Superintendent Tanoos, Dr. Minnis, members of the board:

 

My name is Michael Misovich.  My daughter attends Farrington Grove Elementary School because we live in its attendance district and we believe in neighborhood schools.

 

I would like to comment on Item E.11 on today's agenda, specifically, the revision of Policy KMAA which is receiving its first reading tonight.  The Policy, currently entitled "Parent Involvement" is proposed to be revised to "Family Involvement."

 

I support the revision of this Policy; however, I wish to discuss some serious concerns.

 

First, the proposed revision to this Policy states, and I quote, "As part of each school's Strategic and Continuous School Improvement and Achievement Plan, a provision will be made to maximize parental participation in the school."  This appears to be a reference to a section of Indiana Public Law 221, IC 20-10.2-3, Strategic and Continuous School Improvement and Achievement Plan.  This section of the law was passed in 1999 and became effective on July 1, 2001.  Why has the Vigo County School Corporation waited until April 22, 2002 to hold its first reading of a revision to Policy KMAA to be in compliance with Public Law 221?  This law was enacted three years ago, and became effective over nine months ago.

 

Second, I am concerned about the implementation of Policy KMAA, either in its current form or in the proposed revision.  What is the point of enacting a Policy when the school corporation takes actions which are contrary to the Policy in practice?  For example, on January 14, 2002, a number of parents of students at Crawford School spoke before this board.  They stated that the closing of the school and transfer of their children to Farrington Grove and Sugar Grove would decrease or eliminate their ability to actively participate in activities in support of their children's education.  Ms. Mell and I noticed in the most recent Performance Based Accreditation report from Crawford School, which Principal Hawkins graciously provided us, that the report showed a 98 percent participation rate in parent-teacher conferences at Crawford. 

 

Policy KMAA is like motherhood and apple pie.  How could anyone disagree with it?  But how can you have apple pie when you keep cutting down the apple trees!

 

I believe we have an excellent school corporation with excellent policies.  Our four star schools are evidence of that.  But even excellent institutions make mistakes, such as when they do not follow their excellent policies.  I believe that closing Warren was a mistake.  But I'm not asking you just to trust my judgment -- Ms. Mell and I gave you a 47-page report explaining why we believe it.  I believe that the decision to close Crawford, a school whose students are performing better academically than Warren, should it continue to go forward, is a bigger mistake, and I ask the board to reconsider that decision.  I feel that revising Policy KMAA in the absence of a reconsideration of the Crawford decision would be hypocritical.  Thank you.