Please continue your support!Write letters to the editor of local media and to members of the Board of Education TODAY!!!
SIGN THE PETITION TODAY!! Purpose:Students, Alumni, Faculty, and Parents of Sexton High School, along with the Westside Neighborhood Association, need your support as we convince members of the Lansing Board of Education to Right-size the district in a fiscally responsible manner.
District Administration has cited decreasing enrollment, budgetary shortfalls and aging buildings as the reasons for the condensed timeframe. Based on three reports commissioned by the BOE since 2002, data supports not only delaying the decision past this month, but also choosing to keep Sexton High School open as the best option in any right-sizing plan for the district. One in which we believe does not necessitate closing Sexton. This data-based conclusion stems from the Lansing School District's own information. Lansing's Mayor Virg Benero has taken bold steps to invigorate downtown and fund a Promise Zone for the students of the Lansing School District. His plan is indicative of the need to take creative action in addressing our community's needs. Our school board needs to do the same. Yet they must first have the proprer administrative leadership in place to move forward. Please find much of the right-sizing data and other information on this site, as well as, ways in which you can help. Letter of support from the Westside Neighborhood Association | HOW CAN YOU HELP?Sign the Online PetitionSOS Petition Hard CopyPlease feel free to download and distribute to supporters who want to sign. Signed hard-copy petitions can be dropped off to Steve Manchester at his home at 514 Westmoreland, or he can pick them up if you call or text him with a location: 517-599-0492.
Write Letters to the Board of Education and the media.Letters should include a data-based approach as highlighted in the Talking Points. Please find two sample templates below.
Talking Points1. The District has not made its' case to the voting public to decide
ona right-sizing plan that includes closing either Eastern or Sexton HS in this academic year. 2. The District is in the process of hiring a new superintendent, with three new Board members freshly appointed in January 2012. 3. The BOE has commissioned four studies of the feasibility of reorganizing, redistricting, or right-sizing the Lansing School District since 2002. The recommendation to right-size has been previously proposed, as recently as 2008. 4. The BOE has not demonstrated the cohesiveness, boldness or transparency needed to responsibly navigate this process without a hired superintendent in place. 5. The condition of the existing facility at Sexton is much better from a life cycle cost value. The level of investment required to secure the services of the facility over the next 20 years is much less at Sexton than at Eastern. Given the age of the facility, the cost to ensure Eastern is functional for the next 20 years would be an irresponsible investment as you determined with the demolition of the former Pattengill Jr. High of similar vintage and condition. 6. The Capacity of Sexton is greater than Eastern, and the ability to expand capacity in the future would be much easier at Sexton than at Eastern. 7. The prior investment in the athletic facilities and ability to meet the current and future needs of athletic programs is more easily met at Sexton. 8. Current academic success rate at Sexton exceeds that of Eastern (although the performance of both schools is below an acceptable standard and student retention must be a requirement of any solution). 9. The exit strategy for Eastern has much more financial opportunity for LSD given the proximity of Sparrow and their potential growth over the next 20 years. 10. The elimination of the Verlinden plant and Sexton HS in the same neighborhood would have an inordinate negative effect on the neighborhoods in the surrounding areas. 11. Historic tax credits, redevelopment initiatives, and other public private partnerships are tools that make the adaptive reuse of the Eastern Campus a very feasible initiative that enhances the districts exit strategy for the school over and above that for a vacant Sexton HS. Next Steps: 1. Distribute Press Release. 2. Finish petition language. 3. Write letters to the BOE and Letters to the editor using talking points. 4. Determine Student and Parent speaker, by name and confirmation. 5. Assemble for the Press Conference at 10:00 a.m. 6. Determine our joint profile and message for the Thursday BOE meeting. |
LSD Facilities and Enrollment Information 2011-2012
Please download the file below.
preliminary_facilities_and_enrollment_information_2011-2012_set_11.pdf | |
File Size: | 666 kb |
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