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Post by banker on Mar 12, 2008 15:00:51 GMT -5
Well, keeping an open mind here, can it be appreciated that the decision by our Cedar Falls School has financially impacted the families on North College, North Division and Timber ledge.
Price Lab is $5300 a year. But, are you ready for this, Open Enrolled Students from outside Cedar Falls can attend for $535![/font]
St. Pat's is a $2000-$3000 a year financial impact.
A strong point can be made that this decision financially impacts Cedar Falls families, and that is a fair statement to make if our board is going to be so worried about the financial impact of Open Enrollment.
This school board has sat by and allowed open enrolled students to be placed at our elementary schools, now they move resident students to North Cedar but say it is not right to move too many open enrolled students there as this would create instability. Well, many of these families just had their financial world knocked unstable.
The board has time to reverse their statement. They really do. it is OK to admit a mistake and admirable to correct it now.
They are doing North Cedar no service here either, this is a loss for everyone. North Cedar is not better off next year than now when it continues to be underutilized. When is the school board going to make the right decisions for North Cedar! It is OK to send a majority of behavioral students there but not a majority of open enrolled students. What a slap in the face for our North Cedar Neighborhood
The Cedar Falls School Board can hold a special session immediately and reverse their decision and listen to and represent the citizens and students of CEDAR FALLS.
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guest
New Member
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Post by guest on Mar 12, 2008 18:59:06 GMT -5
The last post made it very clear that he/she believes the school board's decision has negatively impacted certain families' financial situations. Why? Nobody is forcing these families into private schools. If this is the action that's being chosen, then fine. But parents need to remember this is their choice. Granted, it wasn't their choice to move to another school within the district, but they are the ones deciding how they're going to deal with the decision. I also found it interesting that the only neighborhoods mentioned are the ones that will be going to North Cedar. There are other children affected, too. But THIS boundary decision doesn't seem to be as big of a deal. Why? I keep reading/hearing that it's not about North Cedar, but it sure seems like it is. "It's a slap in the face to North Cedar residents as well." I think I quoted that correctly. What does that mean? North Cedar is going to be fine throughout all of this. In fact, I'm incredibly proud of the way the community has stayed so positive. A lot of nasty things have been said about "them" yet I haven't heard or seen any fliers or e-mails going around that put down other areas of town. Before posting this message I read the guidelines that accompany this website - the rules about what your message content should(n't) consist of. Let's all keep this in mind as we're writing things. I noticed one message in particular has already been removed after being posted earlier today. I know a lot of people that go to this website daily. As for the idea of boycotting certain businesses, let's try to keep some perspective. Is that really the way we, as adults, want to be coming across?
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Post by cfschools on Mar 12, 2008 19:45:42 GMT -5
I think you don't see negative remarks from others because you aren't looking at things objectively. This quote was taken from this very message board: "I feel bad for the children who are being raised with these values. I feel bad for the children who go to the same school, whatever school it is, with the children that are being raised with these values." I find that pretty offensive. And many of the people affected in the south are just as upset. The bottom line is cedar falls residents were not given a priority by their very own school board. If I was moved out of my school because it was overcrowded with cedar falls residents I wouldn't be nearly as upset. But to be removed because it is to full of open enrolled students is hard to stomach.
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Post by Administrator on Mar 12, 2008 20:03:59 GMT -5
Website guidelines: This website reserves the right to remove any posts at any time if they are deemed inappropriate.
To date, this website has NOT removed any posts.
Members of this website have the ability to remove or modify their own posts.
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Post by banker on Mar 13, 2008 7:47:45 GMT -5
A negative impact would be when families have purchased homes based on the school district that home "was" in.
You cannot deny that these same homes could have been purchased for $1000's less in the North Cedar area. Had those families wanted to go to North Cedar, they could have bought homes there and saved money.
Now, this decision, should they choose, leads them to private school. Do not ignore though that experienced Realtors agree homes values are impacted by change in school districts.
The slap in the face to North Cedar comes from the fact that this school board has ignored investing money into the North Cedar. The boundary committee referred to building parity over and over, that means all buildings should be equal in offerings and parity.
Speaking of being equal. Why does the district send the majority of Level 1,2, and 3 to North Cedar? The board stated that sending to many open enrolled students to North Cedar would create "instability. But the district is OK with placing the highest percentage of Level 1,2 and 3 at NC...stabilty!
Guest...were you at the board meeting Monday? Did you attend any of the boundary Committee meetings? You on any of these?
You see, some neighborhoods that were originally identified as being moved used their muscle to get "removed". They used their social clout, attorney's and the likes. So, why is it now wrong for the citizens who were not represented on the boundary committee and are not represented on the school board ( are your following the trail here ) and did not threaten lawsuit to use their right to switch who they do business with, if they so elect to do so?
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Post by ella on Mar 13, 2008 8:01:49 GMT -5
I agree with banker, but let us take it one step further. The board has not been willing to put any money into North cedar yet they are accusing us of being shallow for not wanting to send our kids there. Calling us names and questioning our values because of a problem they created. So it's okay for them to not want to put money into North Cedar but it isnt okay for us to not want to send our kids there. "Hi kettel, I'm pot. Your black"
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Post by kidscount on Mar 14, 2008 12:24:10 GMT -5
since one of the reasons for all this suffling of students was the horrible overcrowding of southdale, i have a question. with all this moving of students, what is the net loss/gain for southdale? with the figures i have seen it appears that southdale will end up with a net loss of 6 students. can that be right? what does that accomplish? did i miss something? what is the net gain for north cedar? this appears to be more an issue of keeping north cedar on life support than rectifying any overcrowding at southdale. if that is the case, moving the open-enrolled students would have accomplished as much or perhaps even more. again, i ask, what am i missing here? certainly there is more to this equation that i just am not getting.
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Post by banker on Mar 14, 2008 15:19:08 GMT -5
A New School Board.
Needed: candidate for this falls school board election to replace.
Dr. Kenyon Joyce Coil Duane Hamilton.
Need a TEAM of THREE
Cedar Falls needs three new school board members who Put Cedar Falls Kids First.
We need Three New School Board Members that can make the right decisions for our CEDAR FALLS RESIDENT KIDS
We need school board members that can justify their vote.
We need THREE NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
Let's put a team together....
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Post by abcs on Mar 14, 2008 22:00:54 GMT -5
well, the minutes from the march 10 school board have been posted on their website. since it was a unanimous vote, there doesn't seem to be one school board member worth saving. we need to replace those up for election this year and start a recall petition to replace the rest of them. sad day for the city of cedar falls. not one member of that board cares about the students of cedar falls even as they are whining about overcrowding at southdale, they approved more open enrolled students there. unbelievable. are they really that stupid or do they really think we are? the utter arrogance.
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Post by banker on Mar 14, 2008 23:36:50 GMT -5
So our CF school board publicly stated they cannot use open enrollment (100 plus students) as a way to relieve crowded schools and a way to increase enrollment at North Cedar.
The school board states that placing too many open enrolled students at North Cedar would create "instability". Wow, what makes these students different from me and you. Hey, we will take the money that comes with allowing you into our schools, but....too many of you in one school will create instability. Last time I checked....we are all pretty much the same. Guess not to this school board.
Dr. Kenyon states we should look at percentages ( how many open enrolled students we allow into each school).....last time I checked..we called those quotas! They were not well accepted by society as a whole.
Dan Battcher say's he is comfortable with his decision. So he will take the money that comes with open enrollment but wants to be careful we don't put too many of them in one place, that will create "instability". Gee Dan, can you explain this "instability to us Open Enrolled Students?
Anyone notice that our school board made their decision after March 1st. That means that the neighborhoods impacted cannot open enroll out of Cedar Falls without paying over $5000. So one of two things happened here. Either this board was ignorant of this fact, which means they should resign. OR, they knew this fact and elected to handcuff some Cedar Falls residents, which means they should resign.[/color][/b] Sure hope they are sleeping good at night.
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Post by cfschools on Mar 15, 2008 8:44:53 GMT -5
So, let me get this straight...
The school board made the decision after March 1 (just shortly after march 1st convienintly enough)...and because of that we lose the ability to freely open enroll out of the district if we should chose that?
If there was any doubt in my mind that their decision was dead wrong there is no doubt now.
THIS SCHOOL BOARD MUST BE REPLACED!!! This school board is dangerous to this community.
This country is built on freedom and choice, any they have taken that away from us. How dare they. How do they sleep at night is what I'd like to know.
For you school board memebers who are lurking on this message board and/or posting anonymously, you own this community an explanation. I challenge you to step up to the plate and post here for everyone to see, explaining yourself to us!!
I trust you will be too cowardly to do that though so I won't hold my breath.
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Post by banker on Mar 15, 2008 9:33:32 GMT -5
An experienced school board has been approving open enrolled applicants to be placed in the very schools they now state are crowded, Hansen, Southdale and Orchard Hill.
Their resolution is to move resident students now.
They say that of the 100 plus open enrolled students in CF, we can't move too many of them to NC, so we will move a majority of our CF students.
We are going to let some/many of current open enrolled students to remain at the current elementary schools they "open enroll" into. WE ARE NOT GOING TO EXTEND THAT OFFER TO THE RESIDENT STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MOVED.
If any of the neighborhoods moved wanted to open enroll out to Waverly, Waterloo, etc, they would have to pay over $5000 to do so, and this School Board new that was the case. They could have addressed this issue prior to March 1st to give the impacted neighborhoods an fair opportunity to open enroll out. They intentionally voted after March 1st, They knew exactly what they were doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You don't serve on a school board for 10-20 years and not know this.
They knew that if they directed open enrolled students to North Cedar, the chances were they would lose "too many" open enrolled students and THE DOLLARS THAT COME WITH THEM.
Because of the limited choices, they knew full well directing resident students to North Cedar has better financial odds for the school district. These families only have three choices, attend the NC, private school or open enroll out. Two of those three come at a financial cost.
This School Board Sold Out. They sold their Soul and their Integrity and if they have any left, they will either reverse their decision and/or resign. If not, they need to publicly explain and justify their vote. Sorry School Board, a " I don't know how to explain that" is not good enough.
Do not let this board off the hook, email them, call them, write the courier, tell your story, pull your business...ask for their resignation.
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Post by life long resident on Mar 15, 2008 9:36:54 GMT -5
THIS DECISION IS A JOKE!
But, my children are not laughing...
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Post by allkidsfirst on Mar 15, 2008 11:32:22 GMT -5
The school board voted for what is best for ALL kids not just YOUR kids. "The building" does not effect the learning that is taking place as much as the positive attitude,loving support, and collaboration of staff, parents, and kids within the school. Lets remember "Character Counts". I am saddened by the bigotry that is being displayed over this issue. Now that the decision has been made, lets work TOGETHER for ALL kids. If you believed that North Cedar is less than desirable for YOUR children to attend, what makes you believe its ok for THOSE children to attend? WHY haven't you spoken up earlier before YOUR children were possibly going to receive the opportunity to attend North Cedar? Instead of all this negative talk, lets put our energy together and make this a POSITIVE experience for ALL kids and their families. If Cedar Falls is THE place to raise a family, should it matter which school your children attend? "We are all in this together!" Two parents showed up to tour North Cedar. Where were the rest of you? Mrs. Hartman, Jamie Panning, and Doug Rinnels have worked extremely hard as part of the boundary committee as did ALL committee members. North Cedar has ALWAYS received a bad rap for NO REASON other than the fact that MOST of you have NEVER been out to the school nor have witnessed the outstanding education THOSE children are receiving!! Do you personally know Mrs. Hartman, any of the teachers, or families who currently attend North Cedar? Please take some time to do so in the future. You will find the best of the best!
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Post by cfschools on Mar 15, 2008 12:04:31 GMT -5
With all due respect, allkidsfirst, I think you are missing the point. You can make a million posts defending north cedar but that has nothing to do with the descussion at hand.
the thing that makes this country great is the freedom of choice. To be able to choose what religion you are, who you want to marry, and yes where you want to send your kids to school. People will always make different choices for different reasons. To condem them for that is wrong and to take away that freedom is also wrong.
Wheather it is right or not for some to not want to send their children to North Cedar is not for you to say.
But, back to the point, don't you wonder why the school board felt open enrolled students at north cedar would make it an unstable school? It is apparent that even the school board assumes that a large precentage of open enrolled students would chose not to go there. But wait a minute, why would the school board think that? Isn't north cedar a great school?
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