BUNN ELEMENTARY Parents seeking to add grades

Some want to keep kids in their home school through the eighth grade.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A group of parents at Paul C. Bunn Elementary School wants to see the school house pupils beyond just the fourth grade.
The parents want to maintain what they feel is a neighborhood school atmosphere for their children, allowing them to attend school close to home for a longer period. They want the building to house children through the eighth grade, or, at the least, the sixth grade, said Barbara Ripley, a member of the "Grow Bunn Campaign."
She and another parent, Lori Gibson, made a pitch to the board of education recently, seeking support for the effort.
The group has petitions signed by more than 50 parents and some members of the school staff backing the idea.
Bunn did house kindergarten through the sixth grade, but when the school district launched a $200 million rebuilding campaign a couple of years ago, it agreed with an Ohio School Facilities Commission directive to reduce all of its elementary schools to K-4. The OSFC is picking up about 80 percent of the rebuilding costs.
Bunn is one of the buildings scheduled to be replaced at an estimated $10.4 million expense. A construction date hasn't been set, but officials hope to have it ready for a fall 2007 opening.
Seeking stability
The new building is shown as a K-4 facility, but Ripley said her group wants to keep their children in the school longer rather than have them transfer to a more distant middle school for fifth grade.
A neighborhood school provides more stability for the children and more familiarity between the staff and pupils, more like a family, she said.
It could also be beneficial for the area around the school, attracting young home buyers who would be interested in moving into an area with a home school, Ripley said.
Bunn pupils are performing well academically, she said, adding, "We know that the building works."
Gibson pointed out that Bunn was the first of Youngstown's elementary schools to earn an "effective" rating on the state Report Card system.
"I think it's a sign of a healthy school community, and they want to keep the kids here longer," Maria Pappas, Bunn principal, said of the parent proposal.
Adding more grades would mean more work for the staff, but Pappas said it's a task she's willing to take on if the parents want it.
Members of the campaign met privately with the superintendent and members of the school board after their appearance at a public school board meeting.
Must approach OSFC
Although the board expressed interest in hearing what parents had to say, no commitments were made, Ripley said, adding that the board told the group that it will have to deal with the OSFC in terms of making the new building large enough to house additional pupils.
Nothing will happen in the next school year but the issue will be reconsidered for the 2007-08 school year, said Dr. Wendy Webb, school superintendent.
There are legal issues preventing the district from making any immediate changes, she said, pointing out that there are teachers who bid on contracts at specific school buildings for next year and that those agreements must be honored.
There are also size issues, Webb said, noting that the proposed new building might be able to handle K-5, but won't be large enough to house additional grades.
"It's going to be an ongoing conversation," said the Rev. Michael Write, school board president.
Proponents of the plan were advised of the constraints facing the districts, but the board appreciates the group's efforts, he said.
"We are ecstatic that you want to help," he told Ripley and Gibson.
Ripley said the group also plans to approach Mayor Jay Williams about their plans, noting that he has said that good schools are important to drawing people to Youngstown.
gwin@vindy.com