Public needs input toward decision

To the editor:
The below message is what I have sent to superintendent  Tim Long and the Jay School Board members.
I am voicing my opinion and suggestions about the school plan that was made public in The Commercial Review on Saturday.
This is an important issue facing our county. I think we all should be made aware of the possible plans, and be able to make suggestions of our own. As a tax payer and concerned citizen I feel I need to be made a part of this decision by having facts, input and finally by having a vote.
If the plans were put on an election ballot as a referendum that would give the citizens of Jay County a fair choice in this important decision.
We need to make good informed choices about the future of our county, communities and children.
My suggestion is to consolidate all of Portland’s schools into East Jay and bus middle school kids to West Jay. They could put sixth grade back in elementary schools.
I think that would be better than putting eighth grade in high school.
Just an idea.
I am also curious about Bloomfield’s enrollment. That was not mentioned as the Portland elementary schools enrollment was not mentioned either. I also fail to see where 27 classrooms in the high school are unused. When I take students out to work with them we have to go to the commons or IMC for lack of an empty room.
The above was my first reaction. This is what I propose now that I have thought about the situation.
I think that the public should be made aware of the numbers as far as available use of each school in the corporation and the enrollment of each school. Publicize the current options and be open to more suggestions. This is such a big issue and affects out communities so much.
I think the viable plans should then be placed on the ballot as a referendum for vote by the people at election time.
There are a lot of ways to cut money outflow and I am not sure how much would be saved by owning empty buildings that still have to be heated enough to prevent damage.
I am aware that we have added more administrators to oversee the teachers and have cut the number of teachers. Perhaps with the declining enrollment and teachers we need to look at cutting the number of administrators and teacher evaluators.
Also what will happen to all of the preschools we have added in the past few years? What is the plan for all the special ed classrooms?
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you decide to give the public knowledge to make wise decisions that help the school corporation and our communities.
Donna Revolt
Dunkirk