MARKILINSKI: Game On?
Game On? I’m not talking about the Pens Playoffs here; I’m talking about the ongoing legal feud between community school advocates and those who support consolidation and the super school concept.
This has been going on in middle Armstrong County since the inception of the Armstrong School District in the 1960’s. The latest scenario pits the ASD School Board against some folks from the “other” side of the river who continually try to build “something” to “better” their community.
I have always wondered where the people of Kittanning Borough stood.
Since the early 1980’s the people of the Ford City Area, specifically the Ford City School Board Members, have made sure that Kittanning had a high school in their borough. Just like Ford City, a high school in the community is good for the town and good for business or what little that is left.
The people of Armstrong County do not have much. Heck, we only have one McDonalds.
But we have our churches, we have our communities, and we are proud of our community schools. That’s why we fight, to preserve our communities.
To some this is not a value. They could care less. They think it is “ok” to put a child on a bus for an hour. They think it is “ok” to build a middle school and strip another building of half its students. To them, another building is PROGRESS.
In this day and age, when you can get a college degree online, why would anybody want to build anything?
The people of the Elderton attendance area deserve to have a modern, technological, up to date school in their community.
If the people on the western side of the river want to sign petitions to keep Elderton closed, if they want to file frivolous lawsuits based on how many votes the “box of rocks” got, then maybe we give them what they want.
Let’s push Applewold, East Franklin, West Franklin, West Kittanning, and Worthington to the Butler School District. They do sit side by side geographically. Just like how East Brady went to Karns City. Just like how the previous educationally misguided board tried to send the Elderton Community down the road to Apollo Ridge.
Hey, Route 422 travels East and West doesn’t it?
Wouldn’t the West Hills area get their much coveted QUAD AAAA High School, a QUAD AAAA education, and of course prized QUAD AAAA SPORTS?
And Butler High School is only 25 minutes from McDonalds. That is about the same distance between Elderton and West Shamokin. Redistricting? Game On!
Just think about it.
OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND REFLECT PAID SPONSORSHIP.
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MARKILINSKI: Just Think About It | markilinski April 16, 2010
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By Jen16226, April 16, 2010 @ 6:23 AM
Good Morning Everyone!
“They think it is “ok” to put a child on a bus for an hour”
We already have students in all of the schools that are doing this and HAVE been doing this for a number of years, so I think this is a moot point. Not everyone is going to be pleased with their commute time.
“Since the early 1980’s the people of the Ford City Area, specifically the Ford City School Board Members, have made sure that Kittanning had a high school in their borough. Just like Ford City, a high school in the community is good for the town and good for business or what little that is left”
As a board member, Mr. Markilinski, do you not see how fiscally wasteful it is to have 2 high schools within 10 miles of each other? What is your suggestion for a long range plan concerning FCHS and KHS? FCHS is over 100 years old and can not continue to be “patched up”. When the time comes where as a “community” we need to have a new HS, what is your suggestion?
“The latest scenario pits the ASD School Board against some folks from the “other” side of the river who continually try to build “something” to “better” their community.”
I live on “this” side of the river and can understand the concept……did it not make sense to consolidate many buildings(the elementary schools that closed) that were older and individually needing work, into one campus(west hills)where resources are shared?
“The people of the Elderton attendance area deserve to have a modern, technological, up to date school in their community”
How about the rest of the schools in the district? Do you feel that KHS and FCHS are up to date and modern? Do you feel their techonology is up to date? How is the district to afford all of this “updating” with how fast techonology updates itself for 4 high schools in the district?
Where is the long range plan of the district?
I am sorry Mr. Markilinski, but perhaps if the board would come out with a long range plan to show EVERYONE in the district what the board has in store, perhaps half of the arguing would have been put to rest months ago.
By Delzer, April 16, 2010 @ 6:33 AM
Mr. Markilinski you are forgetting about route 28. Freeport and South Butler School District are only 20 to 30 minutes away too. Freeport is a Blue Ribbon school and has one of OUR former admin, Mr. Robb. I guess they knew a good guy when they saw one and scooped him up. South Butler has a lovely campus with a new primary building. Now, they don’t have a contract but they seem to be forward thinking when it comes to education and finance. They CLOSED small run down schools and moved all students to a central location. I may be a bit biased because my children attend Knoch. One at the high school, one at the middle school and one at the primary building. This area is growing and I for one would welcome any of the families from the mentioned areas down this way. Welcome!!!! PS I am so glad your little articles are back I missed their pure entertainment value.
By RizzoSports, April 16, 2010 @ 7:58 AM
The irony here is that Ford City’s best chances to keep their school open is to close Elderton. If Elderton remains open then costs will need to be cut in other areas, which lead to exploring combining FC & KTG again. It seems even Marklinski has finally realized this, and since they can’t do a complete turn on ELderton their solution is to get rid of KTG.
Again HERC-ACT needs to get solid plan and stick to it. Repeat it over and over again like a broken record. They should have done this a year ago. This way no one can be accused of being for this or for that. For that matter the ASD board should produce a their plan, but I don’t think we’ll ever see that.
ie. the HERC ACT Plan – We opposed the closure of Elderton High School. Following that we support a 5 year evaluation period for the remaining 3 high schools. During that time period we want the District to focus on greatly improving the quality of education, and address issues at the elementary schools such as Ktg Township. After that five year period, we’ll analyze the tax/budget situation and then work on a plan to address the high school facilities moving forward.
If Elderton H.S. is going to be a long term thing and part of the ASD, then we’ll have re-evaluate our plan and discuss consolidating KTG & FC.
Repeat x100,000
HOWEVER Apparently MARKILINSKI has an even better plan-which is letting the Kittanning Area join another school district. KTG would leave the ASD to join Freeport in a heartbeat. KTG Boro too, put it on a ballot it would get 80%+ support. I would even make a deal with the Freeport district that no Freeport area money would be used for the Kittanning Area. Essentially two independent schools areas.
By rudytuesday, April 16, 2010 @ 8:12 AM
WOW, you really want to bankrupt this district, not don’t you, following Matta’s lead just like he did to the Duquesne School District. So if you push Kittanning to Butler, where are you coming up with the funds to cover what you lost in Kittanning tax base? What are you now going to do with West Hills School?
Based on 2008-2009 figures you want to remove 2,174 students out of 5,468 from our school district. 38.48% (asd figure) of your entire attendance.
I am so proud that you represent me and my other Manor Township residents……
By dee, April 16, 2010 @ 8:12 AM
Finally! The answer to our shrinking population and industrial base! Will someone PLEASE build another McDonalds!
By dee, April 16, 2010 @ 8:13 AM
At the risk of sounding dumber than a box of rocks…what is a QUAD AAAA school?
By ASDpayer, April 16, 2010 @ 8:25 AM
To respond to Mr. Markilinski:
There is no mention of property taxes. The taxes in ASD are twice the rate of other communities. The coming pension taxes increase will mean at least a 25 % increase in everyone’s property taxes. How does Mr. Markilinski plan to deal with this? There is no mention. What savings could be effected by keeping EHS closed? What other savings can be effected?
In his editorial he never mentions quality of education. A high school with 300 hundred students cannot possibly offer a quality education, or a comprehensive education for all students. This includes extra-curricular activities and sports.
Mr. Markilinski talks about a super-school. A school with 1200 students is hardly a super-school. In fact it would not be a AAAA school but barely a AA school.
Mr. Markilinski refers to frivolous lawsuits. The fact is both cases are still in the courts and getting a fair hearing. The case on representation makes sense and challenges the school directors to follow the constitutional law. The case on capricious and arbitrary decisions also makes sense. The School Directors never considered the huge costs of re-opening EHS. The vote was taken with little discussion or use of facts.
Mr. Markilinski talks about cutting off the communities west of the river and sending them to Butler. Maybe not a bad idea. However, the property taxes west of the river fund the rest of the district, and if you think you can afford to run your schools without these communities, you are sadly mistaken.
Mr. Markilinski seems to be living in some kind of nether world. Look carefully at our county. There is no new business coming to town, or towns. There is an exodus of jobs and people. A planned re-trenching and a planned educational plan are needed. The decrepit buildings and the mediocre test scores are not an attractive part of our district. Do you know of anyone moving to Elderton or Ford City or Kittanning because of the community schools?
I have tried to contact Mr. Markilinski, but like others on the Board he does not answer e-mails. Disappointing.
By Jan, April 16, 2010 @ 9:02 AM
Mr. Markilinski,
I think you need to be corrected on a few of the statements you’ve made in your column- first of all, East Brady students did not all go to Karns City. Based on residence, many of those students attended KHS when East Brady closed.
You credit the Ford City area board members with keeping KHS a community school- wow- where were the other board members when this was decided? I think that you need to go back and re-visit why schools remain open and why some close. When decisions are made regarding how best to serve the students and the taxpayers of the ASD- they have to look at the age of a building and the cost of maintaining a building, the updates that would need to be made in order to make it fiscally responsible and the most important element- the number of students being served within a school. Any school in this district that has closed- has always been based on this criteria. You reference the “west” side of the county as one who cares little for community and is all about building new super schools. You are trying to paint a picture that is only a figment of your imagination.And for the record- your statement regarding only having one McDonalds- how ridiculous! I think this county has a little more to think about than the “golden arches”. You state that the last “previous educationally misguided board” wanted to send EHS to Apollo Ridge, however, I believe that decision was based on a group of people who decided they wanted to secede themselves to AR. You also state that community schools are good for buisness and good for the community- how so? If you look at each individual community- none of them are thriving just because a school is located there. The goal of those who live on the west side of the river is NOT to see the demise of community schools, but to look at the schools we have, review the data of student numbers and recognize that in this present economy, we can not afford to keep schools open that are under-served and will continue to be underserved according to studies done in the past. We can not afford to renovate buildings with low enrollment numbers. This is not a case of giving an area what they deserve- it’s not about what any one deserves, it’s all about what we can afford. In an ideal world, if we could afford to keep every little school open, I’m sure that would be wonderful, but we can’t. As much as all of us would like to see each little community in this large district have their community school, times are changing and like it or not, we have to look at the cost of keeping schools open. It’s called “good fiscal management” and as a board member, you are charged with making decisions that are both educationally and fiscally sound. You are not charged with making decisions based on “emotions” or slinging mud at one particular region because we are looking at running a district that is fiscally sound. We are talking dollars and cents- and you, as a board member are to use “good common sense” when determining how best to run this district. And by the way Mr. Markilinski- this is not a game and should not be treated as such. This is called “big business”. If you want to play games- head to the nearest firehall for a game of BINGO!
By scott_starr, April 16, 2010 @ 9:07 AM
In my opinion these comments are ridiculous, even for MJM.
At least one thing was admitted to… “the other side of the river” values education…. Meaning East Franklin et al.
I wonder what the others value?
By cbkaulins, April 16, 2010 @ 9:13 AM
I HAVE thought about it…and you’re a complete idiot!
By rudytuesday, April 16, 2010 @ 10:03 AM
RizzoSports,
HERC-ACT was formed in February 2010. There is no way they could have had a plan a year ago, they didn’t exsist. After reading the first line of your suggestion
“ie. the HERC ACT Plan – We opposed the closure of Elderton High School.”, I think you may be confusing HERC-ACT with HERO.
By bweitzel, April 16, 2010 @ 10:59 AM
Well MJM, if your goal is to divide our district, scare off families and/or businesses that may want to locate here and being a jerk then….CONGRATULATIONS! You are doing a great job! Your lack of vision and spiteful ranting is truly disheartening.
And I don’t live on the “other side” of the river (I live within the Elderton attendance area).
I’ve been through the community school war already as a student in the ASD, and now my kids are part of it. Although, I guess I’m the dumb one for staying here thinking that anything would ever change.
By RizzoSports, April 16, 2010 @ 1:19 PM
Sorry - HERC ACT.
EVEN thought it was just an example, I wanted to say:
ie. the HERC ACT Plan – We SUPPORT the closure of Elderton High School. Following that we support a 5 year evaluation period for the remaining 3 high schools. During that time period we want the District to focus on greatly improving the quality of education, and address issues at the elementary schools such as Ktg Township. After that five year period, we’ll analyze the tax/budget situation and then work on a plan to address the high school facilities moving forward.
TYPING TOO FAST,
Anyway the point is HERC-ACT you need a solid plan,
By RizzoSports, April 16, 2010 @ 1:25 PM
ANYWAY CAN someone define - “COMMUNITY SCHOOL”
Elderton, KTG or FCHS probably aren’t community schools since most of their students come from outside of town.
If Elderton is a community school, then so is KNOCH, KISKI, MARS, BUTLER, SENECA VALLEY.
I would consider Shaler and Mt Lebanon to be community schools more so than Ford City.
By WOW, April 16, 2010 @ 3:14 PM
Now, now, Mr. Markilinski! Did you not read my earlier explanation of the ASD anti-bullying policy? I even quoted from the ASD Parent/Student Handbook. Did you not fully comprehend the content? If one of my children were to tell another ASD student, “You are as dumb as a box of rocks!”, my child would and should be disciplined. Under the discipline policy which my children are held to, I believe a checkmark would be given. Once 3 checkmarks are received, you, Mr. Markilinski, would be required to sit on a bench and watch the other children play. You have now, twice, made that statement, that I am aware of. Are you in need of a time out?
By realisticone, April 16, 2010 @ 3:42 PM
well MJM…the Washington TWP. Kids got sold down the river when they closed East Brady…they had to travel on wagon trains to make it to east brady…after the 1990’s board blindsided Chris Henderson and lied to him about a school for us…they closed it down. Now the W. Township kids have to ride the river road or 268 to get to the KHS - another long journey.
Remember to read my “quoted article” from our very own 1981 Leader Times. THE MOST COSTLY NEW BUILDING PLANNED FOR THE DR. BRENCE LONG RANGE PLAN WAS FORD CITY WITH 8,7 MILLION TO GO TO A NEW 2 STORY BUILDING. The Kittanning Attendance area was to get a Worthington/E.Franklin/Kittanning building (YOUR TERM SUPER SCHOOL) at a cost of 8.3 million.
Who passed up the Ford City Super School back in the early 80’s.
Bye the way…I went to and graduated from Butler and they wouldn’t even have us…
KOOO - “Kittanning, On Our Own!” Any takers to pull the tax base right out of the ASD? If the state ed. dept. won’t step in for this fiasco they won’t bother to stop us from leaving.
By gertydeva, April 16, 2010 @ 5:28 PM
I challenge Mr. M for an INTELLIGENT answer…and not a snarky comment! You mention hour long bus rides and HIGH SCHOOL kids. Ha ha…the joke is on you. If you think these lengthy bus trips occur just because Elderton closed and HIGH SCHOOL kids have to go to West Shamokin or anywhere else and ride the bus for an hour, then you are with EGG on your face. If I walk down my street four houses, I can see the ELEMENTARY school my kids attend. I can walk to the school in 7 minutes or so, but guess how long my second graders are on the bus? 57 minutes. So the hour long bus trips are NOT only happening to HIGH SCHOOL students and are not ONLY happening to Elderton kids. Of course, my kids go to school on the side of the river you choose to persecute, so I am sure that this is fine by you!
Additionally, where was a middle school built that stripped another building of half of its kids? A middle school is for grades 6 to 8. The last time I checked, there wasn’t one in the ASD. And YOU think YOU know the facts and YOU want the public to believe them and “Think About It”? You better start checking your own data.
You spew the largest fountain of garbage I have ever read in my life! (My fault for reading it, I guess.)
Also, funny, I was asked to sign a petition just yesterday that asked for Elderton to remain closed and guess what, “MR. Prejudice Against People from MY SIDE OF THE RIVER”?>>>>MOST of the signatures were from FORD CITY residents. And guess what else? The talk was how much they wish you would just GO AWAY! The rather large number of people signing expressed how you embarrass them! Oh, and the person collecting signatures was from “your side of the river!” He was collecting signatures on “your side of the river too!”
FYI, I would LOVE for you to release US! The “other side of the river” would love to be its OWN entity, but unfortunately we are bound by the chains of footing the bills…or most of them.
You can blame Kittanning all you want. You can spew your petty venom and hatefulness at us all you want. You can continue to embarrass yourself through these articles each week. Heck, it is funny how ridiculous you sound, and it is even more fun when everyone points out all of the errors in your so called FACTS, but I am a firm believer that it will all come back around. It might not be tomorrow or next week.
The board members who closed Elderton deliberated for months and months before making an INFORMED decision. So for you to berate them is funny, they, at least, didn’t set out to spread hate and venom and respectfully answered and spoke to the public…whichever side of the river they were from. NYAAAK, NYAAAK, NYAAAK…who is the stooge now? Who voted to close when on the board a week, MAYBE a month? Who answers kids with hateful, evil words? Who embarrasses themselves by acting like a kid in front of students and not like a responsible adult? OH, that is YOU!
By humbleopinion, April 16, 2010 @ 7:44 PM
In reply to Markilinski’s statement, “But we have our churches, we have our communities, and we are proud of our community schools. That’s why we fight, to preserve our communities”.
Here is my humble opinion:
-Take a look at our “community” churches. Many of the Catholic churches are merging/consolidating as well. Think about Christ Prince of Peace and the merge of Holy Trinity, St. Mary’s in Ford City, and St. Francis.
-Think about the U.S. Postal Service offices that are merging throughout our county and beyond.
-Think about The Divine Redeemer School merge of students from all over the area Catholic schools-many students from across Armstrong County and beyond learning and working together.
It seems to be the norm/trend everywhere in order to be fiscally responsible-with the exception of the Armstrong School District- not moving forward! We need school directors that are Agents of Change! It is 2010! I bet some of those reasons to merge/close buildings were to save tax dollars-to be fiscally responsible, and to move the county forward.
By Jan, April 18, 2010 @ 10:51 AM
Humbleopinion- you bring up some very intersting points; ones that I had not thought of, but all true. Like anything else, when we find we can not afford our bills- what do we do? We consolidate them because it’s a fiscally sound thing to do. As you mentioned, not only are other schools consolidating, but churches and postal offices have been merging to save money.Along with that, we see airlines merging and utility companies merging to save money; so everyone else seems to get it with the exception of our school board. I think it’s important to note that while consolidating schools may be the fiscally sound thing to do- it doesn’t mean building new buildings- something this board keeps harping on to scare people.