Superintendent Kennedy Launches a Space-Centered Campaign

[XLFD]

Perhaps I need more space in my brain to appreciate the concepts I just can't seem to understand with the Ludington Area School District (LASD) facilities plans.  On May 31st, about 40 people attended a meeting designed to introduce to the public the LASD's designs on bringing the schools in the district up to date so the students could engage in "21st Century Learning".   After reading the recap in the local paper, I think I'm inclined to go back to the twentieth century, when costs were reasonable and our students were among the smartest in the world.

As you read the recap provided, do so critically by looking at the plans suggested, looking at how its presented at the meeting and in the article, looking at who is presenting the material, and looking at the reasons for these changes.  

With that read, let's take a look over what was presented and certain themes:

1) LASD needs bigger classrooms:  Superintendent Kennedy says classrooms need to expand from 700 sq. ft. to the 900-1000 sq ft. range.  I knew childhood obesity was bad, but do we really need to increase classroom size by over 40% to accommodate them?   Maybe the size increase needs to accommodate more students per classroom.  Not likely, student enrollment at LASD at the turn of the 21st century was around 2700, since then the numbers have been in a decreasing pattern and was down under 2200 in 2016.  

The LASD has lost around 20% of their enrollment without any indication of future growth, the number of students per classroom has also declined over that period, rising temporarily due to the closure of South Hamlin Elementary.  Every LASD student has roughly 15-20% more space than they did a generation ago simply because of decreased enrollment.  

I've thoroughly reviewed the website for 21st Century Learning, and 'classroom space' is not an issue they cover.  The four essential rules of 21st Century learning have nothing dependent on the physical size of a classroom, yet we are told that we must increase the size of all classrooms by 40%, a very costly proposition considering that the schools must expand in size and radically change their current structure in order to accomplish that goal.

2) The Five Alternatives:  Let's review what these are in terms of their costs and how the 'experts present them, the experts being Superintendent Kennedy, along with Jeff Hoag of Holland's GMB Architecture and Dan LaMore of GR's Christman Construction, the prospective contractors who set the numbers (the 2nd alternative is stated twice in the article):

1) $55 million:  scratching the surface to keep things operational.  Kennedy says this option just doesn't cut it and is not what the process is about.  Lamore says it keeps students warm, safe and dry, but does not move the LASD into this century.  

2) $97 million:  involves a new lower elementary building, renovating all upper elementary buildings.  Would adopt many 21st CL standards.

3) $110 million:  switching the existing middle/high school complex to an elementary (pre K- 5th) school, constructing a new complex for post-5th graders, along with a new transportation center.

4) $136 million:  involves a new lower and a new upper elementary building, new transportation and athletic facilities, and renovating the existing middle/high school

5) $160 million:  involves all new buildings, with the new middle/high school relocated to the school forest

Obviously, a superintendent would love to be remembered for bringing in all new buildings and high-end architect and construction executives would be wanting to sell the public on the last option.  I think all options are too divorced from the reality of affordability to the LASD.  I choose the option of getting consultants that will not be tainted with the conflicts that each of the three presenters have in this situation, ones that are firmly entrenched in reality and wish not to put the LASD firmly into the red for the rest of the 21st Century and beyond.

3)  Public Comment:  Even though there is about twenty column inches dealing with 'public comment' did you notice that the full length was a soliloquy by Jason Kennedy.  So while Kennedy mentions that the amount of people that showed up was great and provided feedback and input, the newspaper only reported what he said.  This is typical of what happens with propaganda pieces.

The LASD has refused to shine light on the future direction of their facilities and their goal of 21st Century learning in their website or anywhere else I can find.  Rather, it is occasionally floated in the COLDNews as a process of determining the future of the LASD with little or no explanation.  The superintendent tells us on his page that the technology bond permits every student a 21st century education in connection with our global community, but that's about it.  

 

But if our students are already getting 21st century education at their fingertips, why does the physical grounds of their school have to change as dramatically as envisioned, with bigger classroom spaces and all new facilities?  A new $2 million fire station being put in their backyard seems like a bargain in comparison.

[stump]

  Seems to me , Kennedy is talking out of both sides of his mouth. Rooms to small, Library to big. Every thing you have or need to know is available in you cell phone. I say line up the chairs pull out the phone , teacher ask the questions and hope your battery doesn't go dead. But in recent studies , they say standing is better for you than setting, Yep, get rid of the chairs, put more students in the room, hope the ventilation doesn't break down.  Taxes are way to high already, we won't be able to sell our houses if this goes through.

[Brad]

If the $55mil can not improve education, then why do anything?  They are "...dry, safe, and warm".

If they build new schools to get the 40% bigger class rooms, then will they improve the kid's education by 40%?

If education doesn't improve with new schools, then they will move back to old schools or give a refund on taxes?

[XLFD]

You have to ask yourself a question about what interest does a high-end architect from Holland, a high-end contractor from GR, and a superintendent in his first year of duty who according to county and city assessing records owns no land in Mason County, have for keeping the costs of this project low?  I am mindful of a Donald Trump story about the new embassy in Jerusalem:  

"So they walk up to my desk and they give me this beautiful folder and I'm supposed to sign. I said, 'What is this?' And I'm half signed. He said, 'Sir, we are building an embassy in Jerusalem, sir.' I said, 'How much?' " "They said -- I kid you not -- they said, 'Sir, $1 billion,' " he said.
According to his recollection, Trump immediately stopped signing the proposal and called his ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, who said that rather than building the embassy on a new site, he could renovate a building already owned by the US, and do it for just $150,000.
"I said, 'David, you can do that for $150,000. ... You know what, spend $200,000-$300,000 -- that's OK too,' " Trump said.

The State Department confirmed later that the cost of the initial modifications that were made to the interim site, allowing it to open was under $400,000, roughly $999,600,000 less than the original cost.  We don't need three outsiders with conflicting interests making decisions that will put us nearly $200,000,000 in debt, when we could have much better solutions at better costs, as former real estate developer and current President Trump illustrated.  

[AQUAMAN]

Can anyone imagine, after all the infrastructure increased taxes we now face, how much more in taxes we will face if any phases of these improvements is adopted??? The average taxpayer is going to have to chew off a huge chunk of their earnings for all of this, and bleed to a lower living level for sure. Not to mention, Kennedy just very briefly mentions safety in the schools, which I believe should be leading the way for kids, not just casually spoken of. And where is Kennedy residing now, Scottville or Custer? He brings in his Big City ideas here, and doesn't know the average income here is much much less per person, unlike many of the school personnel. May also encourage many here now to move on to avoid these high taxes and costs of living, and others too that are on fixed incomes of retirement, just too much.

[Freedom Seeker]

Yes .. a terrible thought! Makes you wonder if the Treasurer saw it coming and blew dodge. And City manager tried, and soon to be ex-councilor Krauch who has his house FSBO now. Meanwhile city manager/council approved blowing $13k to assess job descriptions? Crazy spending. The young generation hasn't learned to save and get out of debt. Interesting reading Financial committee minutes--er--"notes" just posted this week

[XLFD]

Arrgh, they be pirates raiding that tharr Finance Committee.  

First, Cap'n Bob "Man-eater" Manglitz, chief skipper of the SS Badger, and his First Mate, Pat "Patches" McCarthy try to shake a $2.5 million loan from the City of Ludington.  

Not to be outdone Marina Board President Fred "Hacker" Hackert extends his right hook out to the City in order to snag $54,000 and the costs of city marina dock repairs from their treasure chests.  

Buccaneers, you guys represent a private business trying to improve your own property and an enterprise fund, respectively, and you want the City to extend you credit?!  Seriously.

This is the same accursed city who have dumped millions of gallons of raw sewage (both voluntarily and involuntarily) and one of their local streets into the PM Bayou and won't spend a cent to clean it up, even when numerous businesses depend on that body of water for their private marinas.  

That the Finance Committee members didn't laugh these freeloaders acting like freebooters out of the meeting is appalling to me.

[Freedom Seeker]

Wow! Yes, and Andrea Large proposing to "invest" cemetery perpetual care fund with the community foundation (and she wasn't at the meeting--how did that go down? At least someone, Shay? said that they realize the city is reaching its' debt ceiling (and we are on a relative economic high now ... Wait until the economy takes a hit again, the beggars, the "investors," and the debt collectors will be on the rise).

[AQUAMAN]

The only Jason Kennedy I see in the phone book is in Twin Lake, not Ludville.

[XLFD]

A source has informed me that Kennedy himself has told them that he's specifically here to do a house cleaning, with implications that he may move on once the necessary work is done.  The lack of a permanent residence in the county after being here over a year would seem to indicate the same thing. 

Being the main force behind the Promise Zone and these ambitious plans for LASD might be part of those chores-- the fallout from either one going horribly wrong could end a career.  If he's already gone and doing the same stuff for other districts, he's relatively safe.

[Brad]

Wow.

Speechless.

[Freedom Seeker]

Very good study, X showing the student enrollment decline in Ludington and latest 21st Century studies in classroom needs. Why would such improvements be needed at this time? Focusing on the issue of new school debt in conjunction with city infrastructure debt at the same time, how can the Ludington taxpayer bear these debts? Even the luckiest, risky cemetery perpetual care investment with the community foundation will only be a drop in the big lake to pay off these combined debts.

[XLFD]

Hopefully the school will act transparently and respond willfully and completely to a three part FOIA request I sent them concerning the genesis and specifics of this facility plan.  I think we would all love to see the best learning facility available for our crumb-crunching future adults in the area, however, I would like to see a comprehensive plan presented and available to all on the LASD's website and an actual dialog between school officials and an informed public.  The public went into this last meeting clueless; how can you generate a real discussion when you're only given a few alternatives that all seem too expensive and expansive?