By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
A petition with more than 100 signatures and a special request to listen to parents, teachers and community members concerned about the possible closure of Washington Elementary, 305 Main, led to a community forum discussion at Monday’s USD 489 work session.
District staff is recommending Washington Elementary be repurposed to house Early Childhood Connections while shifting the 117 students and all staff members to other elementary schools within the district.
More than 20 people attended the forum and three people addressed the board — all asking the decision regarding Washington be postponed.
Washington volunteer Sharon Leikam told the board more discussion is needed with the families who attend the school, many of whom she said speak little or no English. She said those students are thriving in Washington’s environment.
“These children are comfortable, confident and full of self-esteem, but will they still be when they are removed from the loving, caring atmosphere that Washington provides? How many of these children and families will be lost in the transition?” Leikam asked. “When does it stop being about money and start being about the children, our most prized possession?”
Leikam began volunteering to read to students two years ago after learning there was a high number of migrant and English language learners attending the school.
Superintendent Dean Katt acknowledged transitions can be hard at any age, but assured the group if Washington Elementary is repurposed, staff and especially current Washington Elementary Principal Allen Park, will play a key role in helping the transition be smooth. He noted there are nine classrooms available for use at Roosevelt, Wilson, O’Loughlin and Lincoln.
Katt also acknowledged the high ratio of minority students, ELL students and students on free or reduced lunches, seemed like “a red flag” to him, though the trend was not done intentionally and “evolved” over time.
“Coming from the outside, when I first look at (the numbers,) I thought educationally that is not the best thing to have,” Katt said, adding it is typically better to provide students with a diverse environment full of “different experiences.”
Board member Sarah Rankin agreed.
“It is very concerning to me as a board member and as a parent that we have such a segregated school, socioeconomically and minority. … That’s not good news,” she said.
The full repurposing of Washington Elementary presentation can be found in the agenda attachments HERE.
Further discussion on the re-purposing of Washington Elementary is planned for next week’s BOE meeting, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Rockwell Administration Building,
323 W. 12th.