Welcome to my regular Friday feature, Worst of the Week. As a white, suburbanite husband and dad of two kids, there’s a lot that can go wrong and this entry is all about how to fix it. I hope you enjoy it!

Last week I blogged about our Elementary school closing. Since that time we parents had a heated discussion this past Tuesday night with the Board of Education, the Superintendent and other officials. Many public comments were made in defense of the school staying open and/or not moving the 4th grade up to Middle School. Also, there were many sad stories from parents of special needs children and having to move them to new surroundings, thus interrupting their very important educational and social development. Mostly there was anger that there was no real specific plan formulated by the Independent Planning Commission to present to the Board and the parents. I attended the meeting with my wife, Patty, and we left with more questions then answers. In short it seems that the Board held the discussion just to please and patronize us parents and they will go ahead with the Planning Commission recommendation anyway.

Last night, Thursday, the Board held another meeting to accept or reject the recommendation that our school and another school will be closed and these students will be integrated into the four Elementary schools that will be remaining open. The passionate comments from parents of our distinct and specifically our school seemed to have work for the time being. The Board will delay the vote for three months thus allowing everybody to acquire the information they need to make a more pragmatic decision.

I feel that this is just delaying the inevitable. I sincerely believe that our school will be closed and Patrick will be attending Middle School next year as a 4th grader and then Erin will be attending a new school next year for 2rd and 3rd grades (Elementary) and then on to the Middle School for 4th.

It has even gotten to the point were Patty and I talked at length about moving out of our district so our kids could have a more well balanced education. This is a last resort, but it’s an option that is quickly moving up the list.

Truly a Worst of the Week in my book.

I do need to know from any of you who have had experience with a 4-8 grade Middle School. What are the pros or cons? I really need as much information as possible. Thank you very much.