Despite recognizing Cherry Tree Elementary School families and the neighbors were not given adequate input and involvement, the Carmel-Clay School Board passed the proposed Cherry Tree softball complex with a vote of 4-1. The lone dissenter, Greg Philips, cited the school administration's failure to respond to his request that they provide a detailed analysis of alternative sites suggested by the public as the basis of his opposition.
Assistant Superintendent Roger McMichael presented an adjust…
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Added by Scott Henderson on April 28, 2008 at 11:00pm —
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This past week, school officials met with representatives of the Cherry Tree Elementary community. It has become clear that the school corporation is determined to locate the softball complex at Cherry Tree, despite the opposition of the surrounding community.
The adjustments will be made public on Monday, April 28 at the monthly school board meeting. Elements of the plan include:
1. Fence only three of the four fields, leaving the southeast field open for elementary school and public use.
2.…
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Added by Scott Henderson on April 27, 2008 at 11:00pm —
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With the school board meeting this Monday (April 28), a number of different community groups have voiced their individual positions. Now is the time for us to find a win-win solution. How can we provide the softball team with better facilities without disrupting an elementary school environment?
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Added by Scott Henderson on April 24, 2008 at 3:33pm —
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After 2 1/2 hours and many different perspectives from the packed room, the April 15 Carmel-Clay School Board special session came to a close. Here's what came to light:
The softball families have years of broken promises and a large accumulation of frustration. The school administration promised them last spring that they would break ground on a new complex at Prairie Trace. When those plans changed and the revised proposal for Cherry Tree was tabled on March 28, their frustrations went past t…
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Added by Scott Henderson on April 16, 2008 at 10:30pm —
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For the past three weeks, a small group of Carmel citizens have taken it upon themselves to craft the best long-term solution for the high school softball complex. Since the school corporation has relied on a flawed decision process in its site selection, our citizen group decided to obtain original records from city, county, and other school districts' sources.
Here is a list of the research we performed:
- Comprehensive title searches for all land belonging to the Carmel-Clay School Corporati…
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Added by Scott Henderson on April 14, 2008 at 11:00pm —
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The further we dig, the clearer it becomes - the school administration hasn't done its homework and is headed down the wrong path with the revised proposal for the high school softball complex. Faced with a clear need to provide better facilities for our community's young female athletes, administrators have taken a myopic, band-aid approach to trying to fix the problem.
The revised proposal presented at the March 24 school board meeting fell well short of its promised mark of a satisfactory co…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 27, 2008 at 11:00pm —
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Thanks to everyone who attended the March 24 school board meeting, especially those who spoke publicly (despite the discomfort of public speaking). We have won Round One by stopping the school from making a final decision without obtaining sufficient public input.
Round Two is now set for April 15 at 6 pm. This public hearing is our most important opportunity to shape this conversation. Parents and families living in the Cherry Tree and Prairie Trace elementary schools have the greatest interes…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 24, 2008 at 10:30pm —
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This email was sent on Friday, March 21:
Carmel-Clay School Leaders:
In accordance with my pledge to President Stephen Backer, I have publicly praised you for your willingness to listen to our concerns about the original softball complex proposal. Further, our coalition has rallied the neighborhoods surrounding Cherry Tree and Prairie Trace to support the Cherry Tree upgrade and Prairie Trace practice fields. To emphasize our point, we have produced a brief video outlining our position.…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 21, 2008 at 10:54am —
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From direct conversations and emails with school officials, the Spotlight can confirm the original Prairie Trace Softball Complex is waning. In its place, the school corporation has crafted a revised plan that centers on a phased upgrade of the existing Cherry Tree complex and will include two practice fields at Prairie Trace with no lights, stands, or PA system.
The details of this proposal are being finalized this week and will be presented at the school board meeting on March 24. Carmel resi…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 12, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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City of Carmel officials have verified that the school corporation had a meeting with them on Tuesday, March 11, to present significant revisions to the softball complex proposal.
Specifics of the revised plan will be available later in the week. They are expected to include a phased rebuild of the Cherry Tree complex and two practice fields with no lights, stands, and PA system.
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 12, 2008 at 11:05am —
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Like an airplane revving its engines and starting to roll down the runway, we are building momentum.
In just five days, we have welcomed 128 members, collected 80 signatures on our petition, and had 222 viewings of the video.
Keep pushing the throttle forward!
In the next 24 hours, you can make a significant difference by doing five simple things:
1. Invite 5 friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow parishioners, etc. to join the conversation.
2. Sign our petition - we want 200 signatures by F…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 11, 2008 at 11:34pm —
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The momentum has shifted in favor of keeping the softball complex at its current location. That is why it is more important than ever to keep up the flow of emails and phone calls to the key decision makers (we encourage everyone to keep their comments as civil as possible).
We are holding an organizational meeting on Tuesday, March 18 at 7pm. Please gather at the clubhouse in Moffitt Farms (on the corner of 131st and River Road - access from River Road). We will be sharing key information abou…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 11, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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Below is the text of an email that has been sent to those of Carmel residents who voiced their opinions to Assistant Superintendent Roger McMichael:
From: Roger McMichael
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 2:09 PM
Subject: FW: Proposed Softball Complex
As you may know a neighborhood meeting was held at Prairie Trace Elementary School on March 4th for the purpose of presenting the proposed softball complex project to the neighbors and to consider their input. Many of the concerns you note i…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 11, 2008 at 9:04pm —
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Below is the text of an email from Nicki McNally (used with her permission and Pres. Backer's confirmation of the contents):
I just spoke with Stephen Backer, the president of the School Board. He said based on Roger McMichael's email, the softball complex will NOT be moved to Prairie Trace. They will follow the recommendation in his email. (
Go Now to read Mr. McMichael's response, if you have not…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 11, 2008 at 9:00pm —
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What to voice your opinion on the Softball Complex Proposal? Here are the best people to email:
Carmel-Clay School Corporation
Stephen Backer (School Board President) - sbacker@ccs.k12.in.us
Greg Phillips (School Board Member) - GPhillips@ccs.k12.in.us
Joseph Miller (School Board Member) - jmiller@ccs.k12.in.us
Bruce Calabrese (School Board Member) - bcalabrese@ccs.k12.in.us
Jeffry Carter (School Board Member) - jeffry.carter@sbcglobal.net
Re…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 8, 2008 at 11:00pm —
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As more people join this site, we will begin to have different opinions and view points. Joining and creating groups allows you to connect with our site visitors who share your stance. Being a part of the same group will allow you to communicate with each other and help coordinate your actions.
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 8, 2008 at 10:30pm —
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Like any grassroots movement, the key is to reach out to people you know. The easiest way is to use the "Invite" button and customize the invite message.
If you are at a loss for what to write, please feel free to copy and paste this:
Hello! I thought you'd like to know about a new website called The Carmel-Clay Schools Spotlight. Its address is http://carmelschools.ning.com and was just launched.
It was started by Carmel families who want their voices heard about school board decisions. With…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 8, 2008 at 8:40am —
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I thank you for being one of the first to join the conversation at the Carmel Schools Spotlight.
This site has three main purposes:
1. Share news and information
2. Give everyone the chance to voice their opinions
3. Help you take action
Like you, I am disturbed by the school corporation's questionable decision making process. The softball field complex proposal (coming on the heels of the elementary redistricting fiasco) made me realize we, as citizens, need to rally together.
This website i…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 8, 2008 at 12:06am —
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On March 4, 2008, the Carmel Clay School Corporation held its first public forum for the proposed high school softball complex, even though planning began in July 2007. This $2.5 million project has already received financing approval, which occurred during a February school board meeting with no discussion and no public awareness.
The proposed complex would have four softball diamonds, a two-story building, two lighted fields (with 70' light poles), and a public address system. Situated on the…
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Added by Scott Henderson on March 6, 2008 at 11:30pm —
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