Introduction

On January 21st 2009, the Pine Plains Board of Education voted to reconfigure the Seymour Smith and Coldspring Elementary Schools from a K5 model to a K2/35 model. While public outcry may have delayed by one year the implementation of the reconfiguration, the Board remains adamant in seeing this through.

While there are many excellent reasons for reconfiguring our elementary schools, nothing comes without cost. The Board of Education continues to portray this reconfiguration in the best possible light, consistently downplaying any objection. Furthermore, in presenting K2/35 and the closing of Coldspring Elementary as the only options for financial savings, they have unknowingly played upon the fears that the closure of Coldspring invokes, driving people to accept K2/35 as the lesser of two evils.

There are many purposes for this Blog:

• First and foremost ensure that the residents of the Pine Plains School District are given the opportunity to understand that there are less invasive alternatives to reconfiguration.
  
• While we are blessed with ethical Board members, it is still necessary at times to supplement Board communication with the entire truth in order to ensure that residents are not misled.
• Organize the residents of Pine Plains so that we may speak with one voice.
  

The many public forums have failed to convey to the Board that the weights they have applied to the various advantages and disadvantages of reconfiguration are not in line with public opinion. Despite this, we must not give up hope. We must continue to make sure our voices are heard. We must hope that one day they will understand that perhaps..... perhaps..... perhaps we actually do know what is best for our children.