I was sent this in email a few minutes ago, it's regarding the Early Childhood Center and it's fate, and the possible moving of the Board of Education offices.
While the person who sent this to me included the name of the person who wrote this narrative, I have left it off because I don't know them. Apparently this was posted in a social media site.
Do you think Mr. Greenwald's response was informative, clear and offering the transparency that that school board puppet Bill McMasters claims?
Thoughts?
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This morning I sent the Superintendent Jim Greenwald the below email in an attempt to open the lines of communication regarding the Early Childhood Center: ************************************************** Good morning Mr. Greenwald,
Thank you for taking the appropriate action needed to bring the Early Childhood Center classrooms up to compliance. From what I understand, there are now up to 8 children benefiting from that classroom. Our ECC is such a unique and positive program in this Community. I was deeply upset and concerned to hear all of the rumors about moving this program.
I understand members of our Parent Committee came seeking answers yesterday, but left with little to no information.
Please, correct me if I am wrong, but I understand that moving the ECC is now no longer a rumor, but something that will be voted on by the Board at the January 12, 2016 meeting.
In the BND article of November 27, 2015, you stated “the district is still studying the issue and does not know how much it would cost to move the administrative offices, or what the long-term savings would be”.
If the Board is indeed moving into the ECC, does that mean the questions of move cost and long-term savings have been answered?
If so, what has the Board determined?
I don’t think we, as parents are upset that the Board wants to move the ECC, but our emotions are running high because we don’t know where the Board plans to move ECC. As of now, the ECC is a well-oiled machine, and leaving its fate to the unknown is scary to us as parents, and has us very concerned.
How can there already be a plan to move the ECC out, when there is no determination of where it will go?
The uncertainty of that movement leaves us feeling as though the move is a setup for later failure. We are the same tax payers that voted yes to the increase.
We want to work with the Board to see the District succeed.
In order to do that, we need to know, and have a right, to what the plan is.
With the current rate of Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis (1 in 68 children), there is a growing need for facilities like ECC.
The Granite City program is ahead of the curve, and could be looked at as an example for other districts. Early Intervention is crucial to the learning of our at-risk youth, and ECC provides an excellent way for screening and detecting at-risk children. The success of ECC is all because of the wonderful Staff that operates the Facility.
If a move is necessary, so be it. How can we cooperate and work together to with the Board and ECC Staff, to ensure that the program does not suffer in any way?
I’m sure you have spent time at the Facility, and know what a remarkable place it is, a True GC Positive. This is a sensitive issue for most of us because we are afraid of losing a place like ECC.
Can we open the lines of communication now, to hopefully avoid threats of people leaving the District, protests and petitions?
Please advise as to how we can proceed in a positive way. Thank you for your time, xxxxxxxx xxxxx ************************************************** Here is the response I received:
"Dear xxxxxxx, we have a plan that we will have on the Board agenda for the next meeting on Jan 12. I believe it will keep the early childhood education program intact and be for the greater good of all our schools. "
None of my questions or concerns were addressed or even hinted at. I cannot find emails for any other board members and do not know of another way to express to the Board, that we have a right to know what the future holds for the ECC Program. Please help spread the word to help us get answers that we so rightfully deserve.
on December 18, 2015, 1:50 pm