Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Dave Allison speaks Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012, on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Brian Steines, a parent of two GCA students, addresses the Gilbert School Board, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Lisa Nicita,left, holds her daughter Lulu, 2, while addressing the Gilbert School Board, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Gilbert Junior High parents of students address the Gilbert School Board, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
A student takes notes during a Gilbert School Board, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Dave Allison speaks Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012, on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Dave Allison speaks Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012, on the proposed issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Dave Allison, left, prepares to start a Gilbert School Board meeting Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012, where the closing and repurposing of Gilbert Junior High is on the agenda. The school would be repurposed as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Gilbert School Board discusses the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 at Mesquite High School. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Parents of Gilbert Junior High students listen as the Gilbert School Board discusses the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 at Mesquite High School. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Gilbert Junior High students listen as the Gilbert School Board discusses the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 at Mesquite High School. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Mike Garcia addresses the Gilbert School Board , Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. Garcia has had all four of his kids attend the school. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Mike Garcia addresses the Gilbert School Board , Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. Garcia has had all four of his kids attend the school. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Mike Garcia addresses the Gilbert School Board , Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. Garcia has had all four of his kids attend the school. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Rob Guderian addresses the Gilbert School Board , Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Michael Brewer addresses the Gilbert School Board , Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Michael Brewer addresses the Gilbert School Board , Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
The Gilbert School Board meets, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 with the closing of Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy on the agenda. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
Scott Tolbert, a teacher at Gilbert Junior High for the past 14 years, addresses the Gilbert School Board, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 on the issue of closing Gilbert Junior High and repurposing the school as the Gilbert Classical Academy. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]
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Gilbert Watch posted at 8:41 pm on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
The Board never led. They never governed. With the exception of Staci Burk, they did their best to flim flam their way away from their own INEPTITUDE to whomever was available.
The issue isn't whether or not Gilbert Classical Academy has outgrown its elementary school site, because it has. The issue isn't whether or not GCA is a phenomenal school. It is. The issue isn't that Gilbert Jr High School has a declining enrollment. It has. The issue is that this Governing Board has NEVER GOVERNED! It is a rubber stamp to whatever the District Officials want to do.
This so-called Governing Board doesn't Govern at all. They failed the Gilbert community, because they DIDN'T FOLLOW THEIR OWN STRATEGIC PLAN. That plan stated in 3 different places to INVOLVE COMMUNITY! They didn't do that.. The ONLY speaker to place the blame where it belonged was KAREN UDALL, a former Gilbert Board member.
Nothing will change until these people are REPLACED with people whose commitment is to the Gilbert community, and to fiscal responsibility. Those people are Julie Smith, Daryl Colvin, and Eric Johnson. Each of these people have a stake in Gilbert. They are committed to Gilbert's children: ALL OF THEM.
Vote for the non incumbent posted at 5:17 pm on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
The national politics are ugly and corrupt enough to drive you nuts. So do you think it is any better in Gilbert? No. The school board did exactly what WestenConnections said, with the added feature of purposely pitting parents and schools together to create a professional wrestling like environment. It was plain ridiculous. It appears that there are favored students that are related to school board members and other politicians, a construction company politicking for this to happen, un-quantified future expenses, and the ugliest thing of all, they just taught the students at both schools that they can get what they want at the expense of someone else if they have the right pull. This was a disgusting display of politics and everyone of these corrupt sacks with the exception of Ms. Burk need to be tossed out. Regardless if you "won" (GCA people), you have to recognize what a sham this was to the parents and students of the 7th graders who now have to go to 4 different schools in 4 years so your kids can get out of the asbestos filled building you are in now. But most important, do you think they will not sell you and your children down the road as the did with the 7th grade class at GJH? Really want to bet on it with your kid? You have stolen something from these kids, have the decency to toss that rats that caused this mess out of office before they do something like this again. Just because you benefited this time, does not mean you always will, they cover their butts first and care about you and your child last. Think about it.
WesternConnections posted at 12:15 pm on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
The key to just about everything GPS does can be answered by asking the question, "Who benefits from this?" In their haste to push through this repurposing, board members admitted that Gilbert Classical Academy was a "perk" for GPS employees, who get first dibs on their children attending what appears to have become a private academy for a select few rather than admission being based on merit, as most people used to believe.
Gilbert Jr. High parents immediately recognized that sitting board members who voted for the superintendent's recommendation were vulnerable to being "unelected" for this top-down decision that seemed to have been made long before it was presented to the community. The fact that the community was given 6 days notice does not meet the requirements of Arizona law, so the vote can be challenged as illegal. Given the public outcry against this move, you have to wonder if the current board would change their minds if forced to vote again.