District chooses to shift students
Johnstown lines will be redrawnBy MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald
Article Photos
JOHNSTOWN - The Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to redraw the attendance boundaries for the city's elementary schools instead of sending all students of the soon-to-close Jansen Avenue Elementary School to Warren Street Elementary School next school year.
The decision doesn't necessarily mean all the students will be shifted to different schools, but the boundary lines for those attending the three remaining schools will be changed.
"I think that makes the best sense," said school board member Scott Miller.
Board member Susanne Fitzgerald said, "We should try to draw the lines as fairly as possible."
Board President Robert Curtis and district administrators reiterated a previous pledge to inform parents of elementary school children where the children will go for the next school year by the end of this school year June 26.
The board Wednesday didn't want to commit to any certain street, such as State Street or Route 67, as being definite dividing lines. The board will finalize a remapping plan in the next two weeks.
A redistricting group from the Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education on May 27 recommended redrawing the boundaries into three sections, sending children to the closest school for the fall. Under that scenario, children on the west side of the city would attend Warren Street Elementary School, northern students would go to Pleasant Avenue Elementary School and students in the southern part of the city would go to Glebe Street Elementary School.
The redistricting vote Wednesday follows the board's decision to close Jansen Avenue School at the end of the school year because of declining enrollment and the need to save money.
The board considered another option for moving the students - referred to as the Princeton Plan, but officials said they didn't have enough time to implement that plan by fall. It would involve having the district's three remaining elementary schools set up on the basis of grade level. Warren Street Elementary School would be designated for grades prekindergarten through second grade. Students in grades three and four would attend Pleasant Avenue Elementary School and students in grades five and six would attend Glebe Street Elementary School.
Several board members said that while redistricting is needed now, the Princeton Plan should be considered in the future.
About 65 people attended the public forum on redistricting Wednesday at Johnstown High School. Seventeen people spoke.
"I think the lines need to be redrawn and we need to progress from there," said district resident Jennifer Sponnoble.
She said the district needs to proceed in a "fair" manner for all families while trying to keep class sizes as small as possible.
"I just hope that the board doesn't rush to get things done and thinks of our children first," said resident Ann Blackwood.
Resident Brandi Maye stated, "This sharing-the-pain thing really bothers me."
She said she realizes no one is happy with the closing of Jansen Avenue Elementary School and the reshuffling of city elementary students, but it must all get done.
"I know a lot of people don't like Warren Street," Maye added. "There's a stigma at Warren Street ... It's a wonderful school."
Board member John David Praught said, "There's some kind of foolish stigma about Warren Street."
Resident Sara Randolph asked where the district's students from the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Education Services center will attend school.
Most of the BOCES students probably will go to Warren Street School, Curtis said, "because it is our largest building."
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com
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Maggie
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06-16-09 10:34 PM
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I think redistricting is the best answer. I think the Princeton Plan would be a huge mistake. The kids won't have a sense of school pride or belonging if they have to change schools every two years. As a mother of 4, all my kids would be going to different schools, and it would make it impossible for me to be involved in the schools and the PTAs like I am now. I would rather spend the money and send my kids to private schools if it came to that.
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Musicel
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06-12-09 10:28 AM
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Maybe some people should take their rose colored glasses off and see reality! Shame on them for being so provincially arrogant and nasty.
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uzreason
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06-11-09 9:33 PM
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Yes I do...enrollment down, taxes down, ELA scores up, just doesn't add up does it.
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UberMan
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06-11-09 9:29 PM
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Does anyone wondered why enrollment is declining in Johnstown?
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uzreason
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06-11-09 4:29 PM
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The BOE did the right thing by starting from scratch.
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JoePhillip
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06-11-09 3:05 PM
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Did anyone ask last night why all the sudden cuts that weren't supposed to happen? Seems something is causing this fiscal desperation...with the health care change, not settling a contract with the principals for years, putting off negotiations with teachers, and the millions being pulled out of the reserve fund, things just don't add up!
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rachelrae33
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06-11-09 1:56 PM
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Excuse me but what would a charter school acomplish and why should we get another govt' entity(the state) involved? I say good job BOE and thank you again for finding a way of keeping the tax man at bay another year. To all the "NAY" sayers, SHAME ON YOU for trying to cause problems. We have great school district, the last thing we should be doing is splitting hairs on which elementary school is better. Is that really in the best interest of our children?
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Musicel
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06-11-09 1:11 PM
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Right now, I personally do not have that much confidence in the school district and feel the state should monitor their actions more closely, possibly getting more involved as it did with NYC back in the mid 1990's. A charter school wold also be a nice option to have in the City of Johnstown.
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hamsandwich
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06-11-09 12:04 PM
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Finally, a decision has been made and positive next steps are being taken. Kudos to the BOE for proceeding in a fair and equitable manner. I had been losing faith in the district, but I can now say, there is hope!
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