How could the Wichita school board vote Monday to sell the former Carter Elementary to the Catholic Diocese of Wichita at the same time the district proposes a $350 million bond issue to build new schools? Interim superintendent Martin Libhart acknowledged that was a “fair question,†telling The Eagle editorial board Tuesday that the decision was based on Carter’s small capacity (200 students), location, lack of air conditioning and cost of needed renovations. When the district closed Carter in 1996, Libhart said, “it was becoming costly to maintain and even more costly per pupil.†He also said the district’s overcrowding is such that new schools are needed in the core and on the perimeter, not on East 15th Street. And “as nice a facility as it is for its age and the purpose it would serve for the diocese, it would cost quite a bit to renovate it to our standards,†Libhart said. The diocese will acquire it through a lease-to-own deal for use by Holy Savior Academy, currently in the city-owned former Magdalen School at Woodlawn and Kellogg.
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The school board says “that the decision was based on Carter’s small capacity (200 students), location, lack of air conditioning and cost of needed renovations. When the district closed Carter in 1996, Libhart said, “it was becoming costly to maintain and even more costly per pupil”.
And “as nice a facility as it is for its age and the purpose it would serve for the diocese, it would cost quite a bit to renovate it to our standards,” Libhart said.
“Our standards”, Oh….yet it’s good enough for the Catholic kids who’s test scores beat the public school’s across the board. Gee, seems to me the public school’s emphasis is really missing the mark for good learning and shows what their attitude becomes when they can simply lean on the taxpayer anytime they decide.
It’s all about the Benjamins, that’s for certain. They don’t want to fix it so –as you say in so many words– they’ll dump it on the diocese.
Then they whine about how the poor school system simply MUST have more cash from the taxpayers.
You know what I hate? The fact that when it comes to a school bond issue, whatever they get is never enough.
“yet it’s good enough for the Catholic kids”
Yup.
The nuns will whack their poor charges on the knuckles and admonish them, “You think it’s hot HERE?”
Religious people and Catholics in particular seem to embrace suffering. Let ‘em have it.
I can’t help but wonder about Interim superintendent Martin Libhart. This man was in charge of facilities for how many years? A bunch, like 20ish. During that time our schools fell in disrepair according to what we’re being told. Well actually they’re telling us they need repairs and improvements, etc. To me that means they’ve fallen in disrepair under his watch, when facilities were his responsibility.
On more thing I’ve wondered about. They make this same man, Martin Libhart, the interim superintendent and tell us it has to do with his familiarity with the bond issue and further tell us about all the talented people who have the education experience he lacks so no one will miss a lick. Does that mean once the bond issue is “dealt with” there is NO NEED for an expensive superintendent?
I’m ALL for the best for our students. I’m totally convinced those in charge of spending the money are irresponsible and I’m not going to vote to give them more to waste.
Regarding its size: I have to wonder whether a small facility like that might have been perfect for a special education center. A smaller number of students at one location might be more manageable.
Like a center or centers to teach English as a second language instead of spreading students with those needs to many classes? Wouldn’t that be too efficient and possible effective to be something we could expect from our tax dollars? Why not address those needs at EVERY building!?
Sorry about the sarcastic post! I am so discouraged and disappointed in the direction our schools have gone / are going. These same people who’ve NOT made good decisions want $350million MORE and give no indication they even realize what the problems are. I don’t think solutions are possible without identifying the problems.
lindainks55, with respect to what you’ve said…
AMEN!!!
There have to be better alternatives than simply spending more taxpayers dollars as a solution to every single problem, that’s NOT the solution to learning.
Why can’t the board LEARN that?
VOTE NO when it comes up! Force changes in the status quo.
“Too costly to fix” is what people with no vision always say.
It’s basically an exuse to build that latest thing and put their name on it.
But at least these old schools that were built with solid construction and real materials will go to people who appreciate them.
The new schools, which look like prisons, will just be bulldozed when they’re outdated.
Capn,
You and I don’t often agree, unfortunately.
But…I sure agree with you this morning.
The new schools do look like prisons, and why has the board allowed the older buildings with “solid construction and real materials” to deteriorate? Maintenance and upkeep should be the very first priority in the respect and duty to the taxpayer and the kids, but they let that go for other things and then cry for more money.
Shameful! :(
Boxtop
Your attitude toward public education is what is shameful.
Why do you hate our community schools and chidren so much?
“children”
Another day off at the taxpayer’s expense eh Apophis?
What’s another $350 Million when it’s for the sake of the children and their education?
Don’t you people care about educating the children?
I don’t know how you people can be so cruel.
“It will be a good day when the schools have all the money they need and the Air Force has to have a bake sale to buy a bomber.”
Bumper sticker I liked.
“I’m totally convinced those in charge of spending the money are irresponsible and I’m not going to vote to give them more to waste.”
And this is from LindaLinks?
With a conservative attitude like this, next I expect to hear you advocate reductions in all levels of Government – Fed, State, and Local!
Who is ultimately responsible for how our taxdollars are spent?
I like that bumper sticker too!;-)
Waste in Government spending? How can that be?
Big Government is GOOD Government. The BIGGER the Better!
MORE CHEESE! MORE CHEESE! MORE CHEESE!
I think the Government should take ALL of our paycheck, they spend my money more wisely then I do.
The Government will let me know how much of my money I get to keep, if any. Course, if Government meets ALL of my needs, I won’t need ANY of my money.
If your rantings ever slowed down long enough to allow you to do anything more, you might notice many people are more conservative, especially fiscally conservative, than those you follow mindlessly.
Oh, like following Obama and Clinton mindlessly?
They have great records of fiscal responsibility.
troll-boy………………I am entitled to a “break” during the day aren’t I?
….ever read wage and hour laws?
“Why do you hate our community schools and chidren so much?”
Apophis posted then corrected with;
“children”
Oedipus, ha…your spelling of “chidren”, that’s children, show what the public schools can do.
Demanding accountability and better spellers than dummies like you is not hating the community schools and children, it’s caring enough to demand better results than you typify.
Boxtop has apparently NEVER misspelled a word in his/her pathetic, anal retentive life.
………..just another example of your hate of children!
OK, to help calm everyone down about Big Government and big Education’s capabilities…lets go ask an Indian what their experience with great white father was like.
Oedipus posts;
“…..just another example of your hate of children!”
Notice how ‘Oedipus’ takes anything and everything and turns it into that baseless accusation of “your hate of children”. Mindless, isn’t it.
Oedipus, are you a child, or simply act like one and work for the school board or the public school system?
If the later…oh, help the children, no wonder we’ve got problems.
It’s the same thing we hear from the bond proponents, “it’s for the children”. Bull…it’s for them.