Ask the experts
Published 10:27 pm Saturday, April 7, 2007
By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Niles' seniors have a new information resource. "Breakfast with the Experts" promises to deliver a wealth of information, according to Kathryn Ender, Greater Niles Senior Center Executive Director.
The initial program Thursday featured Gloria Cooper, Judy Truesdell and Todd Wakevainen as the first speakers. They presented information on the proposed school bond issues voters in the area school districts will decide upon May 8.
"Breakfast with the Experts" is being held each Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Niles Senior Citizen Center at 1109 Bell Road, Niles.
As coordinators of the "Help Our Kids Soar" committee, the trio's message was clear. Niles' schools are in big trouble. The May election is vital in deciding their future.
"This is a person to person campaign designed to be exactly what the people have waited to support," Cooper said.
A random survey of all voters who went to the polls in the last election was taken following the most recent school bond proposal's defeat. Frustrated citizens and officials wanted to find out exactly what voters would support.
Niles voters were clear on their priorities, according to the presenters. Safety. Security. Updated Technology. Equal facilities for all elementary students.
"The need is great. The time is now. Following the last election we also surveyed to find out what you didn't want. What we learned was simple. You said it was too much money. You didn't want to build a new high school, and it was too much money," Truesdell said.
The "Help Our Kids Soar" committee believes failing to pass a millage in support of Niles schools again will be disastrous. The speakers brought in other experts to help make their case.
Barbara Gerrard, Principal at Howard School told the seniors about building problems that were getting worse. The school was recently designated a Blue Ribbon School.
"Howard is a Blue Ribbon school and we are proud of that. I love Howard. It is a great place to be, but it is falling apart," she said.
She spoke about snakes coming into administrative offices and a door that had to be cut out of the wall when it shut and would not reopen. There are tremendous plumbing problems.
The school got equipment in so that their students could connect to the world through video conferencing. Talks with authors of books the children read were planned. Programs had to be cancelled because there was no power from the Niles pipeline for Internet service. Broadband service is desperately needed according to educators.
All teachers' work is meant to be online to connect with the Berrien County Intermediate School District, but the power is just not there, Gerrard said.
"It is like if you try to put the batter for a double layer cake into a single layer cake pan. It is just too much for the pan," Wakevainen said.
"Every time we make even small repairs it comes from the general fund. It comes out of money meant for texts and education materials. We only have one bathroom for 80 people. It doesn't work," Gerrard said.
"Break the spell. Vote yes," Cooper said.
Realtors have told the committee that having a blue ribbon school in a community should be a real boon to a community. Parents shopping for real estate want the best education system for their children.
They say that after a drive by the Howard school buildings, they drive off.
"School districts drive prices real estate agents tell us. They drive property values. If schools are seen as inferior, the property values drop and schools continue to decay," Wakevainen said.
The technology is extremely outdated according to the committee. They say it is not acceptable not to be totally computerized – not only for the students, but for the teachers and administration as well.
Parents also want to be able to access their children's records on line. They want to see updates on progress," Gerrard said.
Safety is increasingly an issue as the committee reports more and more parents are driving and picking their children up at school. The traffic created makes for a very dangerous situation according to Cooper.
"I am amazed more kids aren't hurt," she said.
Other security issues brought up during the presentation included the need for security cameras, a card access system and moving elementary school offices closer to the main entrances.
"There should not be such a difference in the facilities from one elementary school to the next. They should have equal opportunities to learn and the same resources," said Wakevainen.
Help Our Kids Soar is holding a press conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 11. They will release detailed information on the school bond proposals the organization say reflect what people in the Niles and Brandywine school districts say they will support.
The next Breakfast with the Experts program at the Niles Senior Center will be Thursday, April 12 at 9 a.m. and will feature Dave Gunter, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, Mishawaka, Ind. His talk will center on "Things You Don't Know About Birds."