Parents and children plead for Cooke's life

Board says school size, not demographics, at issue in decision

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

By AMANDA WILLIAMS

The Register-Mail

GALESBURG - Luz Moraila's daughter asked her Monday morning if she was going to the District 205 Board of Education meeting that night. When Moraila answered "yes" her daughter simply said, "Mom, save the school."

Moraila was one of 16 people who asked the school board at its regular meeting Monday to reject the administration's recommendation to close Cooke Elementary School. Her comments were translated by Tica Ortega, the bilingual teacher at Cooke.

Administrators announced their recommendation to close the school on South Henderson Street in April, citing a $1.5 million to $2.2 million budget deficit and declining enrollment. Since Cooke reopened in 1995 the district has lost 184 elementary students. Closing the school, which has 101 students, would save the district about $500,000 each year. The board expects to vote on the recommendation June 13.

Children at the board meeting Monday held cardboard signs to show their feelings about losing Cooke School.

"My sign says 'Cooke School makes learning fun' because you learn a lot of stuff," said Diego Alfaro, a first-grader at Cooke. "My other sign says 'save my school'."

The 7-year-old told the board about his signs as his mother, Rebecca Alfaro, held him up to the podium. She said her son has benefited from the small-school environment at Cooke.

Carlos Wright, father of two Cooke students, said the only reason Cooke is being put on the chopping block instead of one of the other schools is because of its high percentage of low-income minority students.

"Let's call a spade a spade; Cooke is being cut because it's the minority school," Wright said. "If it was on the other side of town you would get a lot more backlash."

Wright called closing Cooke School morally wrong. He said the board is simply humoring parents by giving them an opportunity to speak at the meeting.

"If there's no chance of Cooke staying open we shouldn't even be having this meeting," Wright said.

Board member Mike Panther responded to many of the concerns Wright and other parents raised. Panther said he is undecided on the issue, even though some parents seem to think the board has already decided to close Cooke.

Many parents at the meeting said they are worried their children won't learn as well at a bigger school.

As a former teacher in Wataga, Panther said he understands the value of a small, family-oriented school, but he thinks parents are underestimating other teachers in the district.

"Teachers at Nielson and Lincoln are just as good and just as caring as the teachers at Cooke," Panther said.

Panther responded to Wright's allegation that the recommendation to close Cooke is racially based. He said the issue is the school building's small size, not its location or demographics.

Board member Barry Swanson agreed.

"We are not picking on Cooke School; we are not picking on those children. We love those children just like we love all the children at the other schools," Swanson said. "Please don't think we are doing this to punish your kids or to punish that part of town; that is not true."

In Other Business

In other business at the District 205 Board of Education meeting Monday, the board:

- Recognized 24 district retirees.

- Heard an instructional presentation on Early Childhood Education.

- Discussed the lease agreement with Knox-Warren Special Education to house the Phoenix Program at Rose Hoben Welch for the 2005-2006 school year.

- Discussed the renewal of a contract with Bridgeway for the Insight Program.

- Voted to renew the contract with Aramark as the district's food service management company.

- Appointed board committees

- Approved changes in the 2004-2005 school calendar because of an emergency day used Jan. 5.

- Accepted several bids for supplies and maintenance.