The Oakland Press
Pontiac may close half of its schools
Thursday, November 20, 2008 4:29 PM EST
By DIANA DILLABER MURRAYOf The Oakland Press
In the fall, students may return to a Pontiac school district that is half its size and features a privately operated high school and several kindergarten through eighthgrade elementary schools.
They are among the options being considered by a community advisory committee as the district goes through a redesign and restructuring phase. The goal is to downsize buildings to match smaller enrollment, achieve financial stability and improve instructional programs and student achievement.
Acting Superintendent Linda Paramore presented the options to an audience of about 200 residents, educators, school officials, students and parents Tuesday night at Pontiac Central High School.
This was the second in a series of four forums held by a community advisory group to gather input from the community and answer questions. Four times the number of people turned out for Tuesday’s forum compared to one held Nov. 5.
“At this point in the history of this district, we are honestly and sincerely addressing the needs of the community and the needs of our students,” Paramore said. “We owe it to our students to keep the best educational environment. If we keep 20 buildings open, we will never be able to afford the programs students deserve,” including fine arts.
Most people in the audience seemed resigned to the fact that closing schools is necessary, even if they are not happy about it.“I know you want to merge Pontiac Central and Pontiac Northern. Is this the only option we have — to merge?” asked Anthony Gaylor, a senior at Pontiac Northern. If the high schools are merged, “will there be anything to fall back on if it doesn’t work?” Gaylor asked.
Paramore told him, “I don’t think we have another option, but I’m not the final say-so,” she said, noting the board will decide. “We owe it to you and other students. If the plan doesn’t work, we have to come up with something else.”
Pontiac Northern junior Oscar Trusty was among the students and parents who said they were concerned about the possibility of “crosstown” violence if the two rival high schools are merged.
Yolanda Kirk, who has two children at Pontiac Central High School, asked, “Once the schools are merged, what will you do about security? I am new to the area and my kids have concerns.”“A safe and secure environment is what we all want for our kids,” Paramore said. “I don’t like the fact that we have to have police security officers in a school environment.
“We will have a plan in place to help make the transition smoother.” Chief of Security Darryl Cosby said more public authority officers would be available because several would no longer be needed at the closed schools.
Yvette James suggested a merged high school would have a better curriculum if students provided input. Paramore said she had met with some students and meetings are planned with students from both Northern and Central.
Rumors are circulating and one parent said she had heard rumors the high schools would be merged in January. Lisa Williams, manager of instruction, said that would not be possible because the board won’t receive the recommendations from the committee until February.
To the woman’s statement that the merger would cause more parents to send students elsewhere, Paramore said, “If we do this right, the redesign will bring us stronger programs. We are losing students already,” referring to a loss of 3,600 students in four years.
To a man who was upset with the board and said it was giving parents no choices, Trustee Karen Cain said the school board was doing what it could to include the community in the decision-making.
“We have a strong committee design concept and we want input from the community and we are letting the community know what we are dealing with (at the forums),” Cain said.
John E. Smith Jr., a Pontiac graduate, encouraged residents to work with school officials instead of pointing the finger to find fault.“Somebody has go to give the school tough love. I’m just happy you took it on,” he said to Paramore.
Barbara Davenport said she is sad at the thought of some of the proposed changes.“Imagine this school (Central) or Pontiac Northern being closed down. It will be really sad to see. A lot of educators won’t have jobs. They will be laid off. I think something should be done to look at saving jobs,” Davenport said.
Parents at most schools don’t want to see their buildings among those closed. Donna Crown, Parent Teacher Association president at Jefferson, brought a group of parents to the forum to show the board the strength of parent involvement there.“We care about our kids. We are the only middle school with a PTA register with the national,” she said.
The Redesign Pontiac Schools for Instructional Effectiveness and Financial Efficiency Committee will make its final recommendations to the Board of Education only after including input from the final public forum Jan. 13.
Contact staff writer Diana Dillaber Murray at (248) 745-4638 or diana.dillaber@oakpress.com.
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