Posted By: Mom of three
Lee,
I am shocked at the willingness of the board and you to even consider shifting the Tacoma Hills subdivision again. We have been lied to since the beginning regarding the need to close Edgewood to save money. All the repairs that we "couldn't afford to do" continue to be budgeted, the current staff "we couldn't afford to keep" exceeds the numbers required to run the original elementary school, and the enrollment is not only lower than it was when Edgewood closed, but half of the students reside out of our district and bring in less money. There is no longer a reason to move to Okemos because people can live out of district and still attend our schools. Until the district is "right sized" and we make it desirable to live where you want your children to attend school, we will continue to have financial problems and issues that punish people who pay the taxes, vote on the millages, and support the schools. The last millage that passed was touted to save our schools, and so far it hasn't. Why will this millage be any different?
I am not convinced that the current decisions you and the board have made are in the best interest of Okemos children. Until you can show me exactly how much money Montessori has made, how much of the "profit" has gone back into the general fund, and how that money has not only paid back the start up costs of Edgewood Montessori but also benefited the children outside of Montessori, Montessori and the closing of Edgewood (including the redistricting of the children of Tacoma Hills, Shaker Heights etc.) remains in my opinion, a bad decision that has soured the voters in this district and hurt the children who reside in the district. I think it might be a good idea to also add road repairs to the school budget, as the 200 cars that speed in and out of our NEIGHBORHOOD are only increasing the rate at which our NEIGHBORHOOD roads are deteriorating. I am offended that we would be asked to move again so that Bennett Woods can be available for homes not yet built/sold. Will the "holes" created when our neighborhood is redistricted be filled by school of choice students? Until things turn around, I do not feel I can support the Okemos schools. Although Jeri has made an effort to "get us back into the district," the poor decisions you and the board continue to make are why we will continue with private education. I am so disappointed in how the Tacoma Hills subdivision has been treated.