No matter what happens, Wichita school boundaries are changing. While board members say they're largely satisfied with the preliminary proposal outlined last night many parents are not. They called a meeting tonight to organize what they'll do next.
"These are lot of people that are being affected. They're not just numbers and research. They are people and little kids and a lot of kids are going to be very broken hearted when their schools close," said parent Katie Gould.
If it were a measure of passion, school board members say they would keep schools open. The reality is they have to rely on the data and economics to balance budgets. Board member Jeff Davis said there really isn't anything parents could say at this point to change his mind.
Parents say the fight isn't over. They're organizing a march on February 20 urging school board members to slow down.
“I still think we can get through. I don't think they've gotten a lot of our information and questions,” said meeting organizer Jocelyn Goerzen. “Why it was chosen, why they didn't attempt to raise taxes first, why they're rushing into this when nothing's been approved, nothing's set in stone,” said Goerzen.
Board members say don't want to close schools, but they're out of options. Overall they're pleased with Monday night's proposal. It’s a hard reality for parents who face putting their kids in schools they don't approve or schools much farther away.
“He'll get put back in a neighborhood school. Lewis is 14 miles from our house and Emerson is 3 miles from our house. That won't work out for us,” said Gould.
