The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By JODY ZSCHECK Quill Correspondent
More than 60 residents of the newly KidsFirst (Colchester and Northwest) school district came out for the Board of Education meeting on April 21st to express their concern about the co-op agreement with LaHarpe School District.
The meeting was moved from the school library into the gym to accommodate a large crowd. Ten people stood to share their disappointment, shock, during the public comment portion of the meeting, with most of the speakers asking the Board to rescind the motion approving the cooperative agreement.
The agreement, which was reached on April 17, proposes that La Harpe will be the administrative agent for boys basketball, girls basketball, softball, and baseball. The KidsFirst district will be the administrative agent for football, cheering, boys track and girls track.
La Harpe students will be included in the vote on the colors and mascot that will be used in both the co-op and KidsFirst School District identity for grades K-12.
The main points of contention involve the amount of administrative control given to La Harpe School District, the voting arrangement for the KidsFirst District mascot and colors, and the deviation from the recommendations of the Consolidation Advisory Group (CAG) concerning the criteria on which sports should be considered for an extra-curricular cooperative. (CAG)'s extra-curricular" subcommittee proposal stated, "We recommend the new school board consider finances and participation numbers for each sport, and explore coops when/where necessary."
In response, KidsFirst Board Member Rick Battles said, a decision was based on participation surveys done in the schools (Colchester and Northwestern) and finances" travel time and its affect on study time was a major concern for Kim Hall. Hall stated that her main concern was about safety and the distance that some students will be to traveling to La Harpe for sports.
Some (of the students) live almost to Plymouth, Hall emphasized. Terry Paul stated that she was concerned that the arrangement may leave Colchester with no community identity.
Battles stated that-games and practices sites could be alternated between districts as is presently done in the cooperative agreement between La Harpe and Northwestern.
The role of administrative agent does not automatically entitle a district to be the sole location for the activity. Tricia Foxall spoke at length about her concerns. She stated that she voted for the consolidation in good faith, even though, in the beginning she thought it made more sense for Colchester to come into the Macomb Schools since they are only seven miles away Foxall added, that in the end, she believed the consolidation with Northwest would allow Colchester to retain some control in their schools. She said, "Many Colchester residents are against co-oping that many sports."
After speaking to the Board, Foxall presented the Board with a petition signed by approximately 160 Colchester residents and students. Connie Konkler added that La Harpe and Northwestern hadn't changed any of their sports agreements. She asked the Board where that would leave the Colchester kids. Colchester City Council member Ron stated that even though he has no-children or grandchildren in the schools, and he knew it would raise his taxes, he voted yes for both the consolidation and the bond issue" both times. "Clark told-the Board, "My trust has taken a beating. I put my trust in the candidates."
He stated that he is upset with some of the details of the co-op. La Harpe rejected us the first time (in the initial consolidation election.) "They don't incur any increase in taxes, but they do reap the benefits," he said.
Clark thanked the two-board members, Scott Vogler and Melvin Moore, who voted against the extra-curricular cooperative motion CAG member, DeBlois stated that the overwhelming votes for-consolidation demonstrated a trust in the Board by the public. DeBlois asked the board the swelling tide of dissatisfaction by either rescinding their extra-curricular cooperative motion or informing the public about their reasoning behind the decision.
After the public had their say, the Board moved back into the library for the remainder of the meeting. Board members made no comment during the public forum the extra curricular cooperative agreement was not discussed during the rest of the meeting. There was no indication whether the Board intends to revisit the issue in the future.