My name is Michael Misovich.  I live at 630 Putnam St., in the Farrington Grove Elementary attendance district, and my daughter attends there because we believe in neighborhood schools.

 

As the president of the nonprofit organization Farrington's Grove Historical District, Inc., I would like you to consider the effect of closing Crawford Elementary on the children of our neighborhood and of the larger community.

 

In addition to containing the opinion of the administration that the school must be closed, the Crawford School study also contains some facts.  Ninety-four children will be transferred from Crawford to Farrington Grove Elementary.  I ask the administration and board: "Do you believe 464 students is a small elementary school?"

 

"We want to do what we think is the right thing educationally for students. ... Neighboring facilities would allow students at Crawford School to be served more efficiently in optimum learning environments."  Similar things were said when Warren Elementary was closed.  Did educational outcomes improve for Warren students after they moved to Meadows and Lost Creek?  The closest answer I could find in the study was in the table of ISTEP scores.  Last year, the percentage of students meeting standards in both language arts and mathematics declined from 72 percent to 61 percent at Lost Creek, and from 65 percent to 41 percent at Meadows.  This year, both schools declined again -- even though 3rd grade scores in Vigo County jumped this year and passed state averages.  Why isn't anyone studying what happened to the Warren, Meadows, and Lost Creek children?  And how can we justify repeating this experiment on our children at Crawford, Farrington Grove, and Sugar Grove until we have the answer?

 

Numerous educational research studies in the last fifteen years have consistently indicated that educational outcomes are better for at-risk children in small schools.  None of these studies would consider 464 students at Farrington Grove to be a small school.  Did you know Farrington Grove has the fifth highest free lunch percentage in the corporation before the Crawford students are added!  These are at-risk children! 

 

Please consider how these results about small schools apply to the former Warren students, to the current Crawford and Farrington Grove students, and to the Franklin students who deserve better facilities -- but not a larger school population that research indicates would have a detrimental effect on their education.  Award-winning schools like Dixie Bee and Rio Grande work well for the populations they serve, but this research indicates they would not work well for at-risk students.  Lost Creek worked well for its original population.  How are the former Warren students doing there?

 

It has been a privilege to address the board of one of the finest school corporations in the State of Indiana.  Our many successful schools and programs are testimony to excellent leadership and dedicated teachers and staff.  But even excellent institutions sometimes make mistakes.  Remember how the Coca-Cola Company changed the most popular soft drink in the world to introduce "New Coke?"  It was the answer to the question, "How can we keep seven out of ten people from choosing Pepsi over Coke in Pepsi's advertising?" 

 

Really great institutions are able to admit their mistakes and return to the best course of action.  Within months of introducing "New Coke," Coca-Cola went back to the old formula.  It was the answer to the question, "How can we maintain and increase our lead in product sales, revenues, and profits?"  Coca-Cola continues to be the number one soft drink company in the world today.

 

The Crawford School Study is an answer to the question, "How can we attempt to justify closing Crawford School?"

 

I believe this school corporation is great enough to put this study aside, and instead to answer the question, "How can we provide the best possible education for the children of Vigo County in a cost-effective manner?"

 

Please consider the interests of our community's children when you make the decision on Crawford School.  Thank you.