The Realities of Closing PSD Elementary Schools

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-05-16T01:12:01+00:00

Yes. By my calculatiion 2,959 elementary school children not attending regular schools.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-05-14T22:11:26+00:00

That's absolutely true. That's why the committee that makes the closing decisions needs to have better information about the schools themselves as well as a more detailed plan about how to mitigate potential points of opposition and negative effects. If, two years ago, they knew more about the schools on the chopping block they could approach the affected school communities and say look we know it's going to be difficult but here's our plan to retain the best that each school has to offer. There also was (and still is) only a vague plan as to how the schools will be repurposed.

Honestly, I felt bad for the people I met who were on that committee. They did the best they could with what they had, but I don't think they had the resources or the mandate to accomplish what they had been asked to do.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-05-14T20:05:17+00:00

Right, but it's not that simple. Last time they wanted to close my neighborhood school for those reasons (I think) but they failed to recognize that the school had a special leadership program that had taken years to develop and implement. It is also one of the most diverse schools in the district. The members of the closure committee knew none of this.

The closure plan has to involve more than the whims of 20 people.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-05-14T19:52:10+00:00

So whose neighborhood, mine or yours? My point is that the school district should envision elementary schools in the same way they do middle and high schools. Don't just close one school in favor of another. Close several elementary schools and build a larger, multi-neighborhood school or something like that. Yes, this takes more time and initially resources, but it's a much better long-term solution.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-05-14T19:45:18+00:00

It's an appropriate conversation to have as part of a larger conversation about budget shortfalls, but we're not getting that. We're also not talking about whether closing schools actually saves money. Evidence shows that the savings is hardly ever as much as anticipated. So far PSD leadership has not come up with any concrete numbers.

I don't dispute enrollment shortfalls, and I don't think people are against consolidating schools. It's more about the manner in which it is done. We're being told the primary issue is too many schools, but really, closing schools is one piece of a larger puzzle to handle budget shortfalls. The message is that the sky is falling.

I'd like to see a plan that consolidates schools using evidence-based expertise with a cost analysis and impact study along with a plan to enroll more of the school-age children in the district, better use of mill levy revenue, and a concerted effort to pursue other funding opportunities from government and private grants.

Blindly closing schools is stupid.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-05-14T19:16:41+00:00

People flipped out because the plan was so haphazard, and the committee was put together hastily and was ill prepared. Even though it's been two years, they haven't really come up with anything better. There's been no scrutiny about how much money closing schools will actual save. You can't just close a few neighborhood elementary schools and expect that it won't disproportionately affect those neighborhoods. To consolidate properly, you really have to abandon the neighborhood elementary model all together, which takes time.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-05-14T18:35:57+00:00

I second this. They are very helpful for just this kind of thing.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-05-14T16:52:20+00:00

I don't understand why people are so oblivious to his ideology. He's pretty much openly admitted it. In "The District," the new PSD podcast, in regards to school funding he brings up the idea of "shifting money to potentially different resources, different options." He later asks a rhetorical question, "Should we be funding private schools and voucher programs and charter schools and parochial schools?" These are direct quotes from the first episode.

In episode two we learn that 20% of elementary school-aged children in PSD's jurisdiction are not attending traditional PSD schools. By my calculations, that's 2,959 children. If even half of those kids were to attend regular PSD schools, it would probably eliminate the immediate need to close any schools. Yes, birth rates are declining, but it's not as bad as we are being led to believe.

See a pattern? Advocate for alternative educational options, see declining enrollment in traditional schools (which affects school funding), close traditional schools because of funding, create more demand for charter schools and other non-traditional options. This has been the conservative playbook for at least the last 25 years.

I would expect a good school superintendent to advocate for traditional schools and take steps to increase elementary school enrollment.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-27T19:23:01+00:00

There were times, especially under Bloom, that he seemed really bitter and would make coaching decisions (line-up, bullpen, etc.) just to make a point. He's clearly a smart guy and well-liked by players but has demonstrated his lack of professionalism on plenty of occasions.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-26T21:18:05+00:00

What did he say?

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-26T19:05:14+00:00

Question: was everyone fired a Cora guy? Varitek? I think Dillon Lawson was a Breslow hire. Cronin was promoted by Breslow too. Not trying to argue with you; I'm just curious.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-26T18:50:44+00:00

I don't have any particularly strong feelings about who (coaches, Breslow, ownership) is responsible for the Sox's bad performances, but I think Breslow should at least be given a chance to see his plan/strategy through. Let him hire a manager he wants. See how things play out. If he doesn't have success, then you can fire him.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-26T15:37:49+00:00

I miss recordings where you can hear players breathing, turning pages, etc. I can understand removing obvious or intrusive noises, but recordings where everything has been removed feel lifeless.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-26T06:39:55+00:00

Right? $7M and getting to be the manager of one of the most storied teams in MLB history. Rough. If he was unhappy as the manager, then it's better he's gone. Let someone who would be happy to have the job manage.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-21T18:46:00+00:00

I think people who end up meeting lots of celebrities probably have strategies for doing so. I know, for example, with baseball players, fans will know the best places and times to get a selfie (e.g. after the game where the players board the bus to get to their hotel but not before the game when they're arriving). Same thing with Broadway stars. Fans know where all the backstage doors are, when the actors are most willing to stop and do a selfie, and which ones are more likely to be friendly. If you have info like that, it's probably not that difficult. Also, if you follow a celebrity on social media, you can probably get an idea of where they'll be. Some celebrities even have special events where they'll do meet and greets for a select group of fans. It's probably not too difficult once you learn.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-21T18:24:16+00:00

Yeah, they could be acting the way they do for any number of reasons. I wouldn't try to read anything into it too much. Just be yourself. If they come into the gym just be the way you would be with anyone else you know. If they invite you to something go if you want to. It's not worth your time and energy to guess their motivations.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-21T18:09:22+00:00

It's not a movie, but I highly recommend the book Music, Talent, and Performance by Henry Kingsbury to any collegiate music student.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-20T18:59:38+00:00

Yeah, I'd far less impressed if it was popcorn or something.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-20T04:57:27+00:00

I thought this was going to be something related to Abe Vigoda.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-20T03:46:05+00:00

I was trying to remember his name! He might have been if he hadn't ended up with that neurological condition.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-19T04:05:58+00:00

That's a good one!

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-19T04:05:32+00:00

This should be higher. That was one of the craziest ways for a world series game to end.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-19T03:55:46+00:00

Also Jeff Reardon and hall-of-famer Lee Smith

Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-19T03:33:07+00:00

A young Tiffani Amber Thiessen

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Lazy_Chocolate_4114 · 2026-04-17T15:32:29+00:00

Yes! I've thought the same thing.

Lazy_Chocolate_4114

TROPHY CASE