Our neighbors to the northwest in Waukesha will be experimenting with a new configuration of its schools - not by geographical boundaries, but by age - according to a recent JS article.
It is interesting to note that this exact grade configuration was recommended in the notorious Paullin Group facility study the RUSD board commissioned. The study, done almost 2 years now, is now most likely gathering dust on the former Superintendent of Buildings and Ground's bookshelves.
One of the reasons why nothing has been done with the study is most likely due to the price tag of the recommendations - $375M! I believe, in part, that the reason the board has not acted on any of the recommendations is because of the grade configurations that were included in the final report. You see, the board gave Dr. Paullin specific guidelines for the buildings (Pre K-6, 7-9 and 10-12). They did not ask for the K-3 schools that Waukesha is experimenting with in their district.
I understand there may be some educational benefit in grouping children this way, but the negative unintended consequences of such a configuration outweigh any benefits.
Do most parents really want to have children split up that way? Can you imagine trying to schedule parent-teacher conferences? It's bad enough now! Also what happens to a 3rd grader that reads a much higher level than her peers? Don't we want to have parents involved in the schools, how easy will that be if a parent has to be at more than location at a time?
Actually, I think that districts that have K-8 schools (Union Grove, Yorkville, and most of the parochial schools) are the ones that are doing it right. Studies have shown that changing schools is a traumatic enough experience; now we want to to change schools 4 or more times in their young lives? Does that make sense to anyone?
What do you think - should RUSD re-engineer the schools to a K-3, 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12 configuration as recommended in the Paullin Group Master Facility Plan?
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2 comments:
NO! K-8, 9-12 works. Not only do I believe additional changes are disruptive for the students, but I'm wondering what additional administrative costs are associated with changes every 2 or 3 years?
I agree with you - if I had my choice, all reconfiguring of grades would be K-8 and 9-12.
Of course, that would be a logistical nightmare, facility-wise.
Currently, our elementary schools are not equipped for older students so it would take a massive overhaul to redesign the schools. Another facility study, blah-blah-blah...More consultants, blah-blah-blah...
Doesn't hurt to dream though!
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