There has been a lot of talk about the proposal to change the school district; drastically. Everyone has heard at least one or two things about what is going on, but what is the actual plan?
Doctor Thomas Otto presented three different proposals. The proposals are clear as to what will happen. But, something that is not very clear is how things will work, if all three, or if any of these proposals are passed. The fact remains that there are three proposals, and they will be voted on in the near future, hopefully.
The solution to the overpopulation problem is simple. Reopen the two elementary schools that were closed only last year. The time to change the junior high to a middle school has passed. This option should have occurred when the school opened not now.
Having the closed elementary schools reopen would give all the elementary schools more space. If the school district would reopen these schools it could easily solve the population problem that they are worried about. These schools are fully equipped to move back into, if given the chance. The surrounding schools would lose people, this would also mean that those schools would have extra supplies that can be used in the new schools, or even be used later which could help save money.
If these schools reopened, everything could be fixed. If they go with the proposal, how would they all have the right supplies? There would be so many extra people in the school to keep up with supplies. Would students have enough lockers? What would the student-teacher ratio be? Would all teachers have rooms?
If changes are going to happen, why not make changes that benefit all students. Smaller class sizes would benefit everyone. Creating a larger school would not benefit anyone. A way of doing this could be having pre-k in its own school. Then, the first and second grades could share a building, this idea would keep going with third and fourth, fifth and sixth. This way all kids of the same grade would be together. This could be started in the Altoona School District as there are definitely enough buildings that this could be put into effect.
The secondary system is not broken. So don’t fix it. Work with the elementary system where the problem originates.
Careful consideration of every available option should take place before any decision is made.
SHAINA LEAR • Mar 19, 2015 at 9:55 pm
I personally think they shouldn’t make any changes. If they wanted the 9th graders to go to the high school they should of done it when they built the school not making changes in 2015. I think they should just stay with what they have.
BRENDAN WEBER • Jan 21, 2015 at 1:33 pm
I disagree with the school district about moving the 9th graders to the high school because there is just not enough room for all of us to fit. Besides the problem is that you need to open one of the elementary schools back up so you have the room. Why did we even close one school I do not know, but if you open one all this talk about it being over crowded would go away.
JOSHUA BLAKE • Jan 21, 2015 at 1:30 pm
I think that the junior high and high school should remain the same because with there being more people going over their this year it will be less space than there already is. Also all of the 8th graders know the junior high very well so why would we move the 9th grade to the high school. What about all of the 6th graders? Are you sure that they are responsible enough to have their own locker and go from class to class in under 3 minutes? I think that is an all around dumb idea to send the 9th graders over to the high school.
KAILA CLAWSON • Jan 21, 2015 at 12:12 pm
I completely disagree with everything. I think they should just leave it the way it is, but maybe it may help that opening the elementary schools back up would clear out the problem with the population problems.
ISIAC RORABAUGH • Jan 21, 2015 at 12:08 pm
I think the Altoona area school district should just leave every thing as is because it is working fine and its not affecting anything.
RYAN MCCONVILLE • Jan 21, 2015 at 12:07 pm
The author is correct if they wanted the junior high to be a middle school they should have made it that before they opened it. As for the population problem they need to just re-open the closed elementary schools. The schools can easily just re-open most of the school districts equipment is still there so it would be an easy way to solve the problem.
EMMA CAROTHERS • Jan 21, 2015 at 11:14 am
Like the author said, if they wanted to make changes to the schools they should have done it when they were building the junior high, not in the middle of the 2015 school year. I 100% disagree with the school board wanting to move the ninth graders to the high school, and the sixth graders to the junior high.
SETH HUFFORD • Jan 21, 2015 at 11:13 am
I personally say that the system that is in effect right now works just fine. Why try and change it when it works because there’s still a chance that if they do go through with it; it might not work. Then if it fails than that’ll be a huge waste of money and resources for nothing.
DIAN REIHART • Jan 21, 2015 at 8:03 am
I think that they should reopen the two elementary schools. It would be a lot easier.
CHELSEA JORDAN • Jan 29, 2015 at 3:33 pm
I agree with you.
HAILEY STRAYER • Jan 21, 2015 at 8:01 am
I think that is a good idea. But honestly they should just leave everything alone because everything seems okay the way it is now. They shouldn’t just change it all right now because all of our students are so used to it.