School Board President Susan Gibson Voices Support to Keep Community Schools

"We're not just talking about the academics...but the community that loops beyond the school day"

At the November Business and Operational Support Committee meeting, School Board president Susan Gibson shared her views on why community schools are so important, and how she wants to see how the district can keep Linden and Kutz open.

We're so happy that Susan feels the same way that her community does.

Here's some of what she said:

"I relocated within the district to be in a small school. Parents have chosen to live within a certain portion of the district because they were looking for a certain experience."

We're not just talking about the academics...but the experience we have in those schools and those communities is a community that loops beyond the school day. My kids walk up to Doyle and see all of their friends that they go to Doyle with. That would be lost for the Linden and Kutz parents. That Saturday experience of 'I'm bored, go up and play on the playground with your friends from school' that intangible experience would be lost. 

We really need to take a minute to think about that quality. It's a 30m price tag, in the differences. 

If youre looking at... getting new buildings in the same place and giving us the same community feel... I really resonate with that path forward. I want to see more information about what that financial path looks like before making a final decision.

If cost didnt matter, I would have no qualms about building new schools, in those footprints, and keeping community schools in place. I want to know if that is the path forward that we do it in a fiscally responsible way."