Carstensen opposes consolidation, seeks referendum

Carol Carstensen circulated the e-mail below and gave permission to post it here:

I am opposed to the proposal to close/consolidate schools on the east side - I am also opposed to increasing class size (eliminating SAGE classes) in the lower poverty elementary schools (which includes Lapham and Marquette) and I am opposed to increasing the class size for specials (art, music, phy ed and REACH). Those proposals account for about $3.1M of the $7.1M proposed cuts.

I do not think there are other areas to cut that I could support, therefore, I believe it is time to talk about a referendum to maintain schools and programs that enrich our community. I am working on a proposal that for a referendum that would:

1) provide 15:1 class sizes at the 7 schools where SAGE is to be cut and the 3 schools that don't have SAGE;

2) retain the class sizes for specials

3) keep existing schools open

4) restore strings for 4th and 5th graders

5) a number of other items that I am still working on.

This would come to about $6 M - which would cost about $100 in increased taxes on a $250,000 house.

Honesty compels me to say that, as of this moment, I do not have support from other Board members on this.

Posted by Ed Blume at March 13, 2007 10:32 AM
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