One of the arguments against consolidating Bowling Green’s elementary schools is the claim that smaller schools encourage better student performance. I have read some of the research comparing student achievement and school size, and concluded the research, while plentiful, does not provide a general answer. There are many factors that go into the relationship between the “right” size school and measures of achievement. Most researchers stress that each situation has distinct characteristics that mediate the relationship. Our problems are not the same as the problems of large urban schools that many studies address. We are unique, and we need to provide a, solution that meets our unique needs.
From my reading of the research, I conclude that we must look at our own situation, and make the best decision that we can, given our population, resources and available options. I believe we need to look objectively at our BG situation, and consider the alternatives.
Clearly, we no longer have neighborhood schools. That has been the case since we went from six to three elementary schools. The situation where most children both lived within walking distance and actually walked to elementary schools does not exist in BG—90% of elementary students currently arrive at school by car or bus—and simply will never be recreated here.
We have two schools that are in serious need of replacement or significant, prohibitively expensive repair. Regardless of the reasons they fell into disrepair, they need to be dramatically improved. Even if the old schools were in good condition (which they are not) and had adequate capacity (which they do not have) they are not structured or equipped to provide the kind of learning environment required by contemporary teaching methods and technology.
Disparities in funding results in schools with significantly more or fewer resources, as well as larger or smaller classes. Personnel providing specialized services must travel between various campuses to meet special needs. Sharing of resources between educators assigned to different schools is hampered by the fact that they do not work in close proximity. Meeting a few times a year does not provide the same opportunity for close collaboration.
These are our problems as they exist now in BG. We need to address them in the most practical, economically feasible way, without compromising educational quality. Efforts to repair our current elementary schools will not accomplish these goals. We need to pool our resources to serve our children better.
If this levy fails, what then? How much longer must our children be housed in their current conditions? The truth is, there is no viable alternative. Taking stop gap measures to fix the most serious problems would only delay imposing a real solution, when the costs both for our pocketbooks and our children, will be even greater.
Elayne Jacoby
Bowling Green
