BSVDWatch.org

Finally, through the bulldog efforts of S.O.S. Boulder Valley and numerous citizens still asking BVSD the reasoning behind the closures of Mapleton and Washington schools, Jean Paxton has asked for, and since received, a response from BVSD about the closures. Jean sent a "Request for Information" form to Chris King December 10th , 2007, and received a reply January 3rd, 2008, the respondents being Glen Segrue and Bill Sutter.

Click on this link to download and read the reply from BVSD. We also have a document that S.O.S. Boulder Valley sent out at the time of the closings, refuting much of the public reasoning BVSD had for the closures. Click here to read their statement on why BVSD should have kept the schools open.  BVSDWatch.org supports the efforts of S.O.S. and we hope this is first of many questions BVSD board members will be asking about the closures. We feel the reply from BVSD this month has some important holes and non-truths in it and we recommend you read for yourself.

Some comments from BVSDWatch.org members after reading the BVSD report:

     • Closure decisions were based solely on the BVSD staff assumption that enrollment was declining. Enrollment has actually increased.

     • This report says that the closure decision was not made on projections of enrollment for any single neighborhood but instead on the determination that Mapleton and Washington did not have the "benefit" of full-time principals and other specialists. This is re-writing history. This issue was never raised by staff. Any parent with kids at Mapleton or Washington will tell you that part-time specialists worked well and were never so problematic that the schools should be closed.

      • We find it interesting that BVSD staff still states that Foothills, Flatirons and Whittier can take the overflow from the closures of Washington and Mapleton. Whittier has a lengthy waiting list and has had one for years. Foothills has had and still does have portables, and there was a very  well attended meeting at Flatirons last week to address the large class sizes.

If you have questions about the report please contact your BVSD representative from the link to the left.