Parents plan to bring lots of questions to Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
Among them, will increasing class sizes result in redistricting, how much have parents and teachers been involved in budget-cutting decisions, and, most importantly, how will changes impact their children.
“Many of us moved here because of the great reputation of the Clarkston schools and we do not want to see it destroyed in one budget cycle,” said a Clarkston parent who asked to remain unidentified. “As parents, we want to be more involved and part of the solution ‘there is a sense of isolation being on the outside with such massive cuts will be significantly impacting the quality of education for our children.”
Budget cuts include increasing elementary class rations from 25 students per teacher to 27 students per teacher; middle school classes, 29.5students to 33; junior high, 30 to 33.5; and Clarkston High School classes, 30 increasing to 34 students per class.
Clarkston Board of Education hosts a 6 p.m. public hearing, March 8, on $13-million in proposed cuts over two years, followed by the regular board meeting at 7 p.m., both at Clarkston Junior High School, 6595 Waldon Road.
‘Every cut made will affect some element that touches a student,? said David Lohmeier, Independence Township trustee who has two children in the school district.
“I think we need to reduce the layers of out-of-classroom resources and focus resources directly on delivering education,? Lohmeier said. “You just can’t enjoy the luxuries of some of the support services that you could afford in the past.?
Cutting full-day kindergarten, a budget-cut item placed on the “impact too great” list, Feb. 22, should still be considered, said a parent of two students, who asked to remain unidentified.
“We should absolutely return to half-day kindergarten ? school is not a daycare,” she said. “Instead, we’re going to chop buses and custodians? It doesn’t make sense.”
The district should also look at raises negotiated last year, Lohmeier said.
‘It’s just not the appropriate time to be taking raises ? no one else is,? he said. ‘I think at the very minimum they should be weighed against everything else.?
Fellow Trustee Mark Petterson, who has an elementary-age child, agreed.
‘Getting a raise in this economy ? are you crazy? That really ticked a lot of people off, including me,? he said. ‘I think the higher echelon in the schools is like a guest who came at Christmas and stayed too long.?
Petterson said he is very worried about the schools.
‘I don’t have all the facts to make a real rounded opinion, but I’m sure they knew they were going to have budget problems,? he said. ‘I’m just wondering why they waited until now to drop the $12 million bomb.?
This is a reality all state-supported entities are facing, said Trustee Larry Rosso, former Clarkston High School teacher.
‘It’s sad to see what’s going on throughout our community,? Rosso said. ‘It really hits very close to home when our schools and government and all the services we depend upon and have taken for granted are in such serious disrepair.?
For more information, call Clarkston Community Schools at 248-623-5400.