully the students at lunch in cafeteria.

olddog

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:22 a.m.

And therein lies the problem. No one in Ann Arbor can see past their own neighborhood or personal needs to solve the budget problem. We can"t close school x because it has been part of the neighborhood forever, 3 generations of my family went there. Don't move the kids from school b into my school because they are different than my kids. What do we need a theater program for, if they can't kick a football, swim, play a violin or march in a band that's their problem. It is the Ann Arbor PUBLIC Schools, it belongs to everyone in the city. It is the Ann Arbor PUBLIC Schools and the debt belongs to everyone not just the teachers who have already given up more than any other small interest group in this town. It is Ann Arbor PUBLIC Schools and the solution should be moderately good for everyone, not just excellent for you!!!

CLX

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.

I think you missed the point of the article -- Pioneer kids are subjected to larger class sizes than any other highschool, and they keep losing pieces of their school to other groups, like Rec and Ed (to add insult to injury, the part taken over by Rec & Ed was extensively improved -- the part left to the school is as poor as ever). These parents are not asking for better treatment - they are asking for equal treatment. Pioneer students subsidize smaller class sizes at Community and Skyline. Time for that to change.

Goober

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:12 a.m.

The first step in any major changes to school budgets and school leadership (ie - filling the superintendent position) should be the firing and replacement of the full BOE. Nothing meaningful will ever happen unless this is done.

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:52 a.m.

Add to it clagues problem who was given to pioneer and it means certain death to rc program. She can't even handle pioneer let alone rc. She never leaves her office.

Wake Up A2

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 12:02 a.m.

Well all of her other issues with race and staff are being covered up.

J. A. Pieper

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:09 p.m.

The PiHi principal avoided working with the challenging students when at Clague, everyone knew this. Obviously, any decision made by Green would be questionable at this point. She is not committed to AAPS, and should have been told to pack her bags and hand over her keys when she put in her letter of resignation. AAPS will be suffering from the outcomes of her decisions for years as it is, heaven forbid we allow her to participate in any more decision making!

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.

My daughters teacher told me the other day that the principal was asked about comments made and her quote was " I have wide shoulders" as she rolled her eyes and walked back into her office. Nice..... my daughters friends call her doloris umbridge after that woman school master on harry potter.

Goober

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:46 p.m.

The BOE has shown that they tend to ignore anything happening at the schools. An example would be the hiring of Ms. Green. She ignored the schools too. So, is it any wonder that the current Pioneer principal is any different than the BOE or Ms. Green? Does not surprise me, unfortunately!

SemperFi

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:21 p.m.

Apparently, everyone at PiHi prefers to have the current principal stay in her office, so she doesn't mess up anything else.

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:29 a.m.

As a pioneer parent , I have seen pioneer go down hill so fast in the last three months. I dropped off my daughters project and there was 100 kids in the hall after the first hour bell. This wasn't like this with Micheal or Kevin. I understand this will hurt pioneer in its ayp. I don't understand why the board is not doesn't pull this person before the ship sinks. These kids "own" her and seem to now run the school. Why? Why?

Goober

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:13 a.m.

But Ms. Green hand picked this person. I don't understand why it is not working.

MjC

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:38 a.m.

Invite Huron PTO members as well. We will support your concerns and make ours known as well. Ann Arbor, a city that has a long tradition of supporting education excellence for our children, needs to come together and collectively raise our voices. Our high schools need to be supported and sufficiently funded as much as the middle and elementary school levels.

aaparent

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:34 a.m.

The Clemente parents, staff and students have made it clear on many occasions they don't want to move to a different building. There was a parent at the April 10 meeting from Clemente who asked the board and administrators to answer questions about how this would impact kids who were struggling. If the Board approves a recommendation from Balas to move the program against the wishes of those students and staff who say it is working for kids who were not successful at Pioneer, Huron, why move backwards? There has not been an answer to this I know of, but maybe I missed it. Also, why is Pioneer chosen over Skyline when Skyline has open spots. There were many requests from Skyline for in-district transfers mentioned in an earlier story. There are open spots in that building and it's brand new and has a lot of magnet programs Pioneer does not. Pioneer and Huron have higher enrollments now and projected for fall than Skyline. It's a question that should be answered and an educational rationale for why Clemente should be moved relative to the savings should be clarified by administrators at Balas who could all take salary cuts and Balas could be sold sending these administrators out into buildings where they be more connected to the front lines.

MichU

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 3:05 p.m.

Those who are anonymously attacking the new principal at Pioneer should be ashamed. Principal Leaman at Clague did an outstanding job of building bridges and creating community where all students can thrive. How about constructive criticism__not aimed at personal attacks__instead of pettiness and libel? No one is perfect. Have any of the armchair critics gone into the schools to teach, sub or volunteer? What attitudes are you giving off? certainly those that inspire positive solutions.

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:10 p.m.

I guess the truth will be covered up and something else will have to happen before the problem goes away at pihi. How much will it cost the district when she does it again?

easy123

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:05 p.m.

Is there a reason why the principal has to be of a certain demographic and/or gender? For the folks who voted for the white elephant (namely -Shyline) to keep up with the Jones - eat crow. For the folks who were complaining about overcrowding at Pioneer- these are the un-intended consequenses. For the folks who wants to build a country club - namely Skyline at our expense in the country- we are left holding the bag because it is too far away for any other purpose. We are slowly killing the goose that laid the golden egg, because we are coddling to the wrong vocal group. These groups will destroy both the educational system and everything around it.

towncryer

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.

I am going to ASSUME my comment was removed because it referred to a previously deleted comment. But I would still like to add that considering past behaviors of principals, including violating state law, I would think it would be very difficult to remove a sitting principal despite the parents/staff/student concerns.

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:14 p.m.

The best line is that zacharius made the microscope.

aaparent

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:58 p.m.

@Wake Up A2 - Biblical Quotes? That is a new one. I had heard that from friends with kids at Skyline that Sulura Jackson did that regularly and seemed lost in spiritual missions rather than literacy gains. I am really disappointed that the leadership from top down and across the map in the district that has been touched by Dr. Green seems flawed and key in pushing the schools backwards when they started in an already down position and she was brought in to try to move things forward.

aaparent

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:36 a.m.

@Wake Up A2 -- who is there to kiss up to now if Pat is leaving? This is a waste if the new hire is making problems at Pioneer worse. The description here makes it sounds like Pat Green put ineffective leaders in nearly every important post in the district except for the positives that are posted about Aleysia Flye.

Goober

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:16 a.m.

Most of Balas should be eliminated, consolidated and key positions replaced with 'team player' people. Balas works for Balas. This should change so that Balas works for all of the schools being served. I know that this is a novel concept, but it is what we need.

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11 a.m.

Pat put a principal in at pioneer who will follow Pat at the expense of the kids and staff. Her quote was " we need to make better relations with balas" meaning deal with it I'm kissing up.

Halter

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:28 a.m.

What if you think the proposed changes are pretty decent? Can we have a pro-rally committee too?

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:10 a.m.

So the bottom 5% doesn't get a shot but gets put back into the same building were they failed or had problems before? That is criminal on so many levels. If this model didn't work would have it lasted this long or a great success rate?

Mimi Higgins

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:25 a.m.

No AALadi, that is incorrect. It has nothing to do with the staff not wanting the R.C. kids there. Imagine if you have a full house for Christmas, filled to the brime. Then your husband's relatives from out of state say that they are coming too and need a place to stay. You would never turn them away, but can you honestly say that you wouldn't have some concerns about where they would sleep, or how you would feed them all? This cannot be another conversation that includes teacher bashing. Those teachers are working their tails off every single day to provide a quality education to thousands of students-that should be the only comment in regards to what the Pioneer staff wants.

Alden

Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 12:24 a.m.

Thank you to he Pioneer teachers who are working under difficult conditions.

AALadi

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:06 a.m.

Sounds like the Pioneer staff does not want Roberto Clemente kids in "their" building.

Blerg

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.

Have you ever stepped foot inside Pioneer? The idea that they could use part of C-hall is crazy.

Wake Up A2

Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:55 a.m.

Since most of them went to pioneer in the first place.