Dear Editor,
I knew that when I learned about the closing of West Side Magnet School it would be the first of many unfortunate years to come, for our school system.
It did not surprise me to learn that in the next few years, budget cuts will leave little room for anything but more school closings. While one can understand that it is expensive to run a school, it makes no sense to me to waste the space. This is especially true in the case of West Side Magnet school. While the building remains unused, the electricity is still on. Also there are computers, and various other valuable supplies still in many of the rooms.
This seems like a complete waste of money and usable space. Why are we still providing electricity to a school that has been closed for seven months? Why are there still supplies in the classrooms, shouldn’t they be moved and used in another school? What can be done with this building in our community?
Has anyone else wondered about the possibility of converting this old school into a charter school? At least that way the space and electricity wouldn’t be wasted. I know there are people in this community with intelligence to contribute! There are educators, parents, and members of the general public who are passionate about the future of the chi ldren in this community. And that my friends, is an excellent combination for a great educational foundation. Are there any better ideas for something this school could be used for?
This is a call for anyone who would like to get together and brainstorm.
Katie Daniel
LaGrange
Kdaniel42@gmail.com
The end result should always be considered and it should be required for any decisive action, such as closing a school, to address the problem created by that action.
I agree with you and Ron as well, something should be done. It shouldn't take years to come up with a plan. Tax dollars sadly wasted...again.
One thing I'd like to see some of the schools and such be possibly used for is some sort of program for entrepreneurs for starting small businesses.
A classroom can be the ideal size and setting for many small businesses. For but a few examples, a small wood products business, or a pottery making business or whatever. Commercial building lease and power rates can be very cost prohibitive to a potential startup business, and such a program could be quite benefitial on a number of levels.
It can create some rental income, even at highly reduced rates for business owners, from an otherwise empty building that costs the community money.
Since there are numerous businesses in the same building, heating, cooling and security lighting costs would be reduced for each leasee by the very nature of "collective" use of a single building.
It could create jobs, and potentially a fair number of jobs, as the businesses that may not have otherwise even be able to have been started, grow and eventually move out to bigger facilities locally, contributing not just jobs, but helping to boost commercial real estate utilization and values.
There can be stipulations put into such a program, such as time limits for participation, possibly a stepped system for charging the rent, to give startups a low rate, with lease rate increases as businesses become more profitable . . .which would also encourage them to move out into the private real estate sector.
Possibly something like a three year program. If a business with the reduced rates can't become self sufficient within that time, maybe they shouldn't be doing it anyway. The specifics of some of this stuff is subject to more thinking, I'll admit, but hopefully ya'll get the general concept