Hall County Commissioner Jane Richardson urged the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education to keep Seedling Mile Elementary School open. The district that Richardson represents includes the Seedling Mile attendance area. She and her children attended Seedling Mile Elementary School, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Hall County Commissioner Jane Richardson strongly recommended to the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Dec. 17 to keep Seedling Mile Elementary School open.
Richardson represents District 5, which includes the Seedling Mile attendance area.
Richardson and her children attended Seedling Mile Elementary School.
Earlier Dec. 17 at the Hall County Board of Commissioners meeting, Richardson spoke about the possible closing of the school. She told commissioners she had received many calls and emails about the issue and described constituents’ emotions as heartbreaking and devastating.
Richardson told Commissioners that the Board of Education was considering closing Seedling Mile Elementary School and having the Seedling Mile attendance area join the Dodge Elementary School attendance area, which is the closest elementary school. She described Dodge as “busting at the seams.”
“Obviously, it doesn’t make sense to me,” Richardson told Commissioners. She noted that Superintendent Matt Fisher has told the Board of Education that the school district has the funds to keep Seedling Mile Elementary School open.
Commissioner Pam Lancaster said, “It’s heartbreaking when a school closes.”
In addition to speaking to the Board of Education at the Dec. 17 meeting, she also sent Board members an email on Dec. 16. She said she had received numerous calls and emails with questions concerning the closing of the school. “Words I have heard include ‘devastating,’ ‘heartbroken,’ (and) ‘crushed.”
Because Fisher had told the Board that funds were available to keep the school open, Richardson wrote, “I urge you to listen to your constituents.”
Richardson said that Seedling Mile students’ test scores are among the highest in the district.
“Teachers usually stay there for 25 to 30 years because they enjoy it so much. Seedling Mile families love their school,” Richardson wrote.
“They have stated that are 82 students currently there in grades 1-5. That averages 16-17 student per grade which is optimal. The kindergarten enrollment last year has been calculated at 9 students. However, I heard this does not include those in private preschools as well as those with older siblings at Seedling Mile or transfers. So I’m sure this number would have been larger if all students were included. Even if you count this class as 9 students, that still averages to 15 students per classroom,” Richardson wrote.
“There’s certain classes at Senior High with much less students in them currently, well as the Career Pathways building. The students are there. Let them keep their school,” she wrote.
“If budgetary issues are such a concern, might I suggest selling the Principal (Financial Group) building? I recently toured it and would guess it’s approximately 15 percent occupied. Wouldn’t it be easier to simply relocate those using that building and sell it? Maybe you could get your $3 million back or more. That makes a lot more sense that asking 82 families to transfer and lose their neighborhood school,” Richardson wrote.
“Parents want smaller schools. Case in point, the recent Central Catholic elementary school. Seedling Mile school and Central Catholic elementary school have many, many similarities. Private citizens raised $11 million to $12 million to have that school built; yet GIPS is suggesting we close our similar school and simply keep it empty? And transfer the students to larger schools far away from their homes that are already crowded? How does this make sense? It doesn’t,’ she said.
“For all of the above stated reasons, please vote no on closing Seedling Mile Elementary School. It is the sensible decision, and your constituents deserve your support,” Richardson wrote.
