After years of educating the teens of Canton, Timken High school threatens to merge with McKinley High School.
This plan to merge Timken and McKinley was developed by Canton school district superintendent, Adrian Allison. The “Brighter Tomorrow” plan would combine students grades 10-12 in McKinley, leaving the freshman at Timken. Allison introduced this plan to the students and parents of Timken on Monday Jan. 19.
According to Fox8news.com, Superintendent Allison said, “Becoming ‘One community. One high school’ is the right decision for our students and it is the right time to move foreword. I’m excited for this plan and I am hopeful that the community will come together to support it for the benefit of our children and our city.”
Adrian Allison firmly believes in the decision to combine these high schools. According to WKSUnews.com, without this merger, Canton would be in debt by 2017. If the merger is successful, it could push them above the line by $1 million. There is a problem in the Canton school district budget and if they do not act quickly, they could be in deep debt.
Despite the apparent benefits to this plan for both the city and the people of Canton, it is an unpopular proposal. Numerous jobs would have to be cut for this merger to be successful, putting many teachers out of work. Timken and McKinley have always differed in what they view as important.
“The district always favored McKinley because McKinley’s sports team was the biggest thing in the district. Timken was always exceeding in academics,” Timken alum Brandon Cole said.
McKinley’s sports programs are superior to Timken’s, though Timken has better career programs and academic opportunities. These things are too much for students, teachers and alum to abandon.
One Timken student, McKenzie Dalton, has started a petition to try and stop the merger from happening.
According to Fox8news.com, McKenzie said, “One problem this proposal creates is chaos and negative atmosphere in the school environment. Causing such a situation will affect everybody in the school and the community. Given the history of tension between McKinley and Timken, the merging will more than likely force many aggressive situations.”
The merger of McKinley and Timken is unpopular but likely to occur for economic reasons.
ie making, stocking and hat decorating, ornament making and decorating. The cookies were served and sponsored by Smith Dairy. Each activity cost a certain amount of tickets, and all the proceeds went to the Dane Foundation. To get into the festival, patrons were asked to make a donation of everyday toiletry items which included shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, paper towels, etc. All items and donations went to the Dane Foundation. The Dane Foundation tends to the unique needs of individuals with physical and developmental disabilities. Families were able to become an Elf at the Kandy Kane Express Holiday Festival. The festival also supports Project Elf. Project Elf is a fundraiser where families adopt families or individuals with disabilities and buy Christmas presents for them. The Dane Foundation also provides things that are not available through typical support services. The items include toilet paper, hygiene, cleaning, adaptive equipment and household items that offer comfort and enhance the quality of life. The Dane Foundation was named after Dane Edward Moser, who was born with multiple disabilities. His Cerebral Palsy affected his entire life, but he was said to never wallow in it and moved forward. Moser quietly passed away in August of 2009. Moser represents the successes people hope to have in their lives. His story tells of a young man who had overcome obstacles so he could inspire others. The Kandy Kane Express also supported Ms. Wheelchair USA organization on December 7. The Ms. Wheelchair USA promotes glamour, self-confidence and community service, celebrating achievements of women with disabilities. The Ms. Wheelchair USA organization was founded over 15 years ago as an Ohio-only competition, but has grown to national proportions in 2007 and is continuing to prosper The program provides opportunities for women with disabilities to show off their achievements and to educate and advocate others, while supplying a platform for community service and public decision. The program focuses on women’s abilities not, disabilities. The Ms. Wheelchair USA organization encourages professional advancement and require a public service. The program is not a beauty pageant, but has glamour, phases of competition including professional production numbers, entertainment and public appearances, and with crowning on national television. The program is presented by The Dane Foundation. Lowery Lockard, President of the Dane Foundation said, “Project Elf serves five hundred people with disabilities each year.”
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING--Anyone can call the tip line: 330-790-1383 or email safehs@smfschools.org 