The Menomonee Falls School District's redistricting plan would move 242 students from Ben Franklin Elementary School to Riverside Elementary. What do you think of these changes?
(7) Read All ResponsesThis is rediculous. We just fought to keep Riverside open, so my girls wouldn't have to switch schools & now they would be shipped over to Shady Lane. We are very upset! My girls both have well established friendships and the school is not far from our house. The fact that Pilgrim was the split instead of Appleton Avenue is ignorant- Riverside sits right off of Pilgrim Road. There are many families that live right across Pilgrim who walk their children to Riverside everyday. Don't tell me this won't add more bussing costs.
When my husband was growing up in the Falls back in the 70's, he went to 5 different elementary schools. They were continually split up from their friends, but it all worked out. These kids will all be together when they hit 6th grade and remain together until the end of high school. There are private school kids that have to jump in at high school and don't even know a lot of the kids. it's not the school district's fault that there is more housing and buidable land in one elementary school district as compared to another. Then you have the parents complaining how their school is over crowded. Redistricting is the only answer. And school districts do it all the time.
I am very disappointed with this proposal. Ben Franklin is the closest elementary school to my home which my husband and I purchased so our children could attend BF. Their bus ride home from school is long as they are one of the last stops. This move puts them on the bus even longer. Both my children have established friendships and relationships with school staff that have helped them overcome their personal challenges. I realize redistricting needs to happen, but this proposal makes no sense to me. I am also curious to how many Open Enrollment students and 220 students attend BF. I am looking forward to the "informational meeting"
In tough economic times it would be more reasonable to not add any additional programs such as K-4. Furthermore, many families are suffering with wage losses yet the Superintendant just got a raise! I think it is time that the school systems start paying their fair share for benefits like the working people. The Falls schools have increased spending where is it not needed, adding an additional "optional" hour to the High School this year is one example- this was done mainly to prevent layoffs for teachers, and has not enhanced the education of our kids. If K-4 is so important, maybe a 10% pay reduction across the board would pay for it. Funny that a few years ago there was a push to build new schools due to overcrowing, now they want to add k-4? Sounds like the insane are running the asylum to me. Common sence says to put the K-4 kids at Riverside, but we can't expect those who continue to increase district officials pay to have common sence.
Well, the call came through last night and our kids are officially moving. I am disgusted by the whole thing. It seems idiotic for a district to press forward with plans that will not only drive class sizes up and therefore lead to erosion of the educational process in our elementary schools while continuing to operate in the red. Families don't want this and the kids definitely do not. I had both of my third graders put on their Christmas list as the number one item to not leave Ben Franklin. Christmas did not come early for them or anyone else affected by this move. Adding insult to injury, our kids are being denied the right to open enrollment to stay at their current school, yet the district will allow as many from Milwaukee and surrounding communities to be bussed in under title 220. We live in a area of the falls with VERY high property tax rates and therefore contribute a significant amount to fund local education. Yet, this money is not good enough and our kids get shuffled to a school in the district with the worst overall test scores and the highest truancy rate. All so the district can take in more state money for these bussed in kids and for a 4K program that is OPTIONAL. It's clear. This school board is not serving the good of our educational system LONG TERM. They're looking for short-sighted hand-outs to save a system that could and should have been fixed last year by shutting down two elementary schools. Thanks Mr. Marty for nothing this Christmas.
those authoritues who decided to approve and present redisrticting,which will result in a completely new school,new enviroment,new set of teachers for the students who are very comfertable with their school as home , they didnt even dare to ask those innocent kids tht ' would you like to be thrown out from ben franklin?
We think this is unacceptable! First, you are jeapardizing the continuity of kids that have been at BF since kindergarten and expected to be there through the 5th grade with their friends. You're doing this to these kids just so you can add K4? Put the new K4 kids at Riverside and leave the BF kids where they are. Additionally, my wife and I just made a major financial decision to build a new house because it was in the BF district and our son could keep going to school with his friends. We absolutely would not have built a new home in this economic climate if we would have known that our son would be moved to Riverside. We will fight this all the way and do whatever necessary to keep our son at with his friends!