An Open Letter to the Parents of School District 83.
If we are being honest with ourselves, most parents would admit that having ‘their’ school slated for closure would be an emotional reality to face. No one wants to let go of an established community that knows, supports and cares about our children.
These same parents would also likely admit that if all other options had been explored and it was clearly demonstrated that a school closure or reconfiguration was the best way to continue to meet students needs, they could stand behind such a decision. The key piece here is that parents and communities are entitled to accurate data and straightforward information regarding decisions affecting their schools.
This spring many parents asked the School District for the numbers, data and evidence that would justify the school closures and they were not given it. With few answers that satisfied, groups of parents from affected communities began to dig for answers. Some of what these parents found has been widely publicized; for example, the millions transferred from programs and then used to build the new board office. Unfortunately, this was not the only finding that proved numbers were not all they appeared to be.
As a district, we need to stand by all of our students and make sure that no one loses programs OR buildings needlessly. Even if, at the end of the day, we stand on opposite sides of the table on a particular issue concerning the district, I would hope that there would be enough mutual respect to recognize that all parents have the right to advocate for their children and to expect an open and transparent process in which their voices can be heard.
Kate Stein
