Re: A question for FONS

["J.D. Wulfhorst" <jd@uidaho.edu>]

I think Jack's comments below speak well to the goals and ideas 
within the FONS group.  In my opinion, FONS certainly does not  
purport to have the final solution for the School District, but is 
encouraging the District to be open to ideas FROM the community to 
the extent possible as they (and we) assess and make decisions about 
the financial gap.  FONS is a very diverse group in many respects. 
We don't necessarily always work with full consensus when any one 
of us represents the whole, but in my view that's good for the process.

It was clear from last night's pre-board meeting workshop that no one 
has a single or grand solution to the dilemmas facing the District and 
community as a whole.  I sympathize with the School Board and 
Administrative Council.  As I see it, the best thing that could happen 
at this point, is if people generate more questions and get together to 
collectively work on those, however large, small, daunting, or trivial 
they may seem.

J.D. Wulfhorst

On 19 Dec 2001, at 7:10, Jack Porter wrote:

> John, those are worthy goals that need to be considered.  I doubt that
> FONS will present a whole budget plan, but we want to be part of the
> process.   The whole community (or at least, the minority of us who
> show up to vote in levy elections) has a difficult task ahead in
> working out what we're willing to pay for in school taxes.  We in FONS
> believe the district was too quick in opting to replace existing
> schools as part of its facilities plan, and now any proposal to close
> schools for budgetary reasons needs to be viewed with skepticism.  
> Disruptions of students, faculty, programs, and neighborhoods are
> serious issues, and the monetary savings may prove to be illusory. 
> For example, closing West Park would require busing for 200+ students
> who now walk to school, so that cost needs to be included in a true
> comparison.
> 
> Jack Porter
> 
> 
> At 01:08 PM 12/18/2001 -0800, you wrote:
> >Is it the intention of FONS (Friends of Neighborhood Schools) to
> >present to the Board of Trustees a budget plan that provides for
> >maintaining the current use of four elementary schools, a junior high
> >school, and a high school and provide for the preservation of these
> >buildings while recognizing both the current limited resources
> >available and the continuing decline in enrollment that will make for
> >even more limited resources in the future?
> >
> >
> >John Danahy
> >jdanahy@turbonet.com
>