In a public meeting Wednesday night Parma City School officials announced their plan to handle the $4 million budget deficit they have. Their solution is to keep the three high schools open making them grades 8-12 and shut down at least 4 elementary schools and possibly a fifth. The school board will not make its decision until after the May bid for a levy results are in.
According to the plan, four elementary schools are slated to close and a fifth one is hanging in the balance. That includes Lt. Col. John Glenn Elementary, James E. Hanna Elementary, Pearl Road Elementary and State Road Elementary School. If the numbers allow, Renwood Elementary will also close.
So far local news coverage has been pushing for Parma residents to pass the levy, but not all Parma residents are convinced some of which are parents with children in the school system.
“As much as I don’t want to see our children suffer I’m concerned about the school system’s ability to handle their funds. If they are so concerned about the well being of the children in the schools then why is it that they hold them hostage year after year to try to pass a levy. For years they have mismanaged funds and then asked for more. Until they prove they can be concerned with my children’s education I don’t think I can support the levy. I want to, but I’m not all for throwing my money away when it’s supposed to be going to help improve the system.” A Parma parent said in reaction to the “It’s Critical” signs on the school’s front lawn.
The question that resonates in the minds of parents of children that attend Parma schools is what is the quality of education going to be like if they keep increasing class sizes due to these four elementary schools closing? At Thoreau Park Elementary school in Parma a prime example of that over-crowding can be seen firsthand when school lets out. The schools small parking lot doesn’t provide enough room for the parents picking their children up on a daily basis.
“It’s a nightmare!” stated a parent waiting for her children to exit the school. “Now that they added more children from the last round of school closings they did when the levy failed this is dangerous. West 54th gets backed up and I’ve seen so many close calls in the small school parking lot I just don’t know what they are thinking. They are creating a situation where one of our kids could be hurt by the traffic chaos this school creates!”
After talking with several parents with children in the school system they seem to be divided on the levy increase. Trust from mismanagement of school funds in the past just isn’t there yet, and the solutions to the problems are seen as punishments rather than solutions and that includes mixing in 8th graders with 12th graders.
Tracy Bates, whose 6th grade son would be one of those 8th graders in high school, doesn't like the plan. "I don't think 8th graders belong with 12th graders," she said. "They're too young."
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Parma City School System To Shut Down more Elementary Schools - Cleveland Tea Party | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/tea-party-in-cleveland/parma-city-school-system-to-shut-down-more-elementary-schools#ixzz1KAaiweJH
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