Just DON'T tear it down!

"We're closing schools, but please give us more money."

Chances are, I'll be voting no.

Has the Middle School property been appraised? If so what is the value? When sold where does that $$ go?

What about addressing the situations at the overcrowded and underutilized elementary school buildings? One of the proposals from last years redistricting study was to switch to a lower/upper elementary and modified middle school model & if I recall corectly it had one of the largest finacial savings & desirable building utilizations. Without addressing the issues for children and families at the overcrowded elementary schools, which last years redistricting study was supposed to address but the school board choose to do nothing, it is my opinion that discussion of a bond proposal & decisions regarding use of facilitices is PREMATURE!

Currently, the interest rates for such a bond are lower than they have been in years, which is one of the arguments given for acting now.

I've also heard chatter the past couple of years that Central Middle School would offer a suitable venue for the city's recreation programs, with a swimming pool, athletic fields and gymnasium, and plenty of space for other programs.

Would that use be suitable? I know it's premature to apply a "Visions for Vacancies" for this property, but how would you like to see it used if the school closes?

I am beyond sad about them thinking to close Central Middle School. It was the High School my mother went to, it was the Middle School I went to and it is the middle school my daughter went to! How can they close such a historic building? We need to maintain Plymouths heritage and try to preserve not only it's old style buildings but also its safe family atmosphere. Modernization is not a good thing because along with it comes the isolationist mentality. Heritage and community are what have made Plymouth a safe place to live all these years. We can't afford to lose any more of it.

What's more concerning to me as a Plymouth resident and mother of elementary aged school children, but something Plymouth residents don't seem to care about, is that slowly but surely our children are being shuttled to schools outside of the city of Plymouth. Soon enough there will be no more schools within city limits because our "combined district" has been accommodating the growth of the southern and western regions of Canton. You can take your behemoth schools in west Canton any day of the week. My wish would be for Plymouth to have its own school district so that our kids could go to school in neighborhood schools with the neighbor kids they have grown up with, play sports with, parents know each other, strong sense of community ownership, etc.

I personally think it is long overdue to close Central Middle School. We cannot keep something going just from sentiment. My kids attended that school and it is very drab, cold in the winter, hot in the spring and fall. The dust and mold are not good for allergies, and I have friends who have taught there and told me about the bad conditions. It is an eyesore from most angles outside also. Is it fair when we all pay taxes and share schools that some in our district attend clean, air-conditioned middle schools, and others attend a dumpy, uncomfortable one? There comes a time when something has out used it's effectiveness. People who did not attend that school in their youth mainly see it as something that takes away from the beauty of the downtown area.

Why not turn Central Middle School into a Senior Living complex. I'm sure there's a need for it.

I'm with Annie, Jen, and Jennifer. There should be no discussion of closing an icon. Central is an important piece of the education our children receive. Just the children walking there from throughout the surrounding neighborhoods, and them building a sense of community, as well as security. I went to school in Livonia, and as I grew up, they closed each neighborhood school, shipping us to areas we weren't familiar with. Destroying tight knit friendships between families. Eliminating the blanket network each neighborhood community has in place, that provides the upbringing children need. I believe it is very detrimental to the children. Plymouth needs its owns school district. Plymouth is not Canton. In fact In some area's its getting ghetto like. I want our kids to enjoy a different upbringing. Plymouth homeowners choose to live here for the higher standards, and quality of life. I think our children deserve the same. I would even support a group discussing starting our own charter school at Central if they decide to close it. Not to discredit Canton, but its poorly planned development and growth has destroyed its former quaintness. Canton no longer shares any of the dynamics Plymouth upholds. There is a downside to diversity. Plymouth is special, lets not let the outside forces change our heritage.

I went to Central and graduated within the past 10 years. The combination of the staff there, still true today from what I see is second to none. None of the other schools teachers care about teaching you how to become a better member of society like Central.
Today kids in general need centimentality in their life and that is what Central is. Been through so much and is still standing. If it goes, there will be no more middle schools in Plymouth besides West, and only Allen Smith, and Byrd elementary schools with the future closure of Farrand.
Not to mention it will be good for no one with the future high class sizes with the closure of Central. Where will the teachers at Central go?
Central is an important part of our community in Plymouth and something most young people and Canton people don't and won't understand.

@ P: Central could easily be retrofitted with a simple and efficient heating and cooling system. Although many generations have attended school there and turned out just fine. Lets not get our standards to high. You make it sound like Central is similar to one of Detroit's bombed out schools.... Its not! Its needs a little TLC, thats all! Its not the look of the building, the old design, or the imperfections that educate our children. Its the teachers inside.... In fact in my opinion the location of that school is perfect, in that it offers our children the opportunity to be apart of the robust community that surrounds it. That school is beneficial to future generations of Plymouth residents. If just for the children who grow up around her. Central is special, although to many who don't understand the dynamics of our small town. its not understood. There is a movement out there that is downsizing our school system, consolidating schools, and uprooting children and busing them to foreign lands. Along with that comes diversity, and in many ways that has been destructive. There is a downside to diversity. I have heard from a great number of Mothers and Fathers here that would like there children to be apart of a smaller system, a Plymouth System. I think its time that our taxpayers begin discussing protecting our future as a community. It may be time to merge the City and TWP. Having one Police and Fire department and our own School system. Lets protect our Community.

@ Paul Schulz: "Protect our community." You are a racist. I have news for you: your zip code does not make you better than anyone else, so stop thinking that you are. Why don't you just spell out to the people what you think the "downside" to diversity is? Perhaps Central is a special landmark, but it is not because of your "robust community" or "heritage." These are merely racist codewords for "white." You should move to Howell. I hear they don the white sheets pretty freely out there.

@ Rob in CANTON: The Plymouth community is, and has always been open to everyone. There is no racism here whatsoever. At least I have never heard of even an incident. Is it wrong to speak up, and voice my opinion? I was not in any way racist. I refer to "protecting my community", as maintaining the highest quality of life. I have stated, and will state again, that a community that is intact, similar to the old days, had its own systems, a simple government, efficient and small. A community police, and fire department. Its own school system. This traditional version, is a true community. It enables a more controlled environment, to ensure a higher standard. An independent system free from consolidation, that provides the best management, and oversight, to ensure its taxpayers the value, safety, and services afforded them. I am not racist Rob in Canton, come and live in our community, you are more than welcome to. Its a great place to live.

Several people have commented that Central should be saved, in part, because there are great teachers there. You do understand that they let the teachers leave before they bulldoze the building, right? There are great teachers there, despite the rundown facility. Could you imagine how they will thrive in a school that is up to date? There is nothing wrong with admitting that a building is no longer fit to serve its purpose anymore - the district didn't so anything wrong, the staff didn't do anything wrong, the students didn't do anything wrong - it is just a fact of life.

To address those that are saying our student are being shipped out of town to school, you do know that there are two middle schools within a mile of Central, right? We are not talking about Michigan Ave and Beck Rd, East is about a mile away and West is maybe 3/4 of a mile away. Maybe Canton is the one getting shafted on Middle Schools? Two in the City of Plymouth, two in Plymouth Twp and one in Canton.

To address the issue of creating our own district for just Plymouth...c'mon...

I'm not saying we should save Central. As school buildings go, I believe that it is an antiquated heap. If the physical space interferes with the students ability to learn then it's time to move on. Let it go. It's not the White House for God's sake. My concern is that as a Plymouth resident there has not been one new school built in my city to serve my children. Instead, my kids have to get on a bus to go miles away into another city that has new buildings simply because that city has seen growth in population. I love Plymouth and think it is a great viable city. I have lived most of my adult life here. The one thing that keeps me from giving Plymouth a "10" is that we share a school district with Canton. Sorry, my Canton neighbors but it's just my opinion. I know a lot of families in Plymouth that feel the same way. They bought in the community years ago just hearing that the schools were good and since things have changed both in the Canton community as well as the school district they are now feeling less than satisfied but since their kids are too entrenched in their schools/friends feel unable to move. Me, I'm putting my house up for sale in the spring and heading to Northville. I actually like the Plymouth community better than Northville believe it or not. I love my downtown, love my neighbors, my parks, library, city services, etc. I am moving simply because of the schools. Plain and simple. Plymouth could be even better than Northville if we had our own schools.

I believe that bond proposals made in the past to update Central were defeated by the voters. I don't want to send my kids to a school that is in such bad shape.

And for those worried about overcrowding other schools and the teachers at Central who would be let go...did you all miss the study done last year that showed that the birth rate in Wayne County has been in a decline since the early 2000's? One of the reasons (not the only one) that the elementary schools have less kids enrolled is that it is impossible to enroll children who were never born. Last year's report clearly shows that this population shift was only a few years away from being noticeable in the PCCS middle schools. I knew then that the discussion of closing a middle school was on the horizon.

The real problem is this district it just to big to manage effectively with a board of elected officials who all march to the beat of a different drummer. They all want something different, they all ask for something different and the administration and staff is forced to spend countless wasted hours following up every hair brained scheme the board members throw at them. In the end despite all data, reasoning and common sense we will get another politically diluted do nothing vote just like last year.

The board failed to address problems at the elementary level. Now they pretend like that has been fixed and are moving on the their next failure at the middle school level. If they want equity at all the schools then they should close Central and utilize the double wide trailers for the remaining Middle schools to deal with over crowding. That's what we got for a fix last year.

*reposted with corrections*

Why is it that all the downtown plymouth-ite's talk about not wanting to close this building yet fight tooth and nail to make sure the boundaries are drawn so their kids go to west instead of central? Why is it that the boundaries are drawn so that this school, in the heart of a wealthy city with few miniorities has the largest percentage of minority and free/reduced lunch students. If it's so great, then send your kids there, but we all know that won't happen.
The FACT is this school cannot be renovated to have anywhere near the equity of the other middle schools. Study after study over the past decade has shown this. Teachers in the building are successful in spite of, not because of, the building they work in and if you ask any teacher in that building they will tell you they WANT it closed. I like historic buildings as much as the next person but schools need to be places where learning can occur without unneeded impairment.

The FACT is Central has more acreage, more SQ footage and more amenities than any other middle school. Tennis courts, A track, full soccer field, full football field and a pool and sits in the heart of the most densely populated area in the district. It has more potential than any other middle school in the district ... if it was properly renovated, maintained and managed.

I agree the districting is horrible, the boundary for the school should include the entire City of Plymouth. I, as a "Plymouth-ite", would be happy to send my kids there rather and West if they would fix the place and do a proper redistricting.

There are some things that you just don't change. Central is located there by our forefathers for a specific reason. To provide a school of higher learning for the "Plymouth Community". No need for buses, kids could walk, in the safety and security of the Plymouth sidewalks. Neighbors get to know the kids, as well as the shop owners, which offers the community interaction. Students may be declining now, but there is a greater demand today in residential housing in small communities, where neighborhood schools are preferred, for the reasons heard here. The dynamics are the same from many years ago. There is a great respect for a simpler way, an old fashioned way, and Plymouth, especially downtown offers that. I think it would be great to isolate ourselves from our neighboring communities, and protect our way of life. The leaders in our public schools, as well as in our local governments are destroying our community. Lets get out of Canton, we could support our own system, and our children could have a much better education, free from the new generic model. I saw it happen in Livonia when I was an elementary student, when they started closing neighborhood schools. Its destroyed entire neighborhoods, lifelong multi - generational relationships, and forced diversity, in which there is a downside, upon our children. I am 40 now, and its happening in our community. Its pretty simple to me, liberalism is a mental disorder. One police, One fire dept. and our own school system.

Closing Central is long overdue. As others have pointed out, it is really old and in poor shape compared to the other buildings. This will also allow the middle school boundaries to be redrawn much more sensibly so more Canton Township kids can attend Discovery. I always disliked the fact that the vast majority of the district's population comes from Canton but 4 out of 5 middle schools are in Plymouth.

One more thing - Central was recently given a "C" by the Michigan Department of Education, which is the lowest rating for any school in the district. Apparently it isn't as good as many of the commenters here would have us believe.

I have a question, perhaps someone here could provide me the information. How many students within the Plymouth-Canton school district come from the Plymouth Community? How many in High School, Middle, and Elementary? Does anyone know those numbers? I would like to know....

@ P: You should complain to the School Board, why there isan't a crossing guard where you child crosses. That is unacceptable! P, thats a weak argument about Central, kids all over the community walk to school crossing streets where drivers speed. I suggest you talk with the Police department and inform them about issues of speeding in School zones, that you have witnessed. They will patrol it. In front of our offices there is a crosswalk for kids, with a crossing guard. Plymouth has also started program using real speed signs throughout the community. They are currently being rotated from location to location. I think they should be permanently installed where there are speeding issues. I watched them on our security cams, and when people see the blinking speed at which they are traveling, they immediately slow down. Maybe at the next City Commissions leadership should be reminded, for such a small investment, a dozen or so of those speed signs could be purchased and permanently installed for the safety of everyone. Has anyone noticed the new signs, actually they have been moving around for about 6 months.

How is it the district just last year recommended closing three elementary schools and is now asking for additions to the four remaining middle schools? Meanwhile, charter schools are siphoning more and more K-8 graders away from traditional schools. If Central needs to go, the district ought to consider changing the grade/building configuration before looking to add to their overhead amid a dwindling population of students. Let's see the district's Count Day results before we make a decision. It's unfortunate the technology and bus upgrades are tied to the middle school expansion; they would have a better chance of getting passed if presented separately.

@dswan - one of the recommended proposals last year did include the closure of a middle school. It was arguably the proposition that entailed the most change since it redistributed population across the board for grades 1-8. That was a bigger bite than the board was willing to chew last year so they quickly decided to only talk about the elementary schools.

Unfortunately, instead of making the hard choices for the district as a whole, residents are forced to suffer through piece-meal attempts at restructuring based on population in or condition of a particular building.

The board really kicked the can down the road by only closing one elementary school. Had it committed to a macro level change, millions in operating expeses could have been saved, elementary schools feeding multiple middle schools could have been corrected, and future incremental changes could have been avoided. Instead, the board caved when the families affected by more closings made their case. The Observer reported that by 2017, it's expected that the district's middle school population will decrease by 600-900 from today's levels. If that's the case, there is no reason to expand the current middle schools or build a new one.

How many students who attend the Plymouth-Canton school district are from the Plymouth community. How many in High School, middle and elementary. The answers to those questions could be very helpful. With those numbers I could easily evaluate whether it would be more practical to break Plymouth off into its own small district. If the system is shrinking in enrollment, perhaps it would be beneficial to the students. Canton should have its own system, it once needed us, it no longer does. We could have an elite system of our own, with smaller class sizes, and nothing short of excellence.

I have lived in Plymouth my entire life. Central was Plymouth HIGH SCHOOL long before it was rededicated as a middle school. This is WHY it has all those lovely amenities, like a football field, soccer fields, pool, etc. If you really are into the history of this town, try educating yourself on it's history.

I couldn't be happier that they want to close Central. It was nasty 30 years ago when my husband when there. Now my daughter, a Kindergartener, would have to go there. The thought of her spending 8hrs a day 5 days a week for 3 years in that old moldy building makes me want to look into private schools (which with 3 kids wouldn't be easy). I'm sure there is plenty that can be done with the building it someone wants to pour the money into it but, it really is an eye sore. My husband and I are lifelong plymouth residents. I understand the need for historical buildings. The Penn is great! I love going to a movIe there but, I'm not required to spend 40+ hrs a week there either. There are MANY beautiful buildings in Plymouth worth fighting for, Central Middle School just isn't one of them.

Central is a great school.Period. If we can afford to add on to other schools, take that money, put in individual heating and cooling units in each room.presto, magico, DONE. Dealing with the heat was minimal,only a few days a year....NEVER heard ANY complaints about it being cold there.NEVER...Teachers and staff, and PTO there was pretty darn good.

I am currently at Central and I wouldn't have it any other way! Shout out to Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. VanderWal in the library for being freakin amazing! Mr. Ballard, Mr. Dinan, Ms. Eagles and Ms. Medley are the BEST coaches ever. Mr. Ruela and Mr. Hunter have the administration right. Coach LaPointe is the ultimate P.E. teacher. Huge shout out to Ms. Smith, Mr. Helmes, Mr. Calzone and Mr. Jadallah for doing bus duty EVERY day. NJHS would not exist without Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. Stop, Mrs. Mollick, Ms. Wells and Mrs. Boyd. Our morning announcements are hilarious on staff members birthdays thanks to Mr. Boyd. Plus 7th hour, WEB leaders and so many more clubs.
PCCS world not be PCCS without central

derp Mrs. Anderson is on NJHS as well sorry Mrs. A