Comments on: The Longfellow controversy and technical difficulties? http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2009/11/the-longfellow-controversy-and-technical-difficulties/ Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:25:57 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: dalepertcheck http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2009/11/the-longfellow-controversy-and-technical-difficulties/#comment-347015 dalepertcheck Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:27:33 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=10747#comment-347015 Really, Gerald..."support"?? With all due respect...I've been a teacher in the Toledo Public Schools for over 33 years. I can't remember EVER having a "neighbor" who wasn't a family member of a student at the school where I was teaching, even enter the school building where I was teaching...EVER! Far too often, people who live near schools have nothing but negative things to say about those schools. They erroneously assume that things are out of control in buildings they NEVER enter. I still say that the concerns of neighbors are important to consider, but the interests of the school children and financial concerns are the primary responsibility of elected officials. Constituents all around the Toledo School District care about Longfellow School. They want the Toledo Board of Education and the City of Toledo to make decisions that will assure that Longfellow students are well educated in a fiscally sound way. Really, Gerald…”support”?? With all due respect…I’ve been a teacher in the Toledo Public Schools for over 33 years. I can’t remember EVER having a “neighbor” who wasn’t a family member of a student at the school where I was teaching, even enter the school building where I was teaching…EVER! Far too often, people who live near schools have nothing but negative things to say about those schools. They erroneously assume that things are out of control in buildings they NEVER enter.

I still say that the concerns of neighbors are important to consider, but the interests of the school children and financial concerns are the primary responsibility of elected officials.

Constituents all around the Toledo School District care about Longfellow School. They want the Toledo Board of Education and the City of Toledo to make decisions that will assure that Longfellow students are well educated in a fiscally sound way.

]]> By: Gerald http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2009/11/the-longfellow-controversy-and-technical-difficulties/#comment-346842 Gerald Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:04:49 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=10747#comment-346842 Can't agree. Neighborhood concerns should come first. After all they are the ones that support the school. Can’t agree. Neighborhood concerns should come first. After all they are the ones that support the school.

]]> By: dalepertcheck http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2009/11/the-longfellow-controversy-and-technical-difficulties/#comment-346790 dalepertcheck Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:06:59 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=10747#comment-346790 DeeDee is right. This is a "no win" situation for the school board and city council. People on both sides get so emotional, it's hard to make a rational decision. The limited space on the current campus is a concern, even to construct the building as it is planned with the necessary extra land around it. I do understand how upsetting it is to those in the community to have the school moved that has been there since before most of them were born. Lisa -- One thing you didn't mention is that the new site is not just close to Start High School, it is also very close to the newly constructed and newly opened West Toledo YMCA. Can we imagine all of the tie-ins that could occur for Longfellow students into YMCA after school programs? When I first heard about this proposal, the tie-ins to the YMCA truly got me excited! Total cost and the best interests of the students are the most important factors. The feelings of those in the neighborhood must not be ignored, but their concerns cannot be allowed to trump the best interests of the students, and the most cost-effective decision. DeeDee is right. This is a “no win” situation for the school board and city council. People on both sides get so emotional, it’s hard to make a rational decision.

The limited space on the current campus is a concern, even to construct the building as it is planned with the necessary extra land around it. I do understand how upsetting it is to those in the community to have the school moved that has been there since before most of them were born.

Lisa — One thing you didn’t mention is that the new site is not just close to Start High School, it is also very close to the newly constructed and newly opened West Toledo YMCA. Can we imagine all of the tie-ins that could occur for Longfellow students into YMCA after school programs? When I first heard about this proposal, the tie-ins to the YMCA truly got me excited!

Total cost and the best interests of the students are the most important factors. The feelings of those in the neighborhood must not be ignored, but their concerns cannot be allowed to trump the best interests of the students, and the most cost-effective decision.

]]> By: DeeDee Liedel http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2009/11/the-longfellow-controversy-and-technical-difficulties/#comment-346741 DeeDee Liedel Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:02:24 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=10747#comment-346741 I'll just say that as an elected official who has dealt with relocating government service locations (Sylvania Township fire stations), it is almost impossible to please everyone on relocation issues. Ultimately, the school has to think about what is best for the children, not the neighborhood, while maintaining the fiscal end of building a new school which includes the cost of providing services during construction. Interesting comment though, regarding the perceived increased police protection because of the location of the school. That is an issue that TPS should not be burdened with. I’ll just say that as an elected official who has dealt with relocating government service locations (Sylvania Township fire stations), it is almost impossible to please everyone on relocation issues. Ultimately, the school has to think about what is best for the children, not the neighborhood, while maintaining the fiscal end of building a new school which includes the cost of providing services during construction.

Interesting comment though, regarding the perceived increased police protection because of the location of the school. That is an issue that TPS should not be burdened with.

]]>