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Saturday, July 15, 2017

More Downtown School Controversy...

 
The proposed downtown school to replace Spring Hill and Maple elementarys  continues to swirl in controversy. One of the proposed locations (the old Jeff H.S. building on Court Ave.) has come under fire from parents and concerned citizens because of it's proximity to the Clark Co. jail and courthouse. The BatBlog understands their concerns as the courthouse has a lot of traffic from lawbreakers, drug users, and other criminal element attending the various courts. While convicted criminals are held behind bars at the jail we are not sure this location is in the best interests of those involved.

Court Ave. is also a heavily traveled with automobiles and parking is difficult to come by during the operating hours of the courthouse. A new school will contribute to more congestion and the heavy traffic could be a detriment and safety factor for children walking to the proposed new school. In the BatBlog's opinion a location closer to downtown residential areas needs to be a priority. The Maple Elementary property fits more in line with a safer option to locate this new school for these small children. Safety has to to the deciding factor...

 The New/Tribune is currently running an online poll CLICK HERE about the location of the new school and The BatBlog will run one as well (TO THE RIGHT) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>..

Currently leaving the two schools open leads with 51%  of the vote. Unfortunately that is not an option for Melin and his puppets on the school board as Melin has already made up his mind to close the aforementioned  schools. The old Jeff High location is running currently at 21%....locating atone of the current schools is at 18% and the bus depot location trails at 8% ....Be sure to voice your opinion and Vote....

24 comments:

  1. Both of the polls ask about the location of the new imaginary elementary school.

    D. None of the above. Keep both schools open.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I didn't include option D. because Melin and his puppets have made it clear it can't happen. It may be a stupid choice by stupid people but they have the only votes that count.

    Build a brand new school on the current Maple Elem. site is a pretty good compromise as good as can be gotten at this point...but I agree both should have been kept open that was the choice of those involved...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Award Winning Bat Blog 'Reality Winner' Updates!
    Farm Fence Post Hole Digger pontificated:
    I.) The view looking down The Avenue des Champs-Élysées
    during Bastile Day looking toward The Arc de Triomphe with French President Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron and US president Donald J. Trump
    is magnificent!
    The trade tariffs are being dissolved and France will pay
    their fair share assessment to the UN and increase their defense spending to the NATO requirement of 2% of their GNP.
    Subsequently, the EU is now under more pressure.


    II.) Yes, Maple and Spring Hill will be closed.
    (That is not good, but Melin has the power.)
    III.)The new elementary WILL be built at Meigs and Court Avenue.
    (An excellent location.)
    1V.) The new elementary may be named the Richard Vissing Elementary School.

    Click to enjoy:
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEsOC7GXkAASfmy.jpg



    The Bat Blog Rocks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. French revolution references may become very relevant if they close one or both schools.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Threatening violence
      over political decisions
      hasn't worked out well. The DC shooter is an example.
      The 'Voodoo Doll' that was put up on the D Facebook page
      and then taken down under pressure is a recent local example.

      Delete
  5. no matter where a new school is located downtown it will cause traffic and disruption it almost seems planned that we have this dilemma so that the public is voting on where to put the school, when the best choice has been ruled out by the planners. how convenient.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Naming it the 'Richard Vissing Elementary' would be very cool!

    Excellent Spot for the Children
    The great location at Court and General Meigs Avenue
    is a fantastic location. The walking distance in all four directions
    is excellent: Four blocks to 10st Street, Four blocks to Riverside Drive,
    about five-six blocks to the Maple area, and five blocks to Spring Street.

    Nifty Idea/Economic Benefit
    The extensive grid system downtown can easily handle a great deal of traffic
    which is well dispersed in all four directions from the proposed location.
    The revitalization of that central part of downtown Jeffersonville
    would see very good economic improvement with the increased
    demand for housing and the upgrade of the properties.

    A Smart Move
    This is a very good location
    and will benefit very many children
    and families, as it enhances Jeffersonville's
    continued economic turnaround.

    Definitely the right location
    if Spring Hill and Maple Street
    have to be closed and consolidated by the school board.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm open for any downtown location, but I fear anger and hard feelings over the vote to close Maple and Spring Hill will lead to our kids being bused to Bridgepoint and Northaven. This issue has the potential to divide us deeply as a community. I understand the reaction to fight, but what I'm hoping for now is a united effort to build a new downtown school. The people of Jeffersonville have been very good to me, we don't always agree, but I've always tried to do what's best for our city. In the coming months I plan on working very hard to make a new downtown elementary a reality. I pray when this is over and done we can still be friends, but this is a fight I can't sit out.

    Thanks,
    Mike Moore

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reality
      The Mayor and the city council do not have a vote on school decisions.

      The school board is seven elected members that will determine policy.

      Jeffersonville Mayor Moore has worked very hard for a long time to try to save Spring Hill and Maple, but the current administration is determined to close those schools and proceed. It has been planned by the school corporation for several years. The original intention was to not
      build a new downtown school, but there has been strong recent
      movement toward that goal as a wise compromise.

      The school corporation area is very large geographically
      and not just Jeffersonville,
      but includes Utica, Charlestown, and New Washington, etc.

      The current school board members
      are determined to close Spring Hill and Maple.
      The best solution after that is to build a new downtown school
      to greatly benefit the children and families and keep Jeffersonville
      progressing and improving.

      The prospect of loosing a downtown school entirely
      is certainly not good for Jeffersonville
      or Clark county's future.

      Delete
  8. The important thing is downtown kids staying downtown...I realize closing these schools upset a lot of people, but splintering will only lead to no school at all. Location is important and lets hope the opposition can rally together for the kids to agree upon a suitable site but most importantly let's keep these children downtown close to their neighborhoods...

    ReplyDelete
  9. There needs to be an overhead sidewalk across 10th street, no matter which side of the street the new school is located.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Does anyone know if this is freezable?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Not enough parking space at Court and Meigs. Horrible location. Busing of far too many children. The two schools need to be renovated and remain open. Far less costly as well. Building a new school means another Petition and Remonstrance process and not many will be willing to cough up another $15 million after just giving the school $22 million--especially when we were not told the truth. This is also not all that Melin plans to do. He also wants to merge Thomas Jefferson and Wilson in a new school and build a new Elementary in Charlestown among many other things. He needs to do these things in an honest and above board manner-- tell the people the entire plan and take it to a referendum. Stop deceiving us. The mayor needs to stand up to Melin and support the people.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The mayor is supporting the people...he is trying to keep these kids downtown. Melin has all the cards in this game, it's his decision and he has a school board that has only one member that has the spine to stand up to him and say no...

    I agree about the renovation and remaining open but it is clear that this can't happen with Melin in charge...A new school conveniently located is better than none at all.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Never give up. You may be surprised. There are other ways

    ReplyDelete
  14. There are only two choices....1. Build a new downtown elementary or 2. Bus the kids to Northaven and Bridgepoint. I'm very disappointed in our local paper for suggesting to the public there is a third option to save Maple and Spring Hill in their unscientific poll. That option is off the table. The sooner everyone recognizes the two choices, the sooner we can decide which direction we're going.

    Mike Moore

    ReplyDelete
  15. No. There are only 2 choices according to Melin and Moore. Whatever happened to listening to the people? Building a new school school requires people to pay $15 million or more. Do you really think people want higher taxes? $8.4 million last fall; $22 million this spring; now another $15 million plus a few more million for the auto auction site. We are close to, if not over, $50 million WITHOUT a referendum. This is horrendous. It is totally disrespectful of those who must pay this. Plus this is NOT the end. Melin wants millions more. Time to be honest and transparent and stop bypassing the taxpayers. People will move OUT of this community when the tax burden becomes unbearable. Sad the people are being given an ultimatum. Either pay higher taxes and spend over $15 million OR bus kids to a low performing school. Some choice!! Melin used scare tactics to get his $22 million (kids aren't safe) and now he's using another scare tactic-- "give me the money or I'll send your kids to a lower performing school". Don't give in to these despicable scare tactics. Stand up for the people and stop this nonsense

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Award Winning Bat Blog Reality
      Melin is an elitist.
      Melin has a 6-1 majority to harm Jeffersonville.
      He is not from Jeffersonville.
      He could care less.
      He has the power.

      Mayor Moore worked very hard to save at least one downtown school.
      Melin did NOT want that but he has seen a serious pushback
      from the city administration. There was NO additional
      option until the mayor went to bat for the children
      and the taxpayers.

      Delete
    2. Award Winning Bat Blog Reality Check
      'Anonymous' accurately said: "$8.4 million last fall; $22 million this spring; now another $15 million plus a few more million for the auto auction site. We are close to, if not over, $50 million WITHOUT a referendum. This is horrendous."

      True.
      If you do not remove
      the current school board members,
      Melin will CONTINUE to spend additional millions.
      6-1 AGAINST Jeffersonville.

      Delete
    3. I understand your passion and can identify how you feel, but as taxpayers we voters have only one recourse and that is at the ballot box. The school board that we voters elected have allowed Melin to run rampant with spending and have rubber stamped his every move.

      If this upsets you which it obviously has, you need to work to unseat these elected board members during the next election cycle. It is frustrating but keep speaking your opinion to those who will listen, unfortunately this school board only listens to their master Melin...

      Mayor Moore is working to keep these kids downtown where they belong, he had no voice in closing the schools but is attempting keep these kids from being bused in a workable compromise...Keeping the children close to their neighborhoods is the most important thing...

      Delete
    4. Drain the school board swamp !!!

      Delete
  16. What are the plans for the sites where Maple and Spring Hill are now located? What will happen to these buildings?

    ReplyDelete
  17. The current location of the bus depot is also a site being considered. I didn't see that as an option here.

    ReplyDelete