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Wed, Oct 03 2012 09:39:58

Gilbert Public School Board discusses school closure

In a packed room of parents and students Tuesday night the school board OK'd closing Gilbert Junior High. Reporter Hayley Ringle live-tweeted at the meeting.

  1. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Final decision: close #GJHS in 14-15. Form transition committee to determine best use of both campuses for 13-14. Bring back rec. Jan. 8.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 23:41:41
  2. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    More questions being asked and ideas thrown out. Hundreds still waiting for decision.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 23:03:35
  3. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Burk suggesting open another GCA on GJHS campus.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 22:47:40
  4. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Burk seconded. Helen Hollands has concerns of parameters of transition team.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 22:34:49
  5. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Board member Blake Sacha made motion to move closure of #gilbert JHS to 14-15 yr & transition team would decide where kids will move in Jan.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 22:31:26
  6. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Burk asked to form committee of parents from each affected school, come back in Jan. & make decision then. Motion died. No second.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 22:24:48
  7. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Motion died and back to board discussion.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 22:14:13
  8. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Board member Staci Burk wants to move to divide rec and consider separately closing of #Gilbert JHS and expanding GCA. Lots of applause.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 22:13:07
  9. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #Gilbert Parents now only getting one minute to speak. They are not happy.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 21:50:03
  10. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #gilbert JHS dad Rob Guderian: wants board to delay decision. Has 7th grade daughter & doesn't want her to move.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 21:28:50
  11. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #GCA mom Kathy Almeida: Change is necessary for growth of community. Don't need to lose any more $. Support decision to expand GCA.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 21:27:16
  12. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #Gilbert JHS teacher & coach said athletic fields can't handle HS sports. Got choked up. His kids never quit. They are good enough.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 21:11:58
  13. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #GCA dad: He was ill prepared at his public AZ school. His senior son got 1400 on SAT & has college scholarship, wants to b engineer
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 21:10:16
  14. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #Gilbert mom said community needs to be involved. "Find better solution w more transparent process." She's opposed to closing GJHS.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:59:07
  15. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #Karen Udall, former school board member, opposed to closing #Gilbert JHS. Wants 6 months to explore expansion. Lots of support in room.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:53:29
  16. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Standing ovation also for #Gilbert JHS principals. Public comment limited to an hour. Asked that comments not repeated. 3 minutes for each
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:45:50
  17. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #Gilbert JHS interim principal Kelly Hahn: small school. Biggest special Ed population. Lots of faculty at school 4 more than 10 yrs.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:44:36
  18. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Standing ovation for #GCA principal Jodie Dean: GCA not for everyone. It's another option.Our kids have will to succeed. Something unique.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:38:50
  19. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    No #Gilbert JHS staff will lose job if school closes, said Allison & Jeff Filloon, oversees HR
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:30:30
  20. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #ShaneMcCord, assistant super., will establish transition teams 4 #Gilbert students & parents impacted.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:26:28
  21. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Allison: #Mesquite, #Greenfield, #Highland JHS will not be over capacity if close #Gilbert JHS. Class sizes will remain 27:1.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:23:59
  22. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #Allison: 52 out of district kids on #GCA wait list. Expansion will bring those kids into district.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:20:30
  23. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Allison: No costs planned next yr to upgrade #Gilbert JH. Renovated 8 yes ago. In future, expect upgraded science labs & add pking lot 4 HS
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:18:03
  24. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    Allison: Pros of leaving #Mesquite JHS as the West JH, include location, quality swimming pool, lower student decline, larger athletic field
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:11:00
  25. hayleyringle
    Hayley Ringle@hayleyringle
    #gilbert JHS has 650 kids. Is smallest jh in district.
    Tue, Oct 02 2012 20:04:50

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