The BatBlog has been letting the opposing views play out , and we appreciate all the comments but....Let's face the facts... Andrew Melin has sole control over the Greater Clark Co.School system. The GCCS school board is spineless in standing up to him and useless as tits on a boar hog on reining in his spending and what's best for parents and students...
With that being said, those opposed to Melin CAN either hold a grudge over something they CAN'T control and have innocent children bused away from their homes and inflict hardship on their parents....OR accept the FACT that a downtown school no matter what is needed...
The opposition while entitled to their opinion has only ONE option in controlling Melin going forward...Vote out the school board that rubber stamps his every move with candidates that share your opinion...Neither you or I or the mayor can control how GCCS is being run, we can voice our opinions but that is the extent of it other than at the election booth...
I guarantee those opposed wouldn't want their children or grandchildren bused out of their home areas so do the right thing and support the mayor and a new downtown school....
If you have read the comments then you know the Spring Hill parents and some Maple parents do not want to bus their children to Court and Meigs. Should we waste $15 million of our tax dollars on a school that will be half empty??
ReplyDeleteAnd how far is “too far” to bus a student? Many kids ride a bus everyday that is much farther than the distance from SH to Northaven or Maple to Bridgepoint. Tell us how far is too far?
But it won't be half empty...I went through two different school closings/district boundary changes when my kids were younger and just starting school ( Eastlawn and Bridgepoint )...We were sent from one school to the other and then back to the original school...But as bothered as many of us were at the time I don't remember one family who actually pulled their kids from either school during the transitions we went through, although many threatened to...It's a natural and understandable reaction when you're losing something you care about...That's not to say they won't lose a family or two, but certainly not enough to keep the school half-empty or anything close to that.
ReplyDeleteWas the same school choice options - that a kid can go to which ever school they want as long as family provides transportation - availalable then?
DeleteDid you guys get as offended by the process as us "those people" "down there" have?
I'm not quite sure what you're asking ??? I certainly never referenced "those people" or "down there" ??????
DeleteAs far as the option of school choice, I'm honestly not sure if that was an option then or not...It wasn't anything I thought about at the time though...This was the late 80's but if memory serves, our home was originally in the Ewing Ln school district ( although that wasn't a deciding factor in purchasing it )...In the early to mid 80's Eastlawn was losing numbers and the building itself has some issues and they began to talk of closing it...It had a very loyal student/parent base as Maple and SH do and one of the things the administration did was to redraw the school districts between Ewing Ln and Eastlawn to give Eastlawn more students, which after the redrawing included my family...But after only one or two years of the redraw, they still made the decision to close Eastlawn and remodel Ewing Ln which then was renamed Bridgepoint ( I think in an effort to bring the two school communities together)...Long story short, we went back and forth from Ewing Ln. to Eastlawn to the newly named Bridgepoint in 2yrs...Not ideal obviously, but everyone survived...And yes people were upset, although personally I wasn't that bothered...But we were just starting school at the time and didn't have strong ties to either one.
That's how I basically remember the whole thing, but I had 3 kids under 6 and was busy and it was a long time ago so if someone else remembers it better, please correct me.
I didn't think you called us that. Melin did and repeated it and was an elitist dick about things. There is a real grudge among many of us. I'm asking whether there was that kind of resentment during the closings you experienced.
DeleteThere is a lot more freedom to attend another school than there was in the 80s. Change happened under Daniels, I think.
Well keep in mind my experience was before the internet...I think that makes a big difference...There were a few parent meetings and I remember one parent going door to door for signature ( although I can't remember what they were specifically for )...My feeling was they knew at some point, sooner than later, that they were going to close Eastlawn, so I'm not sure how sincere an effort it was when they shifted students from Ewing Lane to Eastlawn for just a couple of years...Eastlawn families were bothered, but perhaps not quite like this...People seemed to buy into Bridgepoint pretty easy and once the new school year started I never heard anyone really mention it again...I almost think when they closed the old Utica school might be a more recent closing to look at...There you had those who absolutely loved the old school, but you had newer ( non-Utica natives ) moving into the area that wanted the new school...They talked about closing the old school for years before it happened and I think a lot of that was because of parent/town protests.
DeleteI hope my grandkids grow up in a city that embraces our future. I hope my friends and neighbors support growth and opportunity. I hope my enemies gain understanding.
ReplyDeleteI hope we all fight for a downtown school.
Thanks,
Mike Moore
As you have said many times, the future growth is north on 62 — not downtown. Another school is needed farther north. How many can we afford? We definitely need a downtown school— no one is against that. But we need to be cognizant of taxpayers as well. Renovate either Maple or Spring Hill for $5 million or less (no Petition and Remonstrance). Win for both students and taxpayers. We do not need to spend close to $15 million building a new state of the art downtown school in a less than desirable location.
ReplyDeleteIf you’re just going to make numbers up, why 5 million? Let’s make it 2 million, that’s even better.
DeleteAnything under $5 million would be acceptable and not require a Petition
DeleteLook everybody has a problem with how our tax dollars spent on all levels (state. national, local etc.) at one time or another. I'm not in favor of the majority of the way Trump chooses to spend our tax money either, but my only recourse is try to elect someone else in the next election cycle...same here, if you don't like it work to change it or move...
ReplyDeleteThat's the way the system works...
The Court Avenue at Meigs Avenue is a superb location.
ReplyDeleteI am concerned about the proximity to the jail and the increased traffic that will be created but the main thing it provides a school for downtown residents...
ReplyDeleteThe proximity to the jail is meaningless. The area is extremely safe and very active with lots of people. There are hundreds of citizens that go to the many VARUIOUS FUNCTIONS of the Clark County GOVERNMENT CENTER EVERY DAY. The overall very extensive grid pattern of the connected city streets will handle
ReplyDeletethe traffic in all directions easily and efficiently.
The inclusion of the school at that location will allow a well deserved bump in activity for downtown Jeffersonville. It is an excellent Urban Function in an excellent location. The neighborhood and the city will benefit.
Build it!
What they said.
DeleteI worked at the courthouse for 22 years, It is probably the safest place in Clark County. There are many employees there including dozens of law enforcement officers. There is no threat to the public for the people going there.
ReplyDeleteYes -- build it. Let Mexico pay for it. The taxpayers have had enough
ReplyDeleteMexico? Hmmmmm...
ReplyDeleteAward Winning Bat Blog
Education Question for GCCS Power Brokers:
If Mexicans and persons from some other counties speak
the language called "Spanish" and they are NOT actually
from the European nation of Spain,
isn't that CULTURAL Aappropriation?
Isn't Cultural Appropriation labeled as bad?
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox Quesada
likes to com-plain about the awesome USA......
He should answer that question and work to reform
that horrid cultural appropriation of language practice!
The Great Bat Blog education point of the day:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_appropriation
Anyone who REALLY wanted to save a downtown school, AFTER the Board voted to close both schools and bus the children to Northaven/Bridgepoint, would have done the simple thing. Renovate either Maple or Spring Hill for under $5 million. That would A) save a downtown school B) be financially considerate of property owners and C) avoid a Petition/Remonstrance. But since the choice was to build a brand new school costing almost $15 million at a less than desirable location, does the school superintendent and mayor REALLY want to keep a downtown school or not? Makes one wonder. Is all this a ploy just so the school board and superintendent can get what they voted for in the first place -- close the schools and bus? Is it just a way for the superintendent to appease the mayor? Is it a way for both the superintendent and mayor to say they "tried" and look good to the public when (if) it fails? Choosing an undesirable location at the greatest cost makes one wonder. Where's the common sense?
ReplyDeleteWhen you lose a ball game do you acknowledge the loss? Do you think the score keeper is going to change her mind? Some of you on here seem to have trouble understanding the school board voted to close. It’s final. Go ahead and threaten to vote against them at the next election, but guess what, Maple and Spring Hill will still be closed. Geesh.
DeleteI agree with Anon. It's wasting good energy to fret over things of which you have no control...
Deletewhether it's right or wrong or waisted money or well spent it's a done deal..
Move on and let the new school be built !!!
Sure let’s move on. What’s another $15 million!! Chump change. Heck, why did people bother to vote against the referendum in the first place? Silly people. Let the schools be built — what’s $100 million or more. Our homes don’t matter. We are already up to $52 million. Let’s give them another $50+. No one cares! Shouldn’t even bother to question their wisdom or voice an opinion. Taxpayers don’t matter!
DeleteRelax Anon... 15 mil for a school is probably a good deal...hell we got a Pres. that wants to spend a couple of billion on a wall...
Deleteand you can question their wisdom till the cows come home nothing will change, you had your opportunity at the ballot box you failed...
your taxes are protected by a circuit breaker so relax and admire a nice new school that educates young children and doesn't just sit there like a wall.. in comparison a school is a bargain...
We need a school too...for "the kids"...
DeleteOk, you hate Melin. We get it. But if you sign a petition to stop a new downtown school, guess what, Melin wins. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.
ReplyDeleteNo hate Mike. Just fiscally conservative and sick of wasteful spending.
Delete
DeleteYou think mike is the only one who wants a downtown school?
Build that school !!! Build that school !!!
ReplyDeleteMy kids want a downtown school. Where do we sign?
ReplyDeleteGood point Anon...the kids probably unanimously would want a brand new school versus the old ones... since they are the ones that will use it let's build it for "the kids"...
DeleteThe ignorant people in this city concern me. How did you ever grow?
ReplyDeleteA friend turned us on to this website. We’re new to the city with a 4 and 8 year old. Praying for a new school. Please put differences aside and support our new jeff. Thanks, the newbies.
ReplyDeleteBat Blog NEW! Jeff School
ReplyDeletePoetry.
Poetry on Court Avenue.
Poetry at the Old Jeff High School.
Poetry at the new elementary school on Court Avenue.
The new school will be built and it will be very successful.
DRABUHNORL
So Alice, when the voters vote against the referendum, they know what they are talking about. But when they vote for Bottorff then they don’t know what they are talking about?
ReplyDeleteUse both sides of your mouth often?
So when Alice ran for school board and was soundly defeated did the voters know what they were talking about?
ReplyDeleteNot according to her. The voters only know what they are talking about when they agree with her.
DeleteOh please. They are correct in their assessment of her. She needs to spend what time she has left doing something that actually makes a difference. She lost. She needs to move on.
DeleteYou've jumped the shark Alice. You're beginning to sound like a bitter sore loser and even those who might support some of your views are turned off by your inability to quit beating a dead horse.
ReplyDeleteI got it!
ReplyDeleteDRABUHNORL, noted above when "played backwards" is:
L. RON HUBARD !
Is Ron for or against the building
of the new school in Jeffersonville?
A lot of us who didn’t support the big referendum support the building of a new downtown school. This shouldn’t be a tough decision. Sad that some want to turn a basic community necessity into a line in the sand. Be careful, hate can ruin a neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteTooo slow, so turn up the pace:
ReplyDeletehttps://static.infowars.com/politicalsidebarimage/text-expert.jpg
County parked on Penn down the street from *******.
ReplyDeleteThe ISP parked by KFC down the street from ********.
Time the JPD acted like the ISP and stopped this.......
Russia is a long way from Jeffersonville and Indiana.
State Senator
ReplyDeletefor Indiana, District 45:
Chris Garten, Republican; John Perkins, Democrat!
Bat Blog Corrects the N-T ...AGAIN!
ReplyDelete2018 Clark County Political Wars are open!
The N-T " t h I n k s " that these two candidates
are running for United States Senator!
The N-T printed:
• U.S. Senator for Indiana, District 45:
Chris Garten, Republican; JOHN PERKINS , Democrat."
Wrong.
They are candidates
for an Indiana State Senate seat. SMH......
Check:
http://www.newsandtribune.com/news/local_news/primary-season-heats-up-slowly-in-clark-and-floyd-counties/article_33641e60-02d5-11e8-8e4c-fb4f2a2a2417.html
John would make an excellent US Senator,
but the it is the Indiana State Senate this time.
(Let the jealous smart *** remarks start on which of his nice
residences that he is using for his address.)
I assumed he was homeless with a woman around to support him.
Delete*without
DeleteHillary is really pissed!
ReplyDeleteShe and McCauliff funneled $700,000
into "Andy" McCabe's wife's Virginia campaign
for a state senate seat and can no longer protect her from prosecution!
She wants her $700,000 large back to bribe the next Swamper
in line to protect her.....