The following is the text of an electronic memo sent to all Erie School District employees from Superintendent Jay Badams on February 17...
From: Jay Badams
To: All Employees
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 11:13 AM
Subject: Feasibility Study Town Hall Invitation: February 22
Dear Colleagues:
As you are all aware, the district has been involved in a strategic planning process over the past year to carefully consider how we can optimize our facilities and resources to increase efficiency and ensure educational equity — equity across the school district and parity with our neighbors across the region and throughout the state.
While there is still a lot of work to be done, I am excited about this process and the positive outcomes it will generate. This is truly a defining moment in our school system and the decisions we make together as a result of this process will help shape public education — for the better — in the City of Erie for generations to come.
I want to invite you to a staff and community town hall presentation I am hosting on Wednesday, February 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the H.O. Hirt Auditorium at the Blasco Memorial Library.
Vern McKissick, from McKissick Associates in Harrisburg, will be presenting the results of a comprehensive review of our facilities and an examination of how they will best be able to serve the educational needs of our students in the future. Mr. McKissick will present detailed insight on:
- the condition, capacity, and utilization of district buildings;
- school locations relative to student population;
- enrollment and population trends/projections;
- attendance boundaries; and more.
Please understand that the data Mr. McKissick will share on Wednesday evening will help drive long-term strategic planning decisions and inform any future decisions or recommendations on optimization by the Board and administration. No decisions or proposals have been presented regarding possible school consolidation, only this detailed data and information from which the Board and administration can make decisions. No decisions will be made without consideration of educational goals, community input, and a detailed financial analysis.
As a member of our team, your awareness of and participation in each step is critical to this process and Wednesday night will be the first of many opportunities for you to be involved. If you are unable to attend, we will also be recording and airing the presentation on our community access channel (8), making the presentation available online, and providing downloadable charts, graphs, and maps on our website after February 22.
I hope to see you Wednesday evening at the Hirt Auditorium. And, again, thank you for your continued commitment to our students.
Respectfully,
Jay Badams
