Attention: Dan Phelan (Director of Accelerated Programs), Traci Pierce (LWSD Superintendent), and LWSD School Board

We represent the families, students, teachers, and community affected by the abrupt shut down of the Full Time Quest program at Ben Franklin Elementary. We are disappointed that we were not included in the decision-making process and in the poor way it was communicated. This decision is disruptive to our families and creates undue hardship moving us around like chess pieces. We claim the right to be "grandfathered" into the Franklin system through an implicit contract made when we joined Quest. We also acknowledge space constraints and the challenges that accompany the difficult decision to move the Quest program. We propose what we see as a fair compromise: that incoming Quest students will be diverted to other schools, but existing students get to finish out their time at Franklin and space will be available as they leave for middle school. We feel this phased approach is a more respectful and socially responsible solution than the current proposal.