Frequently Asked Questions
- Isn't consolidation the best solution to GRCSA's problems?
- Our perspective as members of FOCUS is that school closings have been our system's response for some time now. Yet GRCSA enrollment has continued to decline. Once we've consolidated to one school, the only thing left is to close altogether. If we as a community want to ensure high quality Christian education for as many children as possible, we should pursue partnerships with neighboring churches, hold ourselves to a higher standard for parental involvement, and aim all of our fundraising efforts at keeping tuition affordable.
- Aren't there efficiencies of scale that we could gain from being a single school?
- First, the largest expense in a school budget is usually staff. This is particularly true in Oakdale's case, as Oakdale's building was paid for long before Oakdale joined GRCSA, and the building is energy efficient and in good repair. This suggests that the primary efficiency gains will come from optimized student-teacher ratios, or class size. The issue of student-teacher ratio will exist as much in a consolidated school as several.
- Furthermore, consolidation demands a substantial building or renovation project. GRCSA's own projections of such a cost range from about $10 to $20 million. At FOCUS, we feel that trying to build our way out of a problem is a mistake. Often plans to build are justified as covered in whole or in large part by donors. This skirts the critical question of why fundraising efforts to those donors were not focused instead on tuition reduction strategies, our best hope for raising enrollment. A 20 million dollar endowment directed at tuition assistance could yield up to 200 scholarships of $2500 each annually. We have been told by GRCSA that 34 students would bring Oakdale to "solvency."
- Our children were consolidated a few years ago. If they can do it, why shouldn't yours?
- We at FOCUS can't say this often enough: We don't think that two wrongs make a right. We are not opposed to consolidation solely on behalf of our own children; we oppose it on behalf of all children in the system and future children who want access to high quality Christian education. Closing schools has only been a response to the problem of enrollment decline. We need to be visionary and, rather than simply manage our problems, SOLVE our problems. Our task right now has to be the positive one of keeping urban Christian schools thriving and excellent.
- I heard GRCSA wants to consolidate to a brand new building. True?
- We've heard that consolidation would involve either remodeling an existing campus or constructing a brand new building at an entirely new site. GRCSA anticipates the cost of either project to range from $10 to $20 million. Actual plans for consolidation are expected at the May 19 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Public is welcome.
- Who really is FOCUS?
Well, the core group of FOCUS consists of Oakdale parents who feel so strongly about Oakdale (and why it should stay open and why all our elementary schools should be opposing consolidation) that they dedicate hours daily to this cause.
We are dismayed to hear that some see us as a closed group. This "core group" is completely open to anyone who has the time and inclination to join us. You can contact Tracey Gebbia to offer your help. Overall, we see FOCUS as a loose group of parents and community members who share this cause. Even if you don't have a lot of time to give, your support is critical.
- What has FOCUS been doing?
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Let us say that FOCUS is just a group of parents. We're all as busy as you are and complete novices to this whole experience. But we feel very strongly about Christian education and about Oakdale's unique place in the city.
One of our biggest accomplishments has been the creation of this website. It has taken a lot of time to get up and running and we are so happy with the results. We think it allows every GRCSA parent and every community member an opportunity to look more closely at the complexity of the issues facing GRCSA.
This winter we hosted two meetings for Oakdale parents in which we asked whether Oakdale should stay open and, if so, why. The answer was a resounding yes. Last month, we asked members of our community to meet with us about the issues facing Oakdale and GRCSA. On just a few days' notice, we were stunned to welcome 22 former Oakdale parents [even former students themselves!] and local church members who were all avid to express their support for Christian education, especially in the city and near their churches.
Finally, we have been mobilizing groups of parents willing to promote our school in marketing and recruitment efforts as well as fundraising for scholarships to Oakdale. We are coordinating with the Oakdale district board so that we do not waste valuable time or resources.
- I think what you're doing is disloyal and ultimately destructive to the whole Grand Rapids Christian School System. If the administration thinks that consolidation is best, then we should do that.
We are grieved to know that you think we're being destructive. This whole process has been as agonizing for us as we're sure it has been for you and each member of the Administration and Board of Trustees. But we believe that each parent in this system has a right and responsibility to speak up and be involved. And we're speaking up for something in which we believe very strongly. We have tried to do this with the love of Christ and we ask to be humbled daily to what God would have done.
As to consolidation, we don't believe that there is compelling evidence that this is the best thing for the system as a whole, individual schools notwithstanding.
- People have said that the Oakdale parents had a chance to be on the task force that is talking about consolidation, but no one joined. Is this true? Who is on this task force?
Oakdale has 3 representatives on the School Program Task Force: Principal Ashanti Bryant, our district board President Tim Hendrikson, and parent Sara DeBoer. Parent Kathi Groenendyk was also on the task force until December, when she resigned. Every system parent was invited to join this and other task forces by Superintendent Tom DeJonge, who sent a letter to each family in October 2007 regarding the Strategic Planning process.
Other members of this task force include Superintendent Tom DeJonge, representatives of Creston, Evergreen, Rockford, Millbrook, the Middle School, and the High School, as well as a few community members.
2 Comments
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I recognize the enormous task you have undertaken. I agree with your valid concerns. Your web site is valuable. I am forwarding it to friends whom I know are also concerned. Consider me a cheerleader.
My wife and I have been Oakdale parents as we sent all three of our children through Oakdale. We did so even though Sylvan was closer. We did so partly because they had cousins who attended Oakdale and were at that time in the Oakdale district and we wanted to support them. We also believed at that time that our socio-economic status would not be as good a fit for Sylvan--we may have been wrong.
Our children walked the one mile from Oakdale to home every school day for about ten years. They did encounter two incidents, one which involved the G.R. Police but neither one deterred them or us from them walking. Both ended up very humorous--though it could have been different.
I had six brothers and sisters attend Sylvan in the sixties/seventies. Ten of my siblings and myself attended Christian High.
We have lived and continue to live on the near southeast side of Grand Rapids just north of Burton and Kalamazoo Ave. When we purchased our home the neighborhood was entirely European-American. Now my urban planning son tells me the last census has European-Americans at 30% at most. I believe he is right.
Both of us were "preacher's kids."
My "street cred" goes further: My wife and I have worked for the Michigan Dept. of Human Services for two decades and more.
I have owned one rental home near Oakdale for 30 years (only one, that is all I could do a half decent job in maintaining)
My bottom line is this: perhaps Oakdale should close. I wouldn't have said that 5 years ago.
How many children who attend walk home from school as a percentage of the total numbers?
How many truly live in the neighborhood?
How many parents and children whose tuition has been subsidized "give back" to the system after they graduate? Here a couple of anecdotes: my CRC pastor father and my mother retired to G.R. with 7 children, K-10. They were never paid enough to afford tuition for 7 children even as a pastor. Their G.R. CRC church helped them. But, long, long after (over 30 years after) their last child graduated, they continued to support the "Christian Ed" fund. Such has not been my experience with those from non-CRC backgrounds and I have many such experiences! My wife and I by continuing to live in a modest home in an integrating neighborhood were able to pay the total amount but even before we had children we supported "Christian Ed." My observation: one almost has to be born and bred CRC to understand the sacrifice necessary and be willing to do it. (we have been blessed: one doing grad work at U of M, one at a top school of music, one at Johns Hopkins)
Now, how many of the pastors of the children/parents who are agitating to keep Oakdale open, have preached a "Christian Ed" sermon? Both of our fathers did. My father sent his children to Canadian Christian schools that should not have existed based on meeting academic criteria: teachers with only a high school diploma, teachers for whom English was a second language, teachers whose recommendation was that they had been in the Dutch colonial army.
He preached Christian Education. In another pastorate he preached in favor of it and as a consequence a school bus run of over an hour each way--over 30 miles one way, much on gravel roads--was begun. His first grader got on the bus and rode over two hours each day. He backed up his beliefs. (she by the way now has a Phd. and teaches at one of the top public universities in the U.S. so it didn't hurt her I guess)
I consider the above very important--I attended a CRC church in Grand Rapids for over 40 years--I remember one very weak sermon. I have had friends and relatives attend Neland Ave., Fuller Ave, Eastern Ave, Boston Sq., Grace, Sherman St.etc. They report a similar lack of commitment to Christian Ed!!! What can be expected as a result?
This has been lengthy: it could have been much lengthier.
God Bless.
Bernard Hoogland