More ideas were tossed around at the first ARC meeting of the new year looking at the future of several Norfolk schools–closure or otherwise.
ARC members heard parents from China would be willing to pay 12-thousand dollars a year for their children to be educated at Grand Erie Board schools.
And they also are keeping an open mind about so-called ‘focus’ or ‘magnet’ schools, offering specialized curriculums centring on subjects including art, tech and health.
ARC Chair Don Werden says there’s a lot to digest and his committee is looking forward to more information on the options.
Werden thinks it’s a viable approach to find ways of attracting more students to help boost enrolment, by offering what he calls “good programs” found “nowhere else”.
Its the kids who make the decisions of where they are going to go to school – not the parents. Kids go where their buddies and siblings go. Most are now going to SCS and Holy Trinity and the Dover young buddies will follow.
Maybe force students who live in Dover and are now going to other schools to go back to Dover next year and it might change the migration – but lots of luck tearing these kids away from their new friends.
Bang on Medusa — many ( not all ) parents start the opting out process in grade 8 when they let a parental decision become a child of 13′s call.
HOwever, Miss High did have a point in that redistribution of a smaller pie will not solve the demographic problem of a county with fewer students.
I think if all the kids that are bussed to simcoe from dover, waterford delhi and valley heights where made to go back to their schools it would be simcoe which would need to be closed
You are correct Medusa. It is actually sad to watch the “adults” carry on. Guess what folks! Your kids will get an education no matter what high school they attend. The Grand Erie Board has got to end these community input meetings. How many times are they going to let one of their teachers hijack the proceedings and ramble on forever? I thought the first time he did it was bad enough, but the other night was a disgrace.
The time has come. Give the information to the Trustees and let them make a decision so everyone can return to their lives. The drama in town is getting old and tired. Time to move onto something else.