Gilly's New School

A few months ago, we found out that the school Chris & Gilly attend this year was axed in the 2009/10 school budget. They are closing it down, rerouting the kids to other area schools (there are currently 4 small elementary schools in town- they are all tiny, if they could build a big one, they could close down 4 schools, but they don't have the money to build one), and using the building for day care, which generates them money.

Did I mention that this is a fairly small community? I'm actually pretty shocked that they have 4 elementary schools, but the schools are very small, as well. The building that is closing currently only houses 2 classes for each grade, 4 for Kindergarten (once you factor in morning K, and afternoon K), grades K-4th. And, because it's so small, they have to have the 3rd and 4th graders in portable classrooms outside.

The main building has a small gym/auditorium/cafeteria, 2 Kindergarten rooms, 2 1st grade rooms, 2 2nd grade rooms, 1 bathroom for boys, 1 bathroom for girls (though, the classrooms are paired in sets of 2 with a bathroom between them, so really, the bathrooms are only for the 3rd & 4th graders), plus 1 room for computers, 1 room for spanish/music, a teachers lounge, and a tiny library.

If I could win the lotto, I would donate money just to have them build 1 large elementary building.

Last week, we got a letter in the mail from the school board giving us information on a school board meeting tonight, and telling us what to do if we want a specific school for Gillian. Chris will be at the middle school next year, so for him, it's not a big deal.

Along with the letter was a map showing how the schools are being split up. The nearest school is the one 2 blocks away, which is closing. The next closest is about 12 blocks away, with another one about 14 blocks away in a different direction. Then, lastly, is the one out in the country, which used to service almost exclusively "country" kids- the kids who lived outside of the town.

I figured we'd be at one of the two in town. Nope. We are literally the cut off point for in town schooling next year. If I lived on the other side of the street, she would be going to the school about 14 blocks away. I can ask for her to go to that school, but in doing so, I have to self transport.

That wouldn't be a bad thing, except in the winter when a car breaks down, like right now. It's not close enough to walk back and forth every day, but this is one way they are cutting the busing budget. There's already been a motion on the table to cut busing even further, so that all kids within 1 mile of the Elementary schools have to walk. Right now, it's .50 miles. For the middle school, it would be upped to 1.25 miles, and for the high school, 2 miles. We are also the cut off for the middle school, as we live .8 miles away from it.

I would much prefer Gillian were in town, and while I know we're going to be getting the van fixed up a bit, and getting me a car, and Nick a replacement, so that we'll have 3 vehicles, I can't say with all certanty that we won't get stuck at some point, either, and 14 (ish- I'm estimating, it could be closer, could be further) blocks is a long walk for an 8 year old in the winter with her mom.

Ok, I did some Mapquesting, since I didn't know -exactly- where the new school is. It's actually much closer to town. Not walking distance, as it's over 2 miles away, but it's just barely outside of the town limits.

The school I think is closest is 1.01 miles away- about 9 city blocks on Mapquest. The second school is 1.02 miles, so almost exactly the same distance. If I could get Gilly riding a 2 wheeler bike this summer, we could both ride our bikes for pretty much all of late Summer, most of Fall, most of Spring, and all of early Summer.  That school is also 9 blocks away.

I think I might look into getting her in town. One more thing, though, is that I know the closer the school is, the more likely I am to help out. Last year, Chris and Gilly's school was over 8 miles away, and a 15+ minute drive, which involved the highway. I almost never went in and volunteered, because I hated the drive.

2 miles isn't bad, though, I guess. The busing would be nice, but at the same time, I know what Chris was like when he was younger, and I hated putting him on the bus because I knew he'd get into trouble. Ugh. Gilly is an undiagnosed ADHD child, also unmedicated. We're going as long as we can before we look into doing that. I don't medicate unless the behavior starts to restrict education.

What would you do? Drive & Walk to the closer schools, or bus to the school further away?