Practically Speaking

Seems to me that this is the perfect time for the school district to throw up its corporate hands and declare bankruptcy! No doubt we could interest 'nobody's senator but ours' to float us a few billion dollar bailout 'earmark'.

Shucks, we could air condition, double gym seating capacity and add boxes, fully embellish theaters, and provide the finest artificial turf for each and every field venue for both high schools.

What's better than freshly printed money, I ask you?

Kyle's reply: A bailout? Why didn't I think of that! ;-) 

Do we notice that the meeting time of 1:30-3:00pm seems to preclude attendance as that is the time many parents are working, and others are either picking up their children from school, or preparing to greet them they hop off the school bus?

Kyle's reply: I was a little surprised at the time too, but I don't know that there is ever a good time. If more of these sessions are offered at other times, hopefully all will be able to attend that wish to? 

Hi Kyle, those are good thoughts.  

Perhaps the alternate times would be 7:00-8:30am when many people are bringing their children to school or to the bus stop?  Or at a time which rivals school concerts, conferences, etc?

We have noticed the size of our daughter's classes increase over the years, ostensibly as "extra seats" were found for open enrollment.  One of our daughter's classes contains 33 students this year.  I *think* the max allowed is 35 students?  I believe the class sizes are approaching the max allowed?  If the district is planning increased class size as a budget-stretching strategy, it may be important to understand that this approach has already been in play for several years and therefore it's benefits may be nearly exhausted?

While I remain interested in the subject, after several years of juggling schedules to attend meetings many parents find the ill-scheduled meetings generally discourage parental input in other ways as well.  Often one finds that the one-way flow of information could have been accomplished with a simple paragraph or two included in any of the regular communications: school newsletters, The Link, city newsletter, district website.  Therefore, ironically, holding a meeting sometimes seems a way to graciously side-step the sharing of information.

Perhaps I will just wait a bit and read the news coverage of the meeting?  

Kyle's reply: Cheri, I think you more than gave at the HG&D meetings! 

Yes, I and many others have spent hundreds of hours researching and in meetings over the past year for the Human Growth & Development issues.  May I say, being a member of a committee is a tad different than casual attendance at a meeting.  

Soon we will give of time, effort, and talent to the HGD parent advisory committee again.  Three 2-hour meetings are scheduled FOR ALL PARENTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES TO REVIEW THE ENTIRE k-12 CURRICULUM, OR ANY PORTIONS THEREOF.  Personally, I do not believe 6 hours is sufficient to review the entire k-12 curriculum including videos, DVDs, printed materials, etc, for this would imply 1/2 hour of instructional materials per grade level. Even viewing one video or DVD may use most or all of the time alloted.  More time has been requested of the district.  The district has also been asked to provide copies of the not-yet-approved high-level-outcomes as a check-off-list for matching each of the instructional materials to their proposed outcomes during the review.

Meeting dates and times will undoubtedly be announced by the district but if you'd like as much advance notice as possible, and not risk overlooking a tiny notice on an obscure page, here is the info board members and HGD parent advisory committee members have received:

Tue Dec9 4:30–6:30PM, Fri Dec12 1–3PM, Tue Jan6 8:30–10:30AM

Again, many parents may be working at these times. The second meeting may be especially difficult to attend as it also coincides with school dismissal. Special arrangements may need to be made in advance, juggling schedules to attend.  I hope many will find it to be worth the effort.

There is not really a single time that's good for everyone.  Sometimes it seems there is no time that is good for anyone.

On the bright side, Cheri, I noticed that some of my comments to you made it into the HG&D recommendations, and the school board certainly took notice of strong opinions in the community.  Perhaps you have accomplished more than you think!

Kathryn

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I passed along input from a number of interested people who for various reasons could not attend meetings but felt comfortable sharing their thoughts with me.  In the process, my own thoughts evolved.  Meanwhile, my daughter remains opted out of HG&D... her choice... we study at home. We both like that.