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Eric Zhang, 12, watches fellow Elkhorn students play softball after school Friday. Elkhorn has recently been placed on a list that could mean the end to the highly sought-after school. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
Elkhorn School to close?
LUSD committee eyes possibility of closure
STOCKTON — Lodi Unified's Budget Advisory Committee will decide Wednesday night whether or not it will recommend closing Elkhorn School to compensate for the $8.2 million the district must make in budget cuts.
The district could save approximately $250,000 by closing the school, said Doug Barge, chief business officer for Lodi Unified School District.
The suggested cut has caused concern among parents, teachers and students at Lodi Unified's only exclusively Gifted and Talented Education school.
"Elkhorn is one of the best things about Lodi Unified, and it would be a shame to close it down," said Stella Webber, whose son is an eighth-grader at the school.
Other recommended cuts include scaling back transportation and doing away with the district's class-size reduction program at the third-grade level.
Elkhorn School was put on the chopping block May 14 at the Superintendent's Budget Advisory Committee meeting, when a committee member suggested closing either Turner Elementary School, Clements School or Elkhorn School, said Trustee Calvin Young, who is one of two board liaisons to the Budget Advisory Committee.
Young said the three schools were chosen because of their low student populations and the ability of the students to go to nearby schools.
The committee did not discuss closing either Turner or Clements schools, but did take a 7-6 vote in favor of adding Elkhorn to tentative list of recommendations that will eventually go to Interim Superintendent Len Casanega.
Young would not say whether or not he would support closing Elkhorn School if the recommendation were to reach the board, saying he's obligated to have that discussion in an open forum.
However, Young did say that due the governor's revised budget released this week, the district's budget woes might not be as dire as originally anticipated.
"I don't think we're going to be seeing that," he said about Elkhorn's closure.
Casanega confirmed Young's statement.
Social studies teacher Judith Gores, left, and PTSA vice president Phyllis Vlavianos talk about the possible closing of Elkhorn School on Friday at the school. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
"The amount that the district will be required to cut is significantly less than anticipated," Casanega said.
He estimates that the district will have to cut less than half of what was originally planned.
Barge emphasized that although Elkhorn School was added to a list of possible recommendations, the committee and the district must take several more steps before it finalizes cuts.
"The list is nowhere close to being done," Barge said.
First the committee will formulate a list of possible cuts, Barge said. They will then prioritize those cuts based on what they are willing to cut first.
The list of recommendations will then go to the superintendent before going to the school board.
The board is expected to adopt a balanced budget June 17.
Barge echoed Young's remarks that the district is expecting not to have to cut as much from its budget as it originally anticipated. He won't know how much less it will have to cut until Monday.
Scott McGregor, principal at Elkhorn School, said news of the Budget Advisory Committee's suggestion did ruffle some feathers.
"It created some concern with our staff as well as our parent committee," he said.
McGregor went on to say that the suggestion still has to go through more steps before coming to fruition.
"Though it's certainly of concern, it's just a recommendation at this point," McGregor said.
Parents at Elkhorn are taking the suggested recommendation as a more immediate threat.
"I think it's horrible," said Jennifer Conradi, whose son Brendan is a fourth-grader at Elkhorn. "I think they can find (the money) somewhere else."
Phyllis Vlavianos, vice president of the school's Parent, Teacher, Student Association and parent of a sixth-grader at the school, said she's not only against closing the school, she's against closing the school so soon.
"They're talking about next year. We've already made plans," Vlavianos said.
Parents plan to attend Wednesday's budget advisory committee meeting to protest the recommendation to close Elkhorn.
Students aren't crazy about the idea either.
"We don't want the school to close," said Rachael Boyle, 11, a fifth-grader. "It's important to us."
Earlier in the school year, Elkhorn parents protested a districtwide lottery that would that determined which students would attend the school for seventh and eighth-grade.
Contact reporter Amanda Dyer at amandad@lodinews.com.
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Lodian wrote on May 31, 2008 12:17 AM:
Lodian wrote on May 31, 2008 12:06 AM:
Oh my goodness, gresham, the ignorance in your post is plentiful. I can't decide where I should start with you. I will use restraint. First, you should at least read the posts before personally attacking with your flip little jabs. You obviously missed quite a few facts already stated. Come back and try again later. Geez, I hope you are not a representative or product of an Elkhorn education (what a disgrace!). I suspect that many from Elkhorn would kindly like you to shut your trap as you are not furthering their cause. FYI, my opinions are based on years of experience in the GATE program and as an advocate for the highly gifted. "
rw_gresham wrote on May 30, 2008 11:24 PM:
Yours truly
RWG "
Lodian wrote on May 26, 2008 11:43 AM:
Lodian wrote on May 26, 2008 11:40 AM:
Im sorry to hear that your previous school in Stockton had bad kids in it. However, it should not be the Lodi Unified School Districts responsibility to create an all GATE school so students can get away from bad students. FYI, there are bad kids at Elkhorn too. With that said, I believe that every child should have the opportunity to go to school and not be burdened with bad kids around, but thats not real life. As parents, teachers, administrators and students we should all work together in making all the schools a safe learning environment so all the children can thrive, not just the identified GATE children.
You need to know that Elkhorn is very expensive for the district. That is the main reason they are now looking to put it on the chopping block. We, as a district, can no longer afford such luxuries as an entire school dedicated to identified GATE students. The bussing alone costs the district a quarter of a million dollars alone.
In closing I would like to share with you that there is an entire world outside of Elkhorn where you can/will do very well. There are many GATE students that are at their neighborhood schools doing very well. If your family is interested in a private school then that is their option, but the district can no longer afford such a school and should think of ALL the students in the district.
I look forward to your response.
Have a great day!
Lodian
"
hcblade95 wrote on May 26, 2008 9:03 AM:
I have been in Elkhorn since 4th grade and I strongly believe that I have learned a lot more than if I was at other schools. I have the ability in Elkhorn to work with my peers and set challenges and goals for myself. It allowed me to use the most out of my "Gifted-ness",as they call it, to enhance my learning experience. The teachers are MUCH better at here, too. I was actually challenged by the work, which I believe helped me learn, unlike some schools. In my opinion, I don't know WHAT would happen if we didn't have at least ONE school like this.
To the people who doesn't want Elkhorn to continue: I want you to look at the people in your child's school. How are they behaving? When I was at school for the first time in Stockton (I moved) in 3rd grade, I can realize FOR MYSELF that I was not going to learn anything. The kids there were bad, fight went on, teachers didn't even give the children any challenge whatsoever. I got straight A's all the time in that school, so did many other kids that went there that later went to Elkhorn. I believe that every school should be like Elkhorn that gives kids challenges and makes them really THINK.
Basically, Elkhorn enhanced my learning experience. I don't know what I would have done without going to the school. I can feel my life being better after going to the school. Working with my peers allowed me to express my giftedness to others.
I don't want this school to close down. Besides I have one year left. :D I want to at least finish. Don't ruin the experience of the other students.
Harvey Ching
Elkhorn 7th Grader "
Lodian wrote on May 23, 2008 11:44 AM:
Lodian wrote on May 23, 2008 11:26 AM:
dyan wrote on May 23, 2008 10:07 AM:
Observer wrote on May 23, 2008 9:46 AM:
Lodian wrote on May 23, 2008 8:56 AM:
Lodian wrote on May 23, 2008 8:49 AM:
Robb wrote on May 22, 2008 7:36 PM:
Lodian wrote on May 22, 2008 6:51 PM:
jess wrote on May 22, 2008 4:33 PM:
Rhodie wrote on May 22, 2008 1:03 PM:
That said, all I see closing Elkhorn doing is encouraging more parents to send their kids to private schools. "
Aimee wrote on May 20, 2008 9:32 AM:
Aimee wrote on May 20, 2008 9:27 AM:
Lodian wrote on May 19, 2008 4:04 PM:
Lodian wrote on May 19, 2008 4:03 PM:
gadzooks wrote on May 19, 2008 3:46 PM:
WY wrote on May 19, 2008 2:39 PM:
They brought some woman in from Sacramento to explain the issues of a gifted child. Special needs class simulations. She had graphs of how the State spends the money. Call LUSD office and ask how to get that info. I got a google girl, I'm not one. :) If you want a good education for your child, You have to be involved. "
Aimee wrote on May 19, 2008 2:11 PM:
Sam: the elementary school has a good curriculum and teachers that really care about their children...I went there myself once upon a time. But watch out for the music teacher.. "
zinfandel wrote on May 19, 2008 1:46 PM:
sam wrote on May 19, 2008 12:34 PM:
When I say "at the beginning" I mean the SDA elementary school. "
Aimee wrote on May 19, 2008 9:09 AM:
Lodi Academy isn't what it used to be, unfortunately. "
Aimee wrote on May 19, 2008 9:06 AM:
Jenn H wrote on May 18, 2008 10:28 PM:
papercut wrote on May 18, 2008 9:34 PM:
Lodian wrote on May 18, 2008 5:43 PM:
sam wrote on May 18, 2008 4:46 PM:
If I had kids in school now I would go private. I love Lodi Academy.
LUSD is too top heavy to support the teachers and meet the needs of the students. Look at Len Casanega's salary fiasco. What an embarrassment. "
OTH wrote on May 18, 2008 4:41 PM:
We pay the einsteins that run the school system a lot of money to do their job. An yet no I know parent who is happy with the shcools, "
Lodian wrote on May 18, 2008 1:10 PM:
"
sam wrote on May 18, 2008 10:41 AM:
School is not just about learning the curriculum, it is also a place where kids grow socially and learn to exist and work with kids of all levels. "
sam wrote on May 18, 2008 10:40 AM:
I have to agree with you.
My kids are GATE kids and I refused to send them to the GATE school. They received a great education and took advantage of all the honors classes and other opportunities available. "
Observer wrote on May 18, 2008 10:38 AM:
OTH wrote on May 18, 2008 10:25 AM:
Like I said she found their little slush fund of profit from the lunches. They are not supposed to make a profit on those. "
OTH wrote on May 18, 2008 10:21 AM:
I would love to see the numbers. There is supposedly a certain amount budgeted for the GATE students, regular students and handicapped students.
My sister found with my nephew they were not getting things they were supposed get to because nobody knew about them. The money went somewhere else. cont'd "
Gadzooks wrote on May 18, 2008 7:32 AM:
Lodian wrote on May 17, 2008 11:13 PM:
"
Lodian wrote on May 17, 2008 11:10 PM:
"They tell us in the beginning of your experence with GATE that the State spends the least amount of money on GATE."
This district spends a lot of money on GATE. There are all day GATE classes at LUSD sites schools, GATE resource teachers, a pull out GATE program, GATE cluster classes and don't forget an entire school dedicated to GATE students (Elkhorn). And remember these GATE kids attending Elkhorn are bussed in, adding another expense. Yes, theres a pretty penny spent on GATE students/programs. "
WY wrote on May 17, 2008 10:25 PM:
And NO... the cluster classes are a waste of time. Just more work not qualtiy. 4th grade cluster classes were a JOKE at Reese school so were the teachers. They put a level system into progess and called it GATE. The kids rotate classes. Levels low med and high.You are placed acording. Nothing special there. To many kids and The teachers couldn't separate the GATE. There is no GATE at Reese. But they tell themselves what ever they need to so they can be all "Distinguished"
"
OTH wrote on May 17, 2008 9:10 PM:
I didn't mean that comment to sound as harsh as it it did. Would still be interested in your reply. "
Robb wrote on May 17, 2008 5:00 PM:
papercut wrote on May 17, 2008 2:06 PM:
Lodian wrote on May 17, 2008 1:49 PM:
Hrtz wrote on May 17, 2008 1:28 PM:
Lodian wrote on May 17, 2008 1:27 PM:
Lodian wrote on May 17, 2008 1:25 PM:
Lodian wrote on May 17, 2008 1:23 PM:
"
OTH wrote on May 17, 2008 1:16 PM:
Needless to say when they saw they had a tiger by the tail they shaped up their act and she became a advocate for the handicapped. What the state law said they were to have they got.
Needless to say her name is Mudd but if she shows up at a meeting there's some long faces. "
OTH wrote on May 17, 2008 1:11 PM:
What is your problem with them finding money for handicapped kids education?
I have a handicapped nephew (not in this district) and my sister has had to fight for everything he got. She did find out in that district they were making a $50,000 a year profit on the lunch program. cont'd "
zinfandel wrote on May 17, 2008 1:09 PM:
zinfandel wrote on May 17, 2008 11:12 AM:
nocoen wrote on May 17, 2008 8:10 AM:
Closing Elkhorn would be a slap in the face of the site staff, students and parents who work well together.
The common theme amongst the schools that are succeeding is parent involvement. If parents demonstrate that education is important, the chances of their child succeeding goes up. Go to BTS Night, Join PTA, take one vacation day and volunteer to help in the class room. Ask you kids teacher(s) how they are doing and is there anything you can do to help...you would be surprised at the results....
It is during these difficult times, we need to help our schools the most. "
Observer wrote on May 17, 2008 7:43 AM:
A Lodi Mom wrote on May 17, 2008 7:31 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.