No easy answers, Conley says
September 9, 2013
The Boundary County School District 101 Board of Trustees will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the middle school library, and among the myriad issues they'll be called upon to consider is one that has no easy answer.

"This is not an easy one," Superintendent Dick Conley warned.

District-wide, there are 100 fewer students in local public schools, but those students happen to be clustered in schools and grades where teachers aren't, leading to student to teacher ratios not fitting district policy.

That there are 100 fewer students takes away $518,750 in state and federal funds the district has to work with this year. Much of the funds left are pre-allocated by the agencies from which they're obtained, meaning the district uses them as prescribed, or give them back.

Those funds are typically allocated to achieve national or state educational goals, and bear little semblance to what's happening at home; in small schools in small states in rural counties, such as ours.

At Naples Elementary, a school with an admirable record of innovation and excellence, there are two combined classes, each with 28 students. Not only do their teachers have to teach a lot of students, they must also teach at two grade levels.

At Mount Hall, a class of 26 kindergartners are starting their educational career with a single teacher; 29 third graders returned to a packed class with one hard working but undoubtedly harried teacher.

Three migrant students there are expected to leave in October, further eroding the funding the district has to work with.

Valley View has a combined third/fourth class with only 13 students in each, which is okay ... but moving the third graders back to a single class would give a class of 27; the fourth graders go to a classroom of 28 students.

The math is so complicated even Mr. Saboe would be hard pressed to explain, and no one on the school board is Mr. Saboe.

Conley sent each board member a quick review of options to consider today and a promise to explain more at Tuesday's meeting, and none are appealing.

"This is not an easy one."

All interested are encouraged to attend; 6 p.m., middle school library, constructive ideas welcome.

But please, no finger pointing or laying of blame, no conjuring funds over which there can be no argument ... what is, is, despite all rumors or assertions to the contrary.

The decisions are hard, and they weigh heavy.