Ligonier considers high school merger

this is the dumbest thing they could do...like ppl say i like jelly and i like ham BUT NOT TOGETHER...SAVE LAUREL VALLEY

This is the craziest idea the school board has EVER come up with. I graduated from LV (Laurel Valley that is)in 2003. I remember dealing with the renovations back some 9-10 years ago; they were HELL! Why would you close a practically new school that taxpayers paid TONS of money to build and renovate? Makes no sense! NONE WHAT SO EVER!

I could go on and on and on about all the reasons NOT to close this quaint little school, but to spare both you and I the time, I will leave you with one concideration: What is going to happen to New Florence when/if you close LV? All I can picture is New Florence becoming a ghost town. Residents will leave due to the fact that their small little school isnt there anymore; leaving to find what it is that they want in a school, what Laurel Valley has and has had for decades. I wont plead for you not to close LV, you are going to do what ever you feel is "best" for the school district. But in the case of LV, you MUST reconcider.

reconsider
consideration

spelling taught at Laurel Valley?

...spare both you and me, not you and I

grammar taught at Laurel Valley?

O git off of him all reddy

I graduated from Laurel Valley also, in 2007, though. To be quite honest, I don't exactly like either school, but from what I have actually witnessed, I really would rather my son go to Laurel Valley as well. My fiance is from Ligonier Valley, so I've been to the school for dances and prom. I'm not deciding this based on what I'm assuming either. This whole idea is ridiculous. All that money spent to make the school better just a few years ago wasted because people apparently think it's better for "the students" and apparently the economy to have the parents of said students pay more taxes, send the kids to go to school full of stuck up, spoiled delinquents, make our kids ride on school buses for an hour just to get to school (which is also increasing the amount of air polution also, btw bc it'd be a longer way to school), and causing innocent teachers that have worked to get through college to get their positions to lose their jobs... How is any of this a good idea??

reaaly wrote:

reconsider
consideration
spelling taught at Laurel Valley?
...spare both you and me, not you and I
grammar taught at Laurel Valley?

Exactly where did you learn how to spell really, "reaally"

Krystal wrote:

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Exactly where did you learn how to spell really, "reaally"

Well, I spelled it that way because I wanted to stand out and be different, Crystal.

ooo, burn!

reaally wrote:

<quoted text>
Well, I spelled it that way because I wanted to stand out and be different, Crystal.

It's spelled Krystal, btw

The opportunity to build a better school for all our children was lost when the Laurel Valley parents gained control of the school board with a successful write-in campaign about 10 years ago. They then used the money to modernize both schools. Their short-term victory resulted in yesterday’s vote and makes obvious that much of that money was poorly invested. If joining the two schools will make the classrooms crowded, you need only blame that short-sited stunt.

Krystal wrote:

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It's spelled Krystal, btw

You failed Sarcasm 101, didn't you?

The Ligonier School District spends about $10,000 per student while the rest of the districts in Westmoreland County spend about $7,000 per student....and this is WITHOUT counting the students who go to private or parochial schools.

Is it reasonable to spend the extra $3,000 per student so that the Laurel Valley people have what amounts to a community center?? Wouldn't that money be better spent on education?

As one Laurel Valley resident stated at a school board meeting a few years ago, "Yer tryin' to make our kids smarter 'an we are, and we won't stand for it!"

reaaly wrote:

<quoted text>
You failed Sarcasm 101, didn't you?

No, I didn't take that class. I was focused on reality. Now, I'm focused on the reality of my son's future.

The money probably wouldn't be spent to better education. It'd be spent on transport costs and alterations to the building to accommodate the amount of students. I think my son would be a lot happier being cyberschooled rather than jammed onto a bus for an hour, shipped to a school with kids sitting on each others' laps, having teachers that don't know them by name bc of the amount of students, and no individual attention. I have nothing against either school. I graduated from Laurel Valley, and my fiance went to Ligonier. I just think it's well enough left how it is. Not to mention that people are going to be moving away and the small communities around here will go dry and wither away.. It'd be sad to see..

Krystal wrote:

The money probably wouldn't be spent to better education. It'd be spent on transport costs and alterations to the building to accommodate the amount of students. I think my son would be a lot happier being cyberschooled rather than jammed onto a bus for an hour, shipped to a school with kids sitting on each others' laps, having teachers that don't know them by name bc of the amount of students, and no individual attention. I have nothing against either school. I graduated from Laurel Valley, and my fiance went to Ligonier. I just think it's well enough left how it is. Not to mention that people are going to be moving away and the small communities around here will go dry and wither away.. It'd be sad to see..

None of the concerns you mention have any basis in fact.....it's all pure conjecture. Teachers who don't know your kids name??? WTF? They'll learn it in a week, won't they?? Especially if your son is a hysteric like you.

Jagger wrote:

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None of the concerns you mention have any basis in fact.....it's all pure conjecture. Teachers who don't know your kids name??? WTF? They'll learn it in a week, won't they?? Especially if your son is a hysteric like you.

You're correct. I didn't state facts to back what I said up. There really isn't a point in doing so either, anymore, because this debate has simply become a mockery of each other. All I was saying is that I am concerned for my son's future. And, I'm not a hysteric, I just don't believe this would be best for the kids. On a side note, no offense, but if you want to be taken seriously and have your voice be heard, the use of profanity only makes a person seem ignorant and weak (due to the use of it being emotionally driven) in an adult based debate forum.

No offense Krystal, but in any good debate, facts are key, not emotions or profanity. Cyberschooling should be a last resort, not an alternative to a long bus ride. Studies from the past decade show that learning is optimal with a teacher present. I hope all the parents do what is really the best thing for the children.

reaaly wrote:

No offense Krystal, but in any good debate, facts are key, not emotions or profanity. Cyberschooling should be a last resort, not an alternative to a long bus ride. Studies from the past decade show that learning is optimal with a teacher present. I hope all the parents do what is really the best thing for the children.

Yes, it is true that facts are key, and I already admitted I should have provided facts. But, say for example, if a government official was standing at the podium, throwing a fit and using profanity, would anyone actually believe he would be an adequate opponent? I was just saying using profanity just makes the user of it seem not credential. What I was meaning about the bus ride is that I live 29 minutes away from Ligonier, but still in the district. That would mean my son will have to catch the bus very early and have about an hour long bus ride. I believe that would not make for motivation to go to school, let alone, be actually active in it. And, I agree that I don't exactly like the idea of cyber schooling for a young kid, although, for our case, it may be the better alternative than the consolidation. In preparation for the possible consolidation, I have enrolled in online college courses recently. I hope to be able to be there for him when he needs help, like a teacher would be, as if it were a regular school. As for the social interaction of regular school, play dates are always fun for small children. Like I said, I don't have anything against either school. I just don't believe the consolidation of the schools is really for the best. And, I agree that which ever conclusion is made, I hope it does turn out to be the best for the children. Being a parent has so many decisions that make you question what is best and what is not, but let's just hope that what ever happens, ends up being productive for our children's futures.

The board meeting is tonight, December 14 in Ligonier. We must have many Laurel Valley residents attend. The topic is on the Agenda to schedule to Public Hearing. We must remain involved.