Beloit / Jewell consolidation

So apparently there are some folks up in Jewell that think they should consolidate with Beloit. They think Beloit would do a true consolidation i.e. giving them a building hiring there teacher, maybe name change etc.. I would like to hear some thoughts on this. Why doesn't Jewell do somthing with Rock Hills? What has happened to the "Small schools are best" drum that Linneberger and Koster have been beating the hell out of? Did it wear out? What would Beloit offer Jewell besides busing?

I am going to ask again for comments. Topix is a very good place to have an on going dialogue on this subject. Tell your friends and neighbors about this site and lets hear from the folks in Jewell county about this issue. PLEASE be respectful, lets not have any name calling or bashing, lets be constructive in our comments. This board can act as a town hall for all to give there thoughts and fealings, again I would just ask for all to be courtious and respectful Thanks

I would like to know if Jewell would keep its current staff and buildings etc. I assume it would be called as part of USD 273?
I know the Beloit superintendent would be looking at this as easy $$ IMO. After all they will need to finance more sporting needs. Look at the new track at 273, almost a $600,000 job.

Yes I am very concerned for the future of Jewell
county along with Jewell needs to think about if
they go to Beloit. What will happen to the busines's in their town?? I think if you ask the
parents of Jewell that have already moved these
kids to Beloit why? SPORTS is the #1 answer. I feel we should be caring about the quality of education our kids are getting. The rival needs to
be put in the past people are not thinking straight about what is best for the kids they are
more worried about what happened over 100 years ago. If Jewell goes to Beloit it will hurt the whole county and then how is that going to be made
up they will raise all of the taxes plus. Ask your
child what they want and deal with it.

Good comments. Yes if Jewell goes to Beloit all that money goes to Mitchelle County. We need to keep the Jewell county taxes working in Jewell County. I feel that the only reason they are talking to Beloit is out of hatred, and that friends, just aint right. It's time to put all that behind us and band together as a county for the future of our county and our children, it,s time to stand up, and say this should have been done three years ago, lets put all the hatred and bad feeling behind us lets work together and do whats right for the children of this county.

The students of these two schools are all friends, and I am sure if you asked most Jewell students where they would rather go they would say Rock Hills

Usd 273 has already had an influx of students from Jewell.

Which school is considering closing? Is it the school in Jewell, KS only or are there more than one school?

well according to rumor there is some problems
going on in Beloit's schools that are hush hush
so parents in Jewell ask some questions on
what is being hushed.

The principal at the HS resigned for hitting on former students. Ha Ha what a fool.
Is that what might be hush hush?

Otherwise I don't know of any other reason. The current "drop in" HS principal Mr. Renter is a nice man. He will work for you.

[I really don't think anybody in Beloit is going to "work" for Jewell. They want the money thats it. And they will provide busing. Great for Beloit and Mitchelle county, desaster for Jewell County.

A 279 resident said that everyone needed to forget what's happened in the past and forget about what might have been 3 years ago. I asked if they were going to pass that advice on to their school board members, specifically the old elected vets, Lineberger and Kostter.

Why are we leaving this decision to a few people who are more interested in carrying on a vendeta against Rock Hills than keeping our money in Jewell county and helping keep our taxes as low as they can be. Why not think about what is best for all students and tax payers?

You should ask Koster family where there kids are
going??????????

Concerned parent wrote:

You should ask Koster family where there kids are
going??????????

Well, they need to be told, "If you want to go to Beloit go, but don't force your will on the rest of us"

Ever heard of taxation without representation? that's what southern Jewell co. will get if usd 279 school board "gives" our land to Beloit school. No taxpayer vote needed to do that; only the school board gets to vote on a land transfer! What kind of chance would a Jewell county resident ahve to get elected to the Beloit school board?

I don't understand why a school would bus kids 30-40 minutes to go to practice and play under that schools name/color/mascot/etc when they could play for a neighboring school 10 minutes away and do exactly the same thing. I wish people would let "OLD" feeling just die.....We need to start thinking what is best for our kids and let them decide. Why move to a bigger town or school system where there is more violence, "clicks" and competition? I always thought small town values were better. I do not have ties to either county, I am just an outsider looking in, but I feel if Jewell consolidates with Beloit, it will severly hurt Jewell county. I know when White Rock and Mankato joined, eveyone said there would be problems and conflicts...the only problems I heard of and saw were from the parents..not being able to let go of "Old" feelings. I feel that the kids from Jewell would have a better opportunity to play sports or get offices in school organizations if they stayed in Jewell county instead of moving to a 3A school where there would be more competition. Instead of thinking of ourselves, lets think about the kids and their futures.

Do the good citizens of Jewell really think our children will be considered for teams at Beloit. Music has always been a strong suit for our school, why would we want to send kids to a school where their band is about half the size as our neighbor to the north. I watched Rock Hills march at a ballgame and it was spectacular. I also watched Beloit march at the Veterns Parade, while they sounded good they could not compete with RH. Please help us keep in mind what is best for our kids.

concerned tax payer wrote:

Do the good citizens of Jewell really think our children will be considered for teams at Beloit. Music has always been a strong suit for our school, why would we want to send kids to a school where their band is about half the size as our neighbor to the north. I watched Rock Hills march at a ballgame and it was spectacular. I also watched Beloit march at the Veterns Parade, while they sounded good they could not compete with RH. Please help us keep in mind what is best for our kids.

Yeah, sports can be played for a short while. But an insturment can be played for the rest of your life.

I have three kids in Beloit schools and my oldest whom is 15 has soooo much pressure to compete in sports it just makes me sick to see him have to feel he has to compete and go to zero hour every morning at 6:30 and workout.

Beloit is not too friendly to outsiders I'll be the first to admit. My wife and I are transplants here and I can't tell you how many times we have had the conversation of should we move again.
I'm not saying everyone will give you a cold shoulder but you will find several will.

But if your kid is good at athletics you can be a star. Sick I know. Sometimes I feel as though thats why we are accepted here because we have a somewhat athletic son. We don't pressure him to compete in sports, he gets plenty of that just living and going to school here day to day.

Good luck.

If Jewell's district merges with Beloit the taxes still go to Jewell County. The taxes that go to pay for services and support county offices will continue to go to Jewell County. Only the taxes designated for the school will be affected. Right now those funds pass through the courthouse and go to USD 279-Jewell. If Jewell decides to merge with either USD273-Beloit or USD107-Rock Hills those funds will simply go to that district. Also, if they merge with either district the mill levy will decrease from it's current level.

I see no credence to the adverse, or for that matter the positive, affect of the decision on Jewell County. Look around the state, most school districts don't follow county lines. Making this issue about the county or claiming that it is about hate is just not true. Trying to do what is best for the majority of the kids of the USD279-Jewell district should be and is the focus.

First of all, if you think it has nothing to do with a couple of board members and their hate of 107, you really don't know the history of what has happened, PERIOD>

It is true we are only talking about the mill levy that is collected of education, however if it goes out of county it hurts Jewell county. It also hurts the future of education in this county.

Splitting up the education in Jewell county is a disaster. long and short

Why do you keep bringing up a couple of board members and then claim that they are the one's with the hate?

Also, you continue to push the county propoganda. Give me some evidence on how it will hurt Jewell county. Even more importantly, how is going to Rock Hills better for the kids of Jewell?