July 16, 2014 6:00 am • By ALEXANDER DEEDY Independent Record
A parent of students at Central-Linc Elementary and Helena Middle schools has published an online diagram showing how far behind academically students in the Helena School District are, compared with students in other similarly sized districts in Montana.
‘IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL’ | PARENTS, KIDS RALLY FOR DISTRICT AS A WHOLE
Two dozen parents and children used their morning walk to Central-Linc Elementary Tuesday to say they think Helenans should consider all students, not just their neighborhood school, before opposing the consolidation of district elementary schools.
Responding to the “Save Our Neighborhood Schools” rallies that have been held recently at three other schools, the demonstrators held signs with messages such as “It’s not just about your school” and “Don’t support the few at the expense of all.”
“I think too many people are focusing on protecting their school, when in fact what we need to be doing is thinking about all the children’s welfare in the entire district,” said parent Kyle Strode.
Read more at the Helena IR
Addressing the Helena school board of trustees this week, several residents likened a plan to consolidate elementary schools into 500-capacity buildings to warehousing, and thus alienating, young learners.
“I don’t think we need mega schools,” resident Brian Arnold said.
Helena’s small neighborhood schools are “jewels of the community,” another parent said.
Meanwhile, some district officials looking at the benefits of consolidation have said the city’s elementary schools aren’t just small: They’re tiny.
“We have itty-bitty schools, not small schools,” trustee Ellen Feaver said during a February board meeting.
Read more at the Helena IR here.