tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post808170187801749306..comments2023-09-29T06:32:16.005-04:00Comments on My School Committee Blog: Amherst Rotary Announces $25,000 Community Grant For Crocker Farm PlaygroundCatherine A. Sandersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-80439539349148351582010-05-03T08:19:33.065-04:002010-05-03T08:19:33.065-04:00The Rotary gave a generous gift of $25,000, which ...The Rotary gave a generous gift of $25,000, which will fund about half of the playground. This is a one time expense. Keeping Marks Meadow open would cost about $800,000 a YEAR, and I haven't heard of any agencies or individuals who are willing to come forward with that type of money. And if someone were to agree to make a $800,000 contribution to the schools each year, I'd be hard pressed to say that keeping Marks Meadow open would be the best use of the money since it is clear that we can educate all 1300 kids in 3 buildings.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-35200114660816095252010-05-03T08:15:37.458-04:002010-05-03T08:15:37.458-04:00Lingering drama?? How belittling...Lingering drama?? How belittling...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-53384483602697188142010-05-01T16:00:20.906-04:002010-05-01T16:00:20.906-04:00It's hard to understand the lingering drama th...It's hard to understand the lingering drama that surrounds the MM closing. This decision has led to the savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars which can be directed to giving additional services to children who need it, as well as continuing music, arts, and now world language education for all elem students. I hope that those still hurting from the MM closing can see the benefits to the system as a whole and find the strength to move forward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-55469022102604130882010-04-30T16:23:15.517-04:002010-04-30T16:23:15.517-04:00Never implied that $25,000 would save Marks Meadow...Never implied that $25,000 would save Marks Meadow--But seriously, how can donating money for a playground over rule donating money to keep a school open? It is nothing less than a catastrophe that the closing of this school is going ahead... Hard to celebrate playground equipment when classroom communities are being destroyed...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-44469000356846358432010-04-26T14:42:58.173-04:002010-04-26T14:42:58.173-04:00Great news! Thanks to the Crocker PGO and Rotary C...Great news! Thanks to the Crocker PGO and Rotary Club. I think the children and staff at CF will be thrilled with new equipment. What a nice gesture at this time of transition from 4 to 3 elem schools.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-32578763905415810922010-04-26T13:29:04.208-04:002010-04-26T13:29:04.208-04:00The Rotary Club gift is $25,000. The school syste...The Rotary Club gift is $25,000. The school system saves several hundred thousand dollars per year with the closing of MM - I don't think a $25,000 gift from Rotary or anyone else would have made much impact in terms of keeping MM open.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-78902822159512157092010-04-25T18:54:54.159-04:002010-04-25T18:54:54.159-04:00Why didn't the Rotary donate the money to keep...Why didn't the Rotary donate the money to keep Marks Meadow open? Seems an excellent run school, scoring highest in MCAS might overtake a playground... If this club really stands for what it claims...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-52912366589140298842010-04-24T09:21:32.481-04:002010-04-24T09:21:32.481-04:00I am going to sound like the conservative libertar...I am going to sound like the conservative libertarian I am, but which playground is going to be more valued by the community -- one that was funded by the grant, or one funded by the school district via higher taxes?<br /><br />Assume that both are equal in terms of both cost and quality, assume that the money came from essentially the same people via either donations or taxes, which would be more valued by the community? And less likely to be vandalized?<br /><br />And which playground is going to be more reflective of what the community wants -- one that they worked hard to get, or one that someone in the TownFarmGang thought would look pretty?Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-26640402742515621082010-04-23T12:07:38.639-04:002010-04-23T12:07:38.639-04:00Becky Demling, Lucy McMurrer and other parents at ...Becky Demling, Lucy McMurrer and other parents at the PGO and at the school have worked extremely hard for this playground. Kudos for them, and thank you for all your hard work!!<br /><br />Flavia Cunha - Crocker Farm parentFlavia Cunhanoreply@blogger.com