tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895200797299787815.post-57762392249059442372008-02-15T09:59:00.000-06:002008-02-15T09:59:00.000-06:00Anon 7:23 - You are naive to think a calculator with NO WARRANTY of any kind proves anything. I would rather see someone research the property values in Ohskosh when Dale school closed. I have yet to live in a city where the property values decrease from year to year.<BR/><BR/>The "study" Mr. Hess mentioned at the board meeting is from Greenville South Carolina and there is a very telling comment from the article:<BR/><BR/>{In general, there is positive value associated with closer proximity to schools of all levels, and negative value associated with a significantly longer than average distance to schools.}<BR/><BR/>So it is not simply you used to live 1.3 miles from a school, now you will live 1.9 miles and your property values will drop (which is exactly how that calculator works) unless of course you consider 6 blocks significantly longer than average (which no reasonable person would agree with).<BR/><BR/>Another quote from the article:<BR/><BR/>"but the results also indicate that these values are influenced by proximity to elementary, middle, and high schools, a factor not previously considered in the empirical research. "<BR/><BR/>So at least according to this article "proximity to a school" has NOT previously been considered in the research, this is the first time it has been considered. <BR/>Here is the link to the article:<BR/><BR/>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4051/is_200704/ai_n19198702/pg<BR/><BR/>I do agree with you that schools need to close and we need to do what we can to improve our schools because what the research shows is the QUALITY of a school can affect property values NOT the proximity (as this article referenced by Mr. Hess clearly states proximity had not been looked at before but you are all hanging your hat on this ONE study?)Teresa Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01097990067216672469noreply@blogger.com