Linda Paramore, acting superintendent of the Pontiac School District, addresses residents last month at one of several forums. The district may be forced to close and combine some schools due to declining enrollment.
Pontiac schools redesign plan nears
Final forum scheduled to get feedback
BY MELANIE D. SCOTT • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • January 4, 2009
Ellen Logan said she was looking forward to sending her youngest child, 13-year-old Tyler, to Pontiac Northern High School in the fall.
But that changed when Logan found out Pontiac School District officials were planning to redesign the district and possibly close one high school, making students from Northern and Pontiac Central attend the same school.
"I'm not sure what to do," Logan said. "I have some safety concerns because the schools are rivals, but I want to hear their plans before I make any decisions."
Declining enrollment and budget constraints have prompted Pontiac School District officials also to consider closing about half of all school buildings, including some middle and elementary schools. The district wants to reconfigure its schools to a save a yet-to-be determined amount of money. The redesign is expected to happen sometime this school year, said Georgette Johnson, the district's director of communications.
School officials expect to host the district's fourth and final public forum about the redesign plan Jan. 13 at the district's Whitmer Human Resource Center to allow parents and community leaders to talk about the plan. Three forums have been held since November.
"If we are going to save this school district, we are going to have to work together," acting Superintendent Linda Paramore said.
The redesign comes as district officials say there will be a projected $10-million deficit during the 2009-10 school year. There were nearly 8,000 students enrolled at the end of the 2007-08 school year. This year, there are 6,700 students in the district, which has space for nearly 20,000 students.
District officials are considering offering kindergarten through eighth grade under one roof. Another plan would change the current elementary school configuration to kindergarten through sixth grade, while middle school would include seventh through ninth grade and the high school would have 10th through 12th grades.
The district created an advisory committee in October to examine the redesign. Two advisory subcommittees were formed to look at proposed changes in the district's instruction as well as facilities and finance.
After hearing the feedback at all of the forums, the advisory committee will make its redesign recommendation to district officials. After hearing the recommendation, district officials will announce a plan.
"This needs to continue to happen," said Denise Morgan, a social studies teacher at Bethune Academy. "I think it's wonderful to get parents, teachers and the district talking. We are all in this together."
Officials say they believe the second forum had the most participants with more than 200 people in attendance.
"We don't think enough parents have been out," said Paramore. "If they don't come, I don't know where they will get the information from. We want to see more people."
Contact MELANIE D. SCOTT at 248-351-3681 or mdscott@freepress.com.
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