School board accepts McKinley closing
Published 12:28 am Tuesday, December 18, 2007
By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac Board of Education Monday night formally adopted six boundary study committee recommendations, including closing McKinley Elementary School, received Nov. 26.
Patrick Hamilton Middle School will be converted to a K-5 building, with sixth grade students and staff moving to Dowagiac Middle School.
Union High will stay a grades 9-12 building.
The four elementary schools – Kincheloe, Sister Lakes, Justus Gage and Patrick Hamilton – will be designated as K-5.
At least two classrooms of each grade will be established at each elementary building.
Elementary schools will be provided with space for the future potential of all-day kindergarten classes, special education, Title I, fine arts and other support staff.
Balance will be sought between demographics and diversity in the elementary schools.
The decision was made to close McKinley based on size limits of the site and facility, age of the building and future operating and capital costs to maintain.
Larry Seurynck, who made the motion "with regret for closing a school, but joy at improving the environment for our district," approved by himself, President Randy Cuthbert, Sherry File and Michelle Charles – Bill Lawrence, Faye Edwards and Jane Laing were absent – said, "I've always thought it best for children to spend as much time as possible in one building. Recommending a student stay five years in one building and three years in this building (DMS) is a winning proposition for the kids. I respect the work of the boundary committee. The public hearings have shown that they've done their work. People understand this decision."
When redrawing boundaries by this spring, parent Paul Soderbloom addressed the school board with his hope that what he feels are too-large class sizes at Justus Gage can be addressed.
Besides having a daughter in third grade and a daughter in second grade at Justus Gage, Soderbloom's wife, Carrie, teaches in the building.
The third grade class has 31 students, the second grade class 27.
"Calling around to local school districts, 27 seems to be the high end of the average," Soderbloom said. "I spoke with Lakeshore, St. Joseph, Coloma, Decatur, Edwardsburg and Niles. People were very willing to give me information, maybe because of Schools of Choice" and second semester starting in January.
"I understand budget constraints," said Soderbloom, who worked at Ameriwood for 6 1/2 years, from 1997 until 2004, when he joined Whirlpool.
"I understand how the State of Michigan has not been consistent" with per-pupil state aid. "We're halfway through the school year. I understand that probably not much is going to change drastically before the end of the year."
"Providing better balance in our educational service across the district is very important" and a goal of the boundary study, Superintendent Peg Stowers said.