[Winona] Moving Community Education to WK is a Dumb Idea

[Paul Double]

Now that the decision to shut down Lincoln has been made the real test of intelligent, not political, will be to relocate the Community Education programs to another location.  Decreasing the cost and quality effectiveness of 3 or 4 section schools in not a move in the right direction.    The two best, cost effective and most valuable elementary schools are Jefferson and WK and logic, not politics,  would support the idea that filling them to their potential should be the first choice if this entire exercise is to improve education and reduce costs.  If classroom teachers make the difference, as most would believe, then where they teach is of little importance.  The benefits of Jefferson and WK when filled to design capacity put more not less resources in the classroom.  The saving and benefits of larger section schools in providing support services is substantial and should not be downplayed.    The growth trends for Winona are not in the central city.  The closing of Dakota puts that school population at WK unless someone is in love with busing or want to move away from the neighborhood concept since WK is now their new neighborhood.  If Community Education is relocated to WK the idea of relocating them again when the housing developments up Highway 43, East Burns and 61 South requires the space and sections that the WK campus can support neither reinforces the idea of neighborhood schools or cost effective long term thinking.   The WAPS board needs to remember that elementary school attendance is but 4-5 years of the educational process.  Yes those are important years but location should not be confused with quality.  Our three sons, all went to WK, and received the solid foundation any parent would expect from quality teaching and support staff.  It also provided them with great interaction skills which also proved to be an important asset in their middle school, senior high and college years.   Paul Double   PS Renting space for administration to a downtown, “parking starved location” is dumb.  Using the Big “O” and moving Alternative Education to the high school out buildings or to the Technical College makes more “cents.”