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Bill Pearson
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 02:47 pm |
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The senior age overlay is a Federal program that came from the Fair Housing Act with revisions coming in 1995 from the Housing For Older Persons Act. Here is a link with layman's language as to how it works: http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/article/Community/Protecting_Age-Restricted_Status/
As you will read, the language is specific to residential properties. While we have sent letters to owners of businesses who have been letting their properties deteriorate, intervening on what type of business they run has been outside our scope.
There are 31 Churches in Sun City and most do very nicely. They also do a great job of providing services, most to seniors. They also know their members are Sun City residents (for the most part). I suspect every one of them is cognizant of not riling up the parishioners nor the neighbors living by them.
I would hope everyone take a deep breath and see how this works out. I suspect this class will not make even the slightest of ripple, but if it does there can be several ways to remedy. In the meantime, enjoy retirement and all the great things Sun City has to offer. I bid two no trump.
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SunCityFan
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 05:15 am |
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You do realize, don't you, that no one outside a two block radius of the temple is even going to know that the school even exists ?
In fact, I bet if you hadn't read about it in the paper, the school could have been going on for years and you wouldn't be aware of it.
Besides, I seriously doubt whether they are planning to have any activities on any of your golf courses.
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Interested Sun Citian
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 02:57 am |
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I attended Sunday School when I was a child "in Church" in my own neighborhood and by my own parents. I was not carted off to infringe on people trying to live a quiet life in their senior years. We have rights too. We have a right to quiet, a right to play golf, a right to play bridge or whatever we want to do in our own way and not be pushed around by bleeding heart liberals. We pay dearly for this right and we expect to enjoy it. We have raised our families, taught them religion in our own way and without being forced to put up with what outsiders think they should be able to do to us. Why do you think there is such a thing as a 55+ community? Maybe you would be happier living outside Sun City being so right about what you think "you" want to do for the world. The next thing you are going to want is to incorporate Sun City so we can pay 5 times the taxes we pay today. Give us a break...we enjoy status quo.
We have our right to quiet enjoyment, let us have it.
Now, get in your last word as you are obviously going to do no matter what anyone else has to say. This is certainly my last word here.
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2JPs
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 02:34 am |
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My concern is still that the classes remain limited to just the 2 day a week religious education. I saw a school bus going west on Peoria Boulevard today and on the side was Youngtown Public Charter School. This was formerly the New Joy Church School and has become a public funded charter school.
There has to be a clear understanding that these classes cannot evolve into a public school within Sun City.
Here is a site with alot of interesting information about charter schools:
http://www.edreform.com/index.cfm?fuseAction=document&documentID=60§ionID=67
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momof4
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 11:01 pm |
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Boy, aren't you nasty about children, Interested Sun Citian? Weren't you a child once or have you forgotten or are you one of those retirees that hates children except for your own grandchildren and then you're happy when they only come to visit for a short period of time? Children keep you young in mind and spirit. Otherwise we would all sit around on the golf course or at home playing bridge!
Besides it's a religious institution and you may have a difficult time fighting this one. Other churches have won to have a school for children in other Maricopa County cities due to religious freedom. They took it to court and WON!
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Interested Sun Citian
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 08:12 pm |
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| I expect to be meeting with SCHOA soon and if there is enough interest I will try to set-up a meeting and will post the information here. This is a very serious matter and must be acted upon immediately.
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2JPs
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 08:00 pm |
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I just thought that since the SCHOA always is first to step up to the plate on issues of the Senior Citizens Overlay that they would be checking out this situation. They could also bring it forward to the county/state for analysis.
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SunCityFan
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 07:48 pm |
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Neither RCSC or SCHOA has any jurisdiction over this matter.
Any laws or codes pertaining to this would have to be County or State enforced.
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Interested Sun Citian
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 06:08 pm |
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| I am a friend of the Jewish community, however, this should not be allowed in our retirement community. I understand there is a Catholic church that has a similar program but only meets on Sunday and does not have plans, currently, for expansion. Who knows how many more? This is definitely something that could spread and the next thing we know they will be looking for a site to build an ecumenical school in Sun City. There are plenty of church locations outside of Sun City for this good work to be carried out. The matter is being looked into.
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2JPs
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 05:45 pm |
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I am torn on this issue. If the classes are only 2 days a week from 4 to 6:30 it doesn't seem to be a problem. This is not a school within the state educational system, but instead a religious education forum. It shouldn't impact anything but the immediate area during drop-off and pick-up of students.
It is the portable classrooms being brought in that might be at issue. Are there permits that must be obtained from the County or State that would see if they conflict with the Senior Citizen Overlay? Does the HOA or RCSC have anyone looking into the possible violations to our codes?
If there is any question at all, I'd say they should be required to use their existing structures or find another location outside of Sun City.
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Interested Sun Citian
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 05:33 am |
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| When the young become 55+ then they too can become part of the community. Until that time they should attend Temple/Church in their own area, there are many around the valley. There are very good reasons retirement communities are established and one is certainly to be with others of their own age. Grandchildren come to visit, not to stay or to come every day. Certainly in large numbers. Let us have peace in our own environment.
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Interested Sun Citian
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Posted: Wed Apr 9th, 2008 05:15 am |
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| This does concern me greatly and it is something I want to give a serious look at. It is one thing to conduct "Sunday" (Saturday?) School type classes and another to advance to daily classes with portable classrooms, day school, play grounds and etc. To say nothing about the congestion from hundreds of cars dropping off and picking-up children. Participants can only come in from outside Sun City. My greatest concern is to where such a school can lead. In 1974 legal action was necessary to stop the building of an elementary school in Sun City. This type of activity, of the size they seem to anticipate, does not belong in a retirement community. If it should lead to a public school we could lose our exempt status and our taxes would skyrocket.
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momof4
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Posted: Tue Mar 25th, 2008 06:52 pm |
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This is wonderful and I hope this school does well. The SC residents hopefully won't complain about this school since it doesn't have to pay school taxes toward the school and I do hope that the residents don't complain about the noise these children make especially if they are on a playground near a residential area.
All temples and churches should have a broad, diverse congregation from the very young to the very old. We can all learn from one another. If it's only a 55+ community the temple/church will become stagnant and eventually fade away and die out without its young to carry on.
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RustyBradshaw
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Posted: Mon Mar 24th, 2008 03:45 pm |
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By Rusty Bradshaw
Independent Newspapers
Sun City will have its first school in September.
Temple Beth Shalom will start a religious school at its campus, 12202 N. 101st Ave., with religious and Hebrew studies provided two days a week. The school is in response to requests and a need to adjust to changing times, according to Rabbi Shelly Moss.
“We are coming up on our 40th anniversary and mainly we have served those 55 and older,” Mr. Moss said. “But we are getting a lot more younger people (in the congregation) and we need to become more diverse.”
The younger congregates are coming from communities surrounding Sun City, such as Surprise and Peoria, Mr. Moss said. Temple officials receive increased inquiries about what activities are available through the temple for children, he added.
“What we are hearing from the congregation is that they are looking forward to it (the school),” said Marsha Gratz, the temple’s publicity chairwoman.
She believes the school will have no impact on Sun City residents.
“Our hours are not very intense,” Mr. Moss said.
Classes will be conducted 4:30-6 p.m. Thursdays and in the morning Sundays.
“Students at this school will be attending other schools (public or private),” Mr. Moss explained.
Elissa Rose will be the school’s principal, a part-time position. She also works part-time for Arizona State University-West as a field supervisor coaching student teachers. She has been in education 32 years, with 10 years administrative experience.
“We will offer Judaic studies and Hebrew classes,” Ms. Rose said. “The school will be open to students from kindergarten to age 13 and for Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation.”
Ms. Gratz said this will be the only reform religious school in the Northwest Valley.
“The closest that we know of is at 7th Avenue and Thunderbird Road in Phoenix,” she said.
The curriculum is approved by the Union for Reform Judaism and is a nationally recognized program, according to Ms. Gratz.
Temple officials received inquiries from two families about enrollment before the school went public. Registration begins April 1. Call 623-977-3240 or 623-374-3687. Students must be a member of the Temple Beth Shalom congregation to attend the school, Ms. Gratz explained.
While there has been some interested expressed by teachers, Ms. Rose said the number of teachers hired will depend on enrollment. The temple, which serves as a Jewish community center, has ample resources available for classes and other activities. While she seeks teachers with experience, Ms. Rose said her background allows her to train teachers on an ongoing basis.
“It will be easy to convert some of the rooms to classrooms,” she said.
While the school is starting slow, Mr. Moss and Ms. Rose acknowledge they look forward to growth for the school. Ms. Rose said there is already talk of adding a monthly pre-school program. They agree the ultimate growth goal would be to expand to a day school.
Mr. Moss said any growth in the school’s scope will not necessitate expansion of the temple structure or relocation.
“These facilities have all we need,” Mr. Moss said. “We’re not going to move.”
However, he said temple and school officials may look to add playground equipment. Ms. Rose also said growth may necessitate the use of portable classrooms.
Post your opinions in the Public Issues Forum at http://www.newszap.com. Lead News Editor Rusty Bradshaw can be reached at 623-445-2725 or rbradshaw@newszap.com.
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