The Grapevine Independent, Newspaper for Rancho Cordova, Sacremento, California with Sacremento, California real estate, antiques, news, and entertainment:
"By KRIS MIDDAUGH, Editor - Tensions were high this week as Rancho Cordova residents geared up for what might be the final battle in a war to save local schools.
The regular meeting of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District (FCUSD) Board of Directors is set to take place tonight. At press time, it was unknown if board trustees would approve the recommendation of district Superintendent Pat Godwin to close two local elementary schools, Cordova Lane and Riverview."
There was speculation that given the number of speakers likely to attend the meeting, the item could be continued to the next board meeting, however, with two public forums behind them and time a factor, district officials and board members could opt to simply put questions to rest by voting for or against the closures. (For up-to-the-minute information on the vote, visit the Grapevine’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GrapevineIndependent.)
Although Rancho Cordova has seen schools close in the past, this particular effort to close two schools—which district officials say is necessary to stay a looming budget crisis—has hit a nerve with local parents, teachers, administrators and community members. And despite the fact that district staff issued a report detailing declining enrollment issues and the need to slash $10 million from next year’s FCUSD budget along with a matrix of criteria used to determine which schools should close, many parents attending two community forums complained that the process was happening to quickly. Still other parents questioned why they had not been involved in the selection process and several also asked why elementary schools in Folsom were not being considered for closure.
Godwin explained that the selection process had been a thorough one and that Folsom elementary schools were facing increasing, rather than declining enrollment, but many parents still faulted district staff for non-transparency in the selection process while also accusing them of favoring Folsom schools. Although local parents have only known about the possibility of schools closing for a few weeks now, they have quickly mobilized to fight against the prospect and have spoken passionately about their schools, teachers and administrators.
"By KRIS MIDDAUGH, Editor - Tensions were high this week as Rancho Cordova residents geared up for what might be the final battle in a war to save local schools.
The regular meeting of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District (FCUSD) Board of Directors is set to take place tonight. At press time, it was unknown if board trustees would approve the recommendation of district Superintendent Pat Godwin to close two local elementary schools, Cordova Lane and Riverview."
There was speculation that given the number of speakers likely to attend the meeting, the item could be continued to the next board meeting, however, with two public forums behind them and time a factor, district officials and board members could opt to simply put questions to rest by voting for or against the closures. (For up-to-the-minute information on the vote, visit the Grapevine’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GrapevineIndependent.)
Although Rancho Cordova has seen schools close in the past, this particular effort to close two schools—which district officials say is necessary to stay a looming budget crisis—has hit a nerve with local parents, teachers, administrators and community members. And despite the fact that district staff issued a report detailing declining enrollment issues and the need to slash $10 million from next year’s FCUSD budget along with a matrix of criteria used to determine which schools should close, many parents attending two community forums complained that the process was happening to quickly. Still other parents questioned why they had not been involved in the selection process and several also asked why elementary schools in Folsom were not being considered for closure.
Godwin explained that the selection process had been a thorough one and that Folsom elementary schools were facing increasing, rather than declining enrollment, but many parents still faulted district staff for non-transparency in the selection process while also accusing them of favoring Folsom schools. Although local parents have only known about the possibility of schools closing for a few weeks now, they have quickly mobilized to fight against the prospect and have spoken passionately about their schools, teachers and administrators.
