Wake Votes to Cut Class Sizes N&O Article (homes, school district)

[dansdrive]

In the spirit of something needs to be done this may not be the solution. It is to bad the State and County are arguing about class size when an overall shortage of adequate schools are not available. IMO this is like the life rafts that were used on the Titanic. Some were only filled to their recommended limits when the real problem was their were not enough of them for everyone. So some overcrowding is unavoidable until the new schools can be built. Let Wake County Public School manage it and let the stat move onto bigger and better things to solve like fresh drinking water for all of us.

Can't the Wake County Public School officials and the State Board of Education just get along? Let focus on calculations and equations in our classrooms and not use the students as the variables in those calculations!

newsobserver.com | Wake votes to cut class sizes (http://www.newsobserver.com/news/education/wake/story/954259.html - broken link)

[UNCMetsGal]

Not sure what you mean, dansdrive, there are LEGAL limits on class sizes, and if Wake violates them, they can request waivers. In fact, they did, and waivers were granted. Then they requested more, and the state BOE denied the requests. They also sent a letter to Wake's Superintendent stating that they wanted Wake to address the overcrowding issue at the schools with parents. Superintendent sent BACK a letter saying there was not state "statutory need" for him to comply. So the State BOE slapped him down a notch. I say good for the State, the arrogant Wake BOE and OGM need to be taken down a peg or two.

If they want to play hardball, let 'em play. There are LAWS though, which each district must follow, and to say that we should sweep aside laws so that Wake can "deal with growth issues" is dangerous and irresponsible.

[raleighjayne]

I'm with UNCMetsGal. What was really interesting to me is that WCPSS used the excuse of 'extenuating circumstances' due to the court ruling. I think that over half of the waivers were for classrooms in year round schools and that some of those yr schools are underenrolled.

[dansdrive]

Originally Posted by UNCMetsGal

Not sure what you mean, dansdrive, there are LEGAL limits on class sizes, and if Wake violates them, they can request waivers. In fact, they did, and waivers were granted. Then they requested more, and the state BOE denied the requests. They also sent a letter to Wake's Superintendent stating that they wanted Wake to address the overcrowding issue at the schools with parents. Superintendent sent BACK a letter saying there was not state "statutory need" for him to comply. So the State BOE slapped him down a notch. I say good for the State, the arrogant Wake BOE and OGM need to be taken down a peg or two.

If they want to play hardball, let 'em play. There are LAWS though, which each district must follow, and to say that we should sweep aside laws so that Wake can "deal with growth issues" is dangerous and irresponsible.

Agree 100% that laws should be followed or amended no question. But in the interim does it make sense to bounce the kids around like ping pong balls in a match? They need a solution that takes into account the children first. They can be mad at each other and blame each other all they want but don't make the kids the pawns. I agree they can all come down a notch or better yet throw the pole out and start using common sense for these un common problems.

[UNCMetsGal]

You'll get no argument from me that most of these people behave like children. But, as someone who has been following WCPSS and school issues for the past 3 years, I must say (IMO), the kids are ALREADY treated like ping pong balls. Reassignment, MYR, criss-cross bussing, up and at the stop at 6am (NOT ON YOUR LIFE), etc etc etc..

This is nothing new to me, but I am GLAD that the state (it seems, the only ones with the "power" to do it) is now trying to hold WCPSS ACCOUNTABLE -- that in and of itself is huge.

If WCPSS got back to the issue of EDUCATION, it would go a LONG way to resolving the problems they themselves create.

*plunk*plunk*
$0.02

[lamishra]

The easiest solution would be for WCPSS to put CAPS on student enrollment. If a class exceeds the state limit, that class is CLOSED. If a school exceeds the enrollment limit by a certain percentage, then the school is CLOSED and the students sent elsewhere, preferable to one of the new schools opening up. It would also help tremendously in those schools that are seriously overcrowded because people keep moving into the nodes where the "popular" school are. Once those schools are closed out, they'll look elsewhere.

[UNCMetsGal]

What REALLY chaps my hide is that there are UNDER-ENROLLED year-round schools, especially at the newly converted schools. That is absolutely APPALLING. EVERY SINGLE TAX PAYER should be OUTRAGED at this waste of money and the bureaucratic DOUBLESPEAK coming from central office and OGM.

It's why I left Wake County.

[Emitchell]

Originally Posted by UNCMetsGal

They also sent a letter to Wake's Superintendent stating that they wanted Wake to address the overcrowding issue at the schools with parents. Superintendent sent BACK a letter saying there was not state "statutory need" for him to comply.

That's not what happened. A *part* of the letter to the
superintendent from the state asked the superintendent to spell out
what they school system had done to notify parents their kids' classes
were over the limit.

The superintendent replied that there was not a specific state law
that required the schools to notify parents.

The superintendent never said the school district didn't
need to comply with state class size requirements -- as you are suggesting

[dansdrive]

Originally Posted by lamishra

The easiest solution would be for WCPSS to put CAPS on student enrollment. If a class exceeds the state limit, that class is CLOSED. If a school exceeds the enrollment limit by a certain percentage, then the school is CLOSED and the students sent elsewhere, preferable to one of the new schools opening up. It would also help tremendously in those schools that are seriously overcrowded because people keep moving into the nodes where the "popular" school are. Once those schools are closed out, they'll look elsewhere.

lamishra, I agree with you however in practice that would be challenged in court immediately. No one will bar a child from a public school no matter how crowded it is. The way people move in and out of homes here I don't know how the schools or municipalities can keep any semblance of order and planning. With the area slowing I think WCPSS can catch its breath and push to get more classrooms on line so our kids have adequate sized classes to nurture learning and not just be number or newbie.

[UNCMetsGal]

Originally Posted by Emitchell

That's not what happened. A *part* of the letter to the
superintendent from the state asked the superintendent to spell out
what they school system had done to notify parents their kids' classes
were over the limit.

The superintendent replied that there was not a specific state law
that required the schools to notify parents.

The superintendent never said the school district didn't
need to comply with state class size requirements -- as you are suggesting

That's NOT what I said.

I said the state (if you want to nit pick, yes in PART) asked for the Superintendent to address parents whose children's classes were overcrowded and that he replied there was no state requirement mandating his need to comply with that request.

Please re-read what I wrote.