I have had 24 hours or so to assimilate the recent RUSD board decision to postpone a decision on redistricting, and I have a few more thoughts on the matter. Dr. Warner, the board member that proposed creating consensus by reaching out to the community for answers, does make a couple of excellent points.
1. This board, and past boards, have not effectively reached out to the community. All of the past efforts were kind of last-minute hodge-podge attempts, and the forums that were held were often not well attended by many sectors of the community.
2. Past community efforts have not built consensus in the community. I believe it is because most of these community efforts were broad-based and open-ended, meaning there were ambiguous questions and people were free to discuss just about anything they wanted.
While these kind of forums are great, what ended up happening (I believe) is that the faciliators asked, "What would make a great school district"? to 400 people and got back 400 different answers.
I'm not an expert on data collection, but maybe any future efforts should drill down to the answers that board and administration are actually seeking.
I do know this, however, any hardline action either way will most likely tick off at least 50% of the population. It is clear, in my mind anyway, that some sort of compromise is needed.
We need good schools for EVERY child in Racine, and the parents are the best judge of what school is best for their child. It could be a magnet school, a school down the street, or a school close to the parent's place of employment.
We already have school choice within the district, and it is extremely popular, why not just expand it and create a 100% choice district?
Showing posts with label Redistricting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Redistricting. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Unified puts off redistricting again
I have to admit I was not surprised by the headline Unified puts off redistricting in today’s paper, however, I am extremely saddened and disappointed. Too many other things, like addressing special education needs and grade configuration, will now be delayed even further until the board makes a decision. Redistricting is the first step that needs to be taken, and the decision has been postponed for years:
It was delayed in March of 2004; the board then decided in August of that year to hold community forums to find out what the community wanted. These forums were held and the board received a full analysis a few months later.
A 2005 facility study showed that many schools were operating over the maximum capacity – citing the need for a massive redistricting.
In the beginning of the 2005 – 2006 school year, the board put redistricting as one of the big items that would be handled that year. However by February those plans to redistrict was put on hold once again.
In the beginning of the 2006 -2007 school year, the board again planned on addressing redistricting, along with grade configuration. I believe administration told the board that they would need a decision by February in order to implement the plan successfully. That date was changed to March 19th, but the board decided to postpone the decision once again, citing the need for more information.
I truly do understand that this is a difficult decision to make – but it is a decision that NEEDS to be made. Any decision made will probably infuriate 50% of the population – no decision will be a good one, politically-speaking, but the decision needs to be made quickly.
Does the board really want to postpone this for another year?
It was delayed in March of 2004; the board then decided in August of that year to hold community forums to find out what the community wanted. These forums were held and the board received a full analysis a few months later.
A 2005 facility study showed that many schools were operating over the maximum capacity – citing the need for a massive redistricting.
In the beginning of the 2005 – 2006 school year, the board put redistricting as one of the big items that would be handled that year. However by February those plans to redistrict was put on hold once again.
In the beginning of the 2006 -2007 school year, the board again planned on addressing redistricting, along with grade configuration. I believe administration told the board that they would need a decision by February in order to implement the plan successfully. That date was changed to March 19th, but the board decided to postpone the decision once again, citing the need for more information.
I truly do understand that this is a difficult decision to make – but it is a decision that NEEDS to be made. Any decision made will probably infuriate 50% of the population – no decision will be a good one, politically-speaking, but the decision needs to be made quickly.
Does the board really want to postpone this for another year?
Monday, October 29, 2007
Leaving Las Vegas
I returned this morning from a weekend trip to Vegas, we took the red-eye and got home about 7:00 am. I feel like doing nothing but sleeping because I think I got a total of 6-8 hours of sleep for the entire weekend, but it appears I should probably make an appearance at tonight's RUSD board meeting.
The board MAY finally make a decision on how the elementary schools will be redistricted, recommendations for the superintendent search firm will be made, and finally, the budget will be approved. Obviously, this is not a meeting that should be missed - there is bound to be ENDLESS and painful discussion on all topics.
But having just returned from Vegas I have an idea that will make the redistricting decision easier - use a Roulette Wheel!
Bet half on Black - Redistrict by socioeconomic status.
Bet half on Red - Redistrict using neighborhood schools.
The board cannot possibly make a decision that will make the entire community happy- face it letting the Roulette Wheel make the decision for them will at least make for a shorter meeting...
The board MAY finally make a decision on how the elementary schools will be redistricted, recommendations for the superintendent search firm will be made, and finally, the budget will be approved. Obviously, this is not a meeting that should be missed - there is bound to be ENDLESS and painful discussion on all topics.
But having just returned from Vegas I have an idea that will make the redistricting decision easier - use a Roulette Wheel!
Bet half on Black - Redistrict by socioeconomic status.
Bet half on Red - Redistrict using neighborhood schools.
The board cannot possibly make a decision that will make the entire community happy- face it letting the Roulette Wheel make the decision for them will at least make for a shorter meeting...
Monday, October 08, 2007
Redistricting by the numbers
Tonight, the RUSD Board had a work session on redistricting; they had an update from administration on the proposed scenarios which was followed by discussion. Schools should reflect the community they serve, and the board rightfully directed administration to redistrict the schools to reflect the Socio-Economic Status (SES) make-up of the community as best it could, as based on recommendations of the Equity and Access Committee.
OK – here’s the numbers, because I’m a numbers kind of person. The current SES for schools included in the study is 53% - which translates to 53% of the children qualify for free or reduced lunch. The RUSD board would like all of the schools in the study to use a SES guideline of 30-70% - basically plus or minus 20% the district average.
Redistricting Scenario #1:
District SES average for schools included in the study - 56.58%
Number of schools out of compliance with SES guidelines – 4
Redistricting Scenario #2:
District SES average for schools included in the study – 52.54%
Number of schools out of compliance with SES guidelines – 10
Redistricting Scenario #3:
District SES average for schools included in the study – 54.51%
Number of schools out of compliance with SES guidelines – 2
Simply looking at the percentages of SES, the 3 scenarios are not that far off from one another, that’s not the problem.
Numbers are easy to understand, it’s the “emotional quotient” of what these numbers represent that may be the problem.
Scenario #1 is our current configuration, which based on the recent Supreme Court decision, is illegal - so go ahead and scratch that one off the list.
Scenario #2 is where ALL children will have the opportunity to attend a school close to their home, and Scenario #3 is where children will be bussed to balance SES.
Of course, it’s not really about the numbers, is it? It should be about providing EVERY child with a great school filled with qualified teachers and educational opportunities that will engage EVERY child. There are advantages and disadvantages for each scenario which I’m sure will be discussed at length, but sometimes it’s easier to make an “emotional” decision when you have the facts before you. Let's try to keep these facts in the back of our minds as we go forward in our discussions.
OK – here’s the numbers, because I’m a numbers kind of person. The current SES for schools included in the study is 53% - which translates to 53% of the children qualify for free or reduced lunch. The RUSD board would like all of the schools in the study to use a SES guideline of 30-70% - basically plus or minus 20% the district average.
Redistricting Scenario #1:
District SES average for schools included in the study - 56.58%
Number of schools out of compliance with SES guidelines – 4
Redistricting Scenario #2:
District SES average for schools included in the study – 52.54%
Number of schools out of compliance with SES guidelines – 10
Redistricting Scenario #3:
District SES average for schools included in the study – 54.51%
Number of schools out of compliance with SES guidelines – 2
Simply looking at the percentages of SES, the 3 scenarios are not that far off from one another, that’s not the problem.
Numbers are easy to understand, it’s the “emotional quotient” of what these numbers represent that may be the problem.
Scenario #1 is our current configuration, which based on the recent Supreme Court decision, is illegal - so go ahead and scratch that one off the list.
Scenario #2 is where ALL children will have the opportunity to attend a school close to their home, and Scenario #3 is where children will be bussed to balance SES.
Of course, it’s not really about the numbers, is it? It should be about providing EVERY child with a great school filled with qualified teachers and educational opportunities that will engage EVERY child. There are advantages and disadvantages for each scenario which I’m sure will be discussed at length, but sometimes it’s easier to make an “emotional” decision when you have the facts before you. Let's try to keep these facts in the back of our minds as we go forward in our discussions.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
RUSD work session on redistricting planned
From the RUSD website: The Board of Education has scheduled a work session on Monday, October 8, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at the Administrative Service Center in the Board room.
The topic of the work session will be update and discussion on redistricting by administration.
This may be one of the first times the public will see and hear the new interim superintendent, Dr. Jackson Parker speak. While I am confident that this meeting will not break any new ground in the sometimes contentious neighborhood/busing debate, I think it will be interesting to hear what the "newcomers" to the district have to say.
I'll try to post something immediately following the meeting tomorrow if time permits.
The topic of the work session will be update and discussion on redistricting by administration.
This may be one of the first times the public will see and hear the new interim superintendent, Dr. Jackson Parker speak. While I am confident that this meeting will not break any new ground in the sometimes contentious neighborhood/busing debate, I think it will be interesting to hear what the "newcomers" to the district have to say.
I'll try to post something immediately following the meeting tomorrow if time permits.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
It's about time...
Updated at 9:06AM 8/27/07:
Nevermind, the redistricting work session has been cancelled due to the "special meeting" tonight at 7 and the "secret meeting" at 5:30.
In my never-ending quest for documented information regarding the PBCG contract, I recently visited the RUSD website. What I found was surprising, at least to me anyway. I found a notice of a scheduled work session meeting that will discuss redistricting.
My first thought was, “WHAT IS THE BOARD THINKING??? DON’T THEY HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT??
(Actually that is not exactly what I was thinking, but Racine’s Report Card is a family-friendly blog, so you will have to put up with my edited version)
However, I quickly recovered and started thinking about past board actions (or should I say inactions??). As I see it, NOTHING ever gets done because important and EDUCATIONALLY BENEFICIAL decisions are always put on the back-burner as the board flits from managing one crisis to another.
(Yes, I realize this crisis may be more serious than past ones, but I digress)
Thankfully, it appears that this behavior has come to an end! Going ahead with the business at hand, while still managing the current crisis IS the right thing to do. I wholeheartedly applaud the board, and its new leadership in Mr. Baumgardt, for trying to accomplish what we, as taxpaying voters, elected them to do.
It’s about time…
Nevermind, the redistricting work session has been cancelled due to the "special meeting" tonight at 7 and the "secret meeting" at 5:30.
In my never-ending quest for documented information regarding the PBCG contract, I recently visited the RUSD website. What I found was surprising, at least to me anyway. I found a notice of a scheduled work session meeting that will discuss redistricting.
My first thought was, “WHAT IS THE BOARD THINKING??? DON’T THEY HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT??
(Actually that is not exactly what I was thinking, but Racine’s Report Card is a family-friendly blog, so you will have to put up with my edited version)
However, I quickly recovered and started thinking about past board actions (or should I say inactions??). As I see it, NOTHING ever gets done because important and EDUCATIONALLY BENEFICIAL decisions are always put on the back-burner as the board flits from managing one crisis to another.
(Yes, I realize this crisis may be more serious than past ones, but I digress)
Thankfully, it appears that this behavior has come to an end! Going ahead with the business at hand, while still managing the current crisis IS the right thing to do. I wholeheartedly applaud the board, and its new leadership in Mr. Baumgardt, for trying to accomplish what we, as taxpaying voters, elected them to do.
It’s about time…
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