A Service of The Arrow             Friday September 29, 2000

   Fears of overcrowding, harsh transitions for satellite school students, and an impression that new plans might increase the already shocking dropout rate drew in about 200 concerned parents and employees of District Five, on Sept., 16.

   There are three general options on which the public commented. The first is to build a new goliath 9-12 high school. The second is to divide the district, and build a second high school. The final opinion is to keep District 5 the way it is.

   "We have been looking at some models from other schools, to study their foundations for pod learning," Superintendent Harry Amend told The Arrow. "One school in particular uses a model of one administrator and one counselor per 600 students, to provide for a more up-close learning environment."

   While there is no clear consensus on the future of District 5, many people at the forum expressed concerns over losing programs FHS has the ability to offer because of its size. Concerns included:

• losing higher-level foreign
• language programs;
• losing AP classes;
• a cutback in art classes;
• a lack of musical equipment and uniforms;
• and having poor vocational training.

   The general consensus of the forum was that if the ninth grade was moved out of the junior high, and seventh grade was moved from Linderman to the junior high, overcrowding and transitions could be eased enough for a more relaxed high school environment. There was also an expressed need for a new cafeteria and multi-purpose room at the junior high school.

   "I was disappointed in the lack of community attendance along with student attendance," said senior Ture Carlson. "I think that they should just build one new big honking school."

   School District Five administrators have been occupied this last summer with more than 70 meetings at all satellite schools in the district that funnel into District 5. The past two meetings, one on Sept. 16 and one on Sept. 23, have attracted more than 400 people.

   The latest meeting was another attempt to gain input from both students and community members, but again, District 5 employees were in the majority. Although students were greatly outnumbered, representatives from KJHS voiced the opinions of their peers, keeping it short and sweet: the freshman want to be a part of the high school. Also speaking were a handful of FHS students, including Carlson.

   The first idea deals with building two large high schools, and dividing the district into two sections. Many people have voiced objections to splitting the district in two because of the competition that such a split might create between students.

   "I think that if students were surveyed on whether or not they wanted to combine two smaller schools into one large one, they would oppose it," said math tutor Richard Kuhl, during last Saturday’s input forum. "People are opposed to change."

   The second option includes building a new high school and combining grades 9–12. The final major option being considered is to leave the district as is.

   This issue will be in the foreground of FHS in the coming months, and those wanting more information should go to the next meeting on Oct. 16 to work on further planning. The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. at the FHS Auditorium.

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