Ypsi by Choice

Mon, Feb 22, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.

Wow Sandy Castle, if you spent as much time brainstorming plausible cost saving solutions for the district as you do speculating the team individuals play for, we might make profit next year! Honestly, regardless of the motivation, you really believe that that these items possibly can not go hand and hand? From your statement: And you are merely speculating that the true intent is about laying off teachers instead of about saving money from running a building when this district (like others around us) can't afford to keep open buildings when there is space to combine Your right, we dont have the money to have everything we have every had in this district. I do not think that requesting more time on the close school button to drill down long term strategies that will have positive ramification on our community is a bad thing. Now, of course we will go right back to claiming we should in the next posts, that is the only possible solution..apparently, but if we have so many expects here alone, you mean to tell me that no other resourceful ideas are being generated????

Sandy Castle

Sun, Feb 21, 2010 : 8:20 p.m.

Hear, hear CountryKate! Ypsidad, you obviously are part of this group, as I quote from your own comment a few days ago that holds what I consider a statement that is inflammatory, "The district's plan to close schools is NOT about buildings. What it IS about, is increasing pupil/teacher ratios throughout the district, and, of course, laying off teachers. Take a look at the district's Staffing Report (available on www.saveypsischools.com). You will see that their optimistic projection is that class sizes will increase to at least 28/1 across the district. We've run the numbers and it looks like its far more likely that classes will average 30/1 (and sometimes higher) throughout.". Doesn't this make you part of the group, in using the "we"? And you are merely speculating that the true intent is about laying off teachers instead of about saving money from running a building when this district (like others around us) can't afford to keep open buildings when there is space to combine. CountryKate is exactly right on, we do not have the money we once had and I do not think we need to pay for the upkeep, utitilities, maintenance workers, etc. to keep a building open when we have room for the students elsewhere. The amount of money saved may seem piddling to you, but that is exactly where we stand now, we are looking to save piddling amounts that will add up to keeping programs our children need and deserve. As you stated, cuts have already been made to music, art, and athletics so it amazes me that you can still stand up in support of a building. And again, two of the statements you are working off of, are misinterpreted by you and your group (saveypsischools). The first is that the administration is estimating that due to these closures the district will lose 50 students. That estimate isn't connected to tbe possible closures. Every budget year the administration estimates a gain or loss of students to prepare the budget. That's what this number refers to. The second is your average number of pupils per teacher ratio. Every class is different, some are smaller, some are larger. As I stated in an earlier comment. My daughter's 8th grade science class has 1 teacher to 32 students. Not all of my daughter's classes are that full, there are only 7 students in her health class. Teacher/pupil ratio numbers are an average. You may have gone over all of the numbers and I appreciate that, but if you don't have any experience with the different schools and what is really going on in them, I think you're missing a vital piece to be able to interpret the data.

CountyKate

Sat, Feb 20, 2010 : 2:52 p.m.

Sorry, ypsidad, if I came across as a bit testy, but the fact is that most of the people who are screaming the loudest about these possible closings answer my question with either a flat-out "no" or an "I couldn't afford the tax increase," which amounts to the same thing. Evidently, they didn't realize there would be consequences to their decision. But, you and I disagree on how the BoE came to the decision to close the schools. I don't see it as a "rash decision," but as the inevitable result of running out of money. Now, you and I could debate all day about how they got to this impasse and I'm sure we'd agree that some of the decisions made in the past were not the greatest, but we have to deal with what we have now. And what we have now is a $6.5 million deficit. So, what would you have them do? Keep the schools open and cut the programs that have proved successful? Or something else no one's thought of yet? I'm open to new ideas and I'm pretty sure the board is, too. In fact, it's my understanding that's what the board was hoping this meeting would be about.

ypsidad

Sat, Feb 20, 2010 : 9:20 a.m.

Of course I voted for the millage, and I mobilized others to vote for it as well. When you refer to "my group" what are you referring to? I am NOT a member of any group, in fact I don't even know what you are talking about. I support those who are asking for the Board of Education to wait a bit before making what I think is a rash decision to close schools, but that is not because I am invested in saving any one school, but because I've looked at all the facts. I've read every single bit of information the central office has offered including their budget considerations, their deficit elimination plan, and their staffing projections. I've gone to both community workshops, and all school board meetings since the plan was announced. I've added up the numbers and, guess what, they don't add up. I don't hate the administration or the school board, in fact I know some of them and I think they are good people, I just disagree with their strategy because I think it is bad for our schools and bad for Ypsi. Suggesting that I am part of some shadowy group that is putting out misinformation is the worst kind of political tactic, and frankly, undemocratic. Moreover, it misrepresents the actual fact. Yes, I've visited the www.saveypsischools.com site (is this the shadowy group of "misinformers" you are referring to?) and guess what? The information on that site is almost exclusively drawn from information readily available on the YPSD site. So where is the misinformation coming from? YPSD? Or is it their interpretation of the facts that you disagree with?

CountyKate

Fri, Feb 19, 2010 : 9:43 p.m.

@ypsidad, you make me laugh. I'm not trying to stop you from talking. In fact, I encourage it. But, I reserve the right to call you on grandstanding and hyperbole. That democracy stuff works for all concerned, you know. And no, I have no link to Ypsi Public Schools other than having been a parent and now a grandparent to a student within that system. The same, I suspect, as you. For you to make that veiled accusation says more about the weakness of your argument than any wounding of me. And now that I've answered your question, would you please answer mine: Did you vote for the WISD millage that would have averted the closing of schools? Your silence in response to this question, previously asked, is deafening. I agree with Ms. Castle that the group you are associated with puts out a great deal of misinformation and speculation aimed at working people into a frenzy. "The sky is falling. The sky is falling." Well, if indeed the sky is falling, it's not like we weren't warned that it would. Where were you and the others who are now so outspokenly against closing the schools that millage would have saved?

localvoice

Fri, Feb 19, 2010 : 9:16 p.m.

I, too was under the impression that parents requested the latest meeting. It is another smoke screen by YPSD administration to keep people from the facts. The community is lucky to have a dedicated group of community member willing to offer creative alternatives to closing another elementary school. They say they are interested, but then do anything but listen. There are other solutions besides closing buildings. How these people can in one breath mention closing buildings, and in another breath discuss new programs (ie... New Tech High. G/T programs, Rosetta Stone) is beyond me! Every significant cut is at the elementary level. Looking at this from a business sense, we are cutting from 12 year potential customers! Also, leave the teachers out of it! If you know any Ypsi teachers, you already know of their dedication and professionalism. For those of you that aren't aware, they are the second lowest paid in our county, while the administration ranks among the top paid! They are in a tricky position right now, and deserve whatever support is possible.

Sandy Castle

Fri, Feb 19, 2010 : 1:20 p.m.

@Bill, I love the idea of a Community High School in Ypsilanti. I actually brought it up to the board during a round of budget cuts about 3 years ago and the board seemed to think it would cost too much to start up, and not enough interest. I think it's worth a community committee to look into for the future. These budget issues make it hard to keep the status quo and should be looked at as an opportunity to do things differently, better even. It was nice to hear some positive ideas! Thanks for your input and your well wishes, Bill!

Billw94

Fri, Feb 19, 2010 : 10:40 a.m.

Just had to go through a school closing here in Arizona, my daughter's. I went to Chapelle and so I appreciate all comments. It took about a year for our board to decide to close a school based on a committee made up of community members, parents, teachers and district members. My school was repurposed to be an alternative high school. It has done well and filled a void of students on a waiting list for such a school. With that said I would encourage looking at the Community High idea. If you have 300 possible customers not being served that is money the district could use. Stealing students from other districts is very tough unless you have the "pet rock" that makes you better. Have not seen that in the comments I read here. No need to advertise if you have nothing that makes you different. I know I am removed from this living so far away but I would wonder about making Esterbrook a Community High. Easy access and close enough to use the current high school fields if the Community H.S. has a sports program. Buses will play a big role in what stays open because they have to move the kids at the lowest cost. This is a great opportunity for all of you to break the old molds and plan the direction for Ypsilanti for the next decade. I wish you well and keep all of you in my prayers.

Sandy Castle

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 11:17 p.m.

Ypsidad, you do have a right to your opinion any of these issues. But it appears to me from the posts I've seen that your group feels they are the only opinion. I post with my real name and you won't find me on the staff list or the payroll of YPSD. I am not married to or related to, or connected to anyone in administration. For the past year my husband has coached volleyball and soccer at the high school. I have two kids and we have been part of the Ypsi schools for the past 12 years. My oldest daughter, who participates in the ECA, will graduate this year and one coming up to the high school next year. My youngest daughter was enrolled at George Elementary the year that it was closed and she was moved to Erickson. YPSD did a wonderful job transitioning the kids over and we had a wonderful experience at Erickson. We did not lose students due to the transfer, a mistatement from you. George lost some students the year before due to the fact that they changed from a multiage academy back to a regular elementary. The students that I knew that left went to other Ypsi schools, they did not leave the district. Nobody wants schools to close, Chapelle or others, but it makes no sense to keep a building open when the funds it takes to run it can be used for programs for our children. We don't have the numbers of students to fill all of the schools so we need to consolidate and close some of them. Again I say to you, other area schools are doing the same, not just YPSD. AND George Elementary was NEVER boarded up. Local kids continue to play on the playground. Houses did not go up for sale or stand vacant. Now Forest School operates out of there. Forest School, if you are unfamiliar with it, is a school for kids from throughout the county who have had behavioral issues and have had to leave their home schools. They have teachers and therapists there who work with the kids to try to get them back into the regular school setting. Similar perhaps to what you're talking about happening to Chapelle if it closes. Our neighborhood was quite worried when we heard that this type of school was going to be located in our area, but we have had no problems of any kind and they have been operating there now for about 2 years. You are welcome to your opinion. However, your group puts out misinformation and speculation in the hopes of scaring people and I do object to that. I do not always agree with YPSD administration or the school board, but I do believe that they care about our children and their education. I do not believe they are trying to put anything over on any of us. They are doing the best they can with what we as a district have. You would be better served to work with them instead of throwing obstacles up in their way. I realize you don't see it that way, but you surely are not working with them by organizing groups with parents from one school intent on keeping their school open. Cooler heads need to prevail on this, and your group appears to be running on pure emotion.

ypsidad

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 9:31 p.m.

Wow, its almost as if people WANT to close Chapelle, is this because the kids that go there "aren't from the neighborhood?" Or is there some other reason? As a matter of fact, I have heard from reliable sources that the administration is planning on putting the "Drop Back in" center for all of Washtenaw County in that school. For those of you that don't know, that school serves 16-19 year olds from across WISD who have left other schools in the district. Currently the Drop Back in Center serves around 50 students. Great use of the almost 4 million dollars worth of bond money to improve Chapelle with educational technology specifically designed for elementary aged kids. But, that's just another troublesome "fact" I suppose. Please County Kate, Sandy, just check the information that the Administration itself has produced, no one is making anything up here, trust me. As for any projections as to how many students we might lose if we close another school, just look at what happened when we closed Ardis and George, we had a huge dip in enrollments, and a charter stepped in to pick up many of those displaced students. Again, this has never been about one "pet" school. From the start, parents from ALL of the schools have opposed this plan, not just Chapelle parents. And to clarify, no one has accused the Board of Education of "pulling the wool over our eyes." In fact, I and others have voiced our disagreement with the Administration's plan to close schools and lay off teachers. The Administration will present this plan to the Board of Education, who will vote on it at some point. And I hope I don't have to remind folks (Kate, Sandy) that we still live in a democracy, and as parents and community members in this district, we do have a right to make our voices heard, as much or moreso than the Administration. After all, the Board of Education was elected by us, and as such they need to hear from their true constituents, not just give a "rubber-stamp" to ideas from the administration. Why are you so invested in undermining and silencing the voice of parents in the district? Is it that it bothers you when people stand up to authority? Or do you have some link to that authority? just asking....

hypsi

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 8:59 p.m.

Country Kate..I have been paying attention. My comment about Fulton was just to show Sandy, that it wasn't the Saveypsischools group that came up with the number of 50. That is the only reason I put that quote up there, so readers don't think the 50 students number was something created by the saving schools group. Since you live in the Chapelle Area (and if any Adams Residents are reading as well)..the school board hasn't mentioned what they will be repurposing these buildings for. Will they sit empty and vacant like Ardis (except for the 50 students they have now)? The schools in mention may not be a "neighborhood school" but it still sits in a neighborhood. How many residents that live close to the school on S. Wallace, Warner, Jones, Kirk, Taft, etc...want a boarded up school near them and all the potential it might bring. If you lived next door to those schools as many houses do, would you want to live next or across from an empty school?

CountyKate

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 7:59 p.m.

@hypsi, John Fulton's projections for the coming year has been steadily going downward for years and I think the loss of 50 students is NOT based on closing a school. Had you been paying attention over the past four or five years, you would have noticed this trend. And the fact is school districts all over the state are experiencing the same sort of losses. The closing of a bulding will not be the cause of that loss, because these kids are moving with their parents out of state. The loss of state population when the 2010 U. S. Census is taken is expected to lose us one or two representatives in Congress, it is so bad. This is not due to any school system, but to the loss of jobs in the state. Yet, interestingly enough, when the schools count their students, Ypsilanti has actually seen less student loss than was expected in the past two or three years. That is because the Ypsilanti programs are working, test scores are rising and people are attracted by those results. I find it amusing that people are talking about the district closing Chapelle, a "neighborhood school" as some sort of crisis. I live in the Chapelle area and have been actively involved there, but it's no longer a "neighborhood school." In fact, I don't think any of our elementary schools qualify for that designation. Many, many children who are at Chapelle actually come from other areas as part of the Schools of Choice initiative. That's not a bad thing, in my book, but it does somewhat blur what constitutes a neighborhood. I also find the idea of closing a school as sending the district into a "death spiral" to be an astonishing bit of hyperbole. What WILL be the death of this district is the idea that spending money unnecessarily is okay as long as some pet building stays open. Ypsidad, did you vote for the WISD millage that would have allowed us to avert this crisis?

Sandy Castle

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 3:47 p.m.

Okay, @hypsi, this one is in response to your last post;o) When working with the budget, the administration always estimates a number, either gains or losses, for the next years enrollment. They have always done this. I'm not sure that his estimate was actually referring to a loss of students due to possible closures. That would be a good question for Mr. Fulton.

Sandy Castle

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 3:43 p.m.

@Hypsi...I really wasn't addressing that to you. I was addressing it to Ypsidad. Your post must have been put up while I was writing mine. It's not personal at all; I have no idea who you are. We both seem to comment on the same issues, and usually on differing sides. It's often difficult to get a feel for emotions and inflection in a written opinion. Please don't personalize my comments, I am a blunt, to-the-point person and often have trouble finding the right words to soften my opinions.

hypsi

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 2:17 p.m.

Oh and the losing of students isn't speculation on one group's part. It was announed by John Fulton "John Fulton, executive director of human resources, estimated the district will have 3,761 students next year - 50 fewer than this year". From the AnnArbor.com article: http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti-schools-releases-redistribution-plan-for-school-closure-options-1/

hypsi

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.

I knew you would respond to my post..why I don't know, not anyone else that posted on here..just mine..sigh. Anywhoo, have you read the cuts they are already planning on making to arts, sports, etc...? It's not about one school..I'm not sure why you keep bringing that up. and if parents are using Perry..why is it only at 49.9% with 325 students? Certainly out of a population of 22,000+ there are more then 325 5 year olds? After that I'm out of this conversation and will stop trying to bring up facts and stats and continue making sure neighborhoods and parents are aware of the consequences. Good luck to you and yours.

Sandy Castle

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 1:28 p.m.

We will lose more programs if we keep these buildings open. Studies have shown that people use Perry which has an award winning kindergarten program. By closing Perry you would probably see more people either leave the district, or not come here to begin with than those who will leave if Chapelle closes, which is only speculation on your group's part. There's no where to go, do you understand that? The money that is spent keeping a BUILDING open is money that can go to KEEP programs at YPSD. My kids could care less about your building, but they sure do love art classes and athletics. Keep what's important. Class sizes are going to increase under any scenario, in fact my daughter's 8th grade science class has 32 kids in it right now. Some classes can afford that, others can't. I sincerely do not believe, as your group appears to believe, that our BOE is trying to put something over on us. My experience with this board is that they are all trying to do the best for our kids. Perhaps you all should have been more involved before your school was threatened. You would have seen this district going through budget negotiations year after year. Where were you then?

hypsi

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 12:42 p.m.

Yes, Saline is planning on closing a school, but it is the one school that would be equal to Ypsi's Perry school. Saline is closing the one building that makes sense, the preschool/kindergarten elementary and putting those children back into the neighborhood elementaries. http://www.annarbor.com/news/saline-area-schools-to-host-public-forum-on-reconfiguring-elementary-schools/ or read up here on Saline's schools: http://blogs.salineschools.com/budget/ Maybe Ypsi should take note of this and reconsidered Perry, a building that is barely 50% full? What about opening Ardis for 50 culinary arts students? How much is this costing the tax payers as well, to keep one school open for 50 students? Why not just put those culinary arts students at Perry? Read up more here on Ypsi Schools: www.saveypsischools.com You can also call the Washtenaw County Intermediate School District and they can give you facts and figures on Ypsilanti Schools at (734)994-8100, including counts of enrollement, school capacities, etc...and figure out the stats for yourselves. Keep focused Ypsi and keep your children's education, just that an Education..not classrooms with 28 to 1 or 30 to 1 ratios. Read the studies on how well small class sizes work in educating children. Read up on what the current administration is doing. Read up on how closing neighborhood schools is going to affect your local neighborhoods (which have already been hit hard with the economy).

ypsidad

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 10:28 a.m.

Sandy, please study up on the facts before making recommendations. Chapelle, which is the only elementary slated to be cut, is not underutilized. It is currently the most utilized building in the district. Perry, which is at 47% IS underutilized, and the district has basically said it is off the table. So why this contradiction? The district's plan to close schools is NOT about buildings. What it IS about, is increasing pupil/teacher ratios throughout the district, and, of course, laying off teachers. Take a look at the district's Staffing Report (available on www.saveypsischools.com). You will see that their optimistic projection is that class sizes will increase to at least 28/1 across the district. We've run the numbers and it looks like its far more likely that classes will average 30/1 (and sometimes higher) throughout. The reason Perry is "off the table" is because kindergarten classes are smaller (as per union agreements 25/1), and placing up to 3 kindergarten classrooms in our elementary schools would disrupt the plan to cram as many students (and as few teachers) as humanely possible into three remaining buildings. If anyone thinks that 30/1 ratios are a recipe for educational excellence, or even a way to work our way out of this budget crisis, then they are living in a dreamworld. The plan to close elementary schools would lead to declining enrollments and, sadly, a "death spiral" for our district. We ARE "keeping our eyes on the prize" but we are also keeping our eyes on the adminstrators making these decisions (two of whom have been in the district less than a year, and one of whom is trying to get out). Closing schools will not save special programs, they have already been slashed, and will continue to be slashed under the district's deficit elimination plan (you can take a look at that as well on the saveypsischools.com website). Athletics was slashed by 50,000 this year, and will be slashed by another 50,000 next year. They have already reduced the Art/Music/PE staff by one per building, cut band and choir field trips, and are proposing to eliminate the piano program at YHS, Middle School sports, new library books across the district, new equipment for special ed., and the list goes on and on. These cuts are recommended whether or not a building is closed. Moreover, the closure of one elementary school will save the district around $468,000, guess what the cost of losing just 50 students will be (which is what the district projects will happen in the event of a school closure)? Around $400,000. This is not zero sum game between closing schools and saving programs, they will both go under this plan. What parents in Ypsi are fighting for is maintaining the BARE MINIMUM that we any district must provide: a reasonably-sized classroom, and even this will be considered an unattainable luxury under the district's current plan for education.

Sandy Castle

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 : 9:12 a.m.

Stay strong and focused on our children's education, Ypsi BOE, not on buildings! Saline will be closing schools and Ann Arbor is also looking in that direction. You are ahead of the game and I commend you on your vision. Please do not make cuts to programs. Our children cannot afford much more of these type of cuts. Work with the unions to achieve concessions and work to utilize only the buildings we need. Our children's education is too important to take a back seat to unnecessary things like under-utilized buildings. Keep your eye on the prize...educating our children!

ypsimom

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 : 9:30 p.m.

Great idea, Ardis George! We would enroll our kids in a CHS type school in Ypsi in a second!

Forest City

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 : 7:36 p.m.

You can A)cut teaching positions and close schools or B)cut teacher salaries and benefit costs. Option A or Option B. No amount of rhetoric will change this fact. As a parent, I would prefer Option B.

CountyKate

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 : 7:21 p.m.

Mr. Fanta's comment about talking first "about what kind of district Ypsilanti wants to be" is the same old refrain he's been spouting since the days when he was president of the Ypsilanti Board of Education. He didn't accomplish the task then, but he wants everyone to take the time to decide it now - before the June budget deadline? Sounds to me like more less-than-useful pontificating and it's disingenuous at best. I have sat through many, many, MANY BoE meetings as the board members struggled with the worsening state economic crisis and a legislature that refuses to give education the priority most of us think it deserves. Even if Mr. Fanta had achieved his goal of having a "design" for the school district while he was president, that vision would no longer hold up under the extreme financial burdens placed on school districts by the current situation. No matter what we might want our district to be, we are still going to have to deal with the reality of what we can afford. We are fortunate that the Ypsilanti BoE wants public input and welcomes creative ideas,rather than stonewalling and keeping the parents and community members at arms' length as I have seen other districts do. Clearly, the members of this board do not want to take the proposed measures any more than district parents want them to be taken. But, once again, we are faced with the reality of the situation - less students mean less state money, Proposal A has tied districts' hands so they can't ask for more, and things simply cost more right now. I mean, have you looked at the cost of food lately? But, one thing is certain: the current deficit isn't going to go away without a lot of belt-tightening and no matter how much we don't like it, it's going to happen. Mr. Fanta's attempt to change the subject isn't going to make that any more palatable or any less inevitable.

Delete Please

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 : 4:26 p.m.

Trying to think of creative ideas that are progressive, rather than regressive (closing thriving schools, firing young teachers). One idea occurs to me, given all the threads about AA's Community High: Rather than close schools in Ypsi, why don't we open a school. An alternative, progressive high school like Community High. We could not only accomodate high schoolers in Ypsi area who want something non-traditional, but we could also accomodate those 300 people on waiting list for CHS? And to be clear, I'm not talking about a charter, but an actual YPSD high school.

hypsi

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 : 1:04 p.m.

Thank you for this article! Is there anyway it can be added into the Ypsilanti section as well...for other readers? Thank you!

Alan Benard

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 : 9:53 a.m.

With much respect intendend to those in the Ypsilanti school-district, the time to step up and make an effort to save your schools was in the weeks leading up to Nov. 3, 2009. I am sorry for your situation, and I regret the situation we are all in now that the millage has been rejected and Lansing has failed us. At least your board members are being honest with you -- there is little they can do but let you vent. The good that may come from this could be a growth in the number of families and communities that will fight harder to preserve education in Washtenaw County.Because the economic situation will only get worse from here on in.

bruceae

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 : 9:15 a.m.

Now every district is going to spend money on advertising to attract students from other districts. So far Ann Arbor, Lincoln, Willow Run and now Ypsi are trying to do this. Unless you are getting kids from Ohio everyone is just trading kids and it's a zero sum game. More wasted money.

missypsi

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 : 9:03 a.m.

Just to clarify... It is my understanding that parents had requested a meeting in which their questions could finally be answered. They had very basic questions like: what will happen to Chapelle when and if it is shuttered? What will the class sizes be after one or more schools are closed? How will YPSD maintain school choice, when we have fewer schools? Why does it make sense to close a school when the per pupil funding we will lose (around 400,000 according to the central office) will just about equal the money saved? As a parent, I was told, at first, that this would be a "town hall" style meeting, and then it became a "public forum" and then when we all got there, and Mr. Bates made his opening speech it was clear that it was just a venting session. I work a full time job, and I suspect that most everyone else there does as well, I have very little time to spend with my family, and not a whole lot of money to spend on a babysitter, so public venting is low on my list of things to do. I agree with the parents who were upset that they still didn't get questions answered. As far as I could tell only one representative from the central office was there, Dedrick Martin, and he spent more time repeating how we got into this mess, than actually answering questions.