Beginning the 2010-2011 school year, Churubusco High School will be no more. It will become Churubusco Junior-Senior High School.
Churubusco High School will now be known as Churubusco Junior-Senior High School.
At a special meeting held Wednesday, Dec. 16, the school board voted 4-1 to approve the reconfiguration of Smith-Green into two buildings: K-5 and 6-12. The original proposal called for the sixth graders to be moved to the elementary; the proposal was amended to allow the sixth graders to remain in the secondary setting for at least next school year pending further review of the plan.
High school principal Austin Couch will be reassigned to be educational leader for grades 6-12 and current middle school principal John Davis will be reassigned to the position of assistant principal responsible for student services for the junior-senior high school. The plan also demands the creation of another administrative position, that of the elementary assistant principal.
Board president Tanya Young stated her support for the plan but also expressed her desire to see the plan move at a slower pace. Regardless, the board voted 4-1 to approve the plan with board member Cathy Petrie voting against the plan. Petrie cited her concern over the possibility of a decrease in the general fund (due to statewide cuts) and the creation of the administrative position as reasons for her vote. Petrie added that she did not feel the timing was right.
In other news, the board approved the hire of Amy Jagger as the director of the high school musical and also extended CES teacher Cindy Bartlett’s professional leave until February 26, 2010.
By Kayla Crance, assistant editor, Buscovoice.com
Once again the Smith-Green school board has failed its constituents. In the past few weeks, when the superintendent’s plan came to light, I have heard almost all negative comments from the community and the teachers (who know the school best), and yet the board went with the plan anyways. This despite the fact that just this week the state said it would be cutting education spending by millions next year. So where is the money for this new administrator going to come from? On top of that when will these new elementary students eat? How will this benefit the rest of the elementary, which is arguably the star ship school of SGCS. These, and many other questions were never answered, and yet four members found it still a good idea to vote for this plan, HOW ABSURD! I am totally appalled and can say that none of the four who voted for it will get my vote in the next election!
I’m very happy with the school board’s decision. Having spoke with several of the board members on this issue, I know how much thought was put into this decision. Thank you.
I would like to thank the Smith-Green Community School Board Trustees for all of their hard work and dedication to our children. Some how people seem to forget that OUR children WILL still be getting a good education, whether the 6th grade is in the elementary or middle school area and whatever time they eat. The teachers will still teach. Isn’t that what they go to school for? Don’t we as parents want our children to get an education? Not to hear how absurd something is. I know I am proud to say that my kids go to Smith-Green Community Schools. Tanya, Cathy, Mike, Nick & Rick, I thank you for all you do for my children that attend Smith-Green Community Schools, your hard work, your dedication is a thankless job sometimes but know that there are people that support you as I do.
Proud to put my name on this
David Pearson
I want to thank the Board for their willingness to listen to those of us who are parents of current middle school youth. I am disappointed with the fact the Mr. Darnell stated that “they (School leaders) want what we (parents and commmunity members) want”, and truly that was not the case in this decision. Thank you for not following what you stated to us in the past.
In light of today’s news from the State Board of Education on what cuts to make, will this plan need some more tweaking?