Regarding the Long Range Facilities Plan, superintendent Belin-Pyles mentioned that next month, February, the process and planning for the revision of the Long Range Facilities Plan will be discussed. This ought to be good news as this is something that is overdue. The current Long Range Facilities Plan still reflects the days of promised new school construction that are now vanished. And for what I understand every single school facility change needs to be approved by the state, from classrooms dedicated to Special Education students to moving entire school populations to different locations. My interpretation on this one might be wrong, corrections are welcome.
It was also said that PAAAS will stay where it is and that both the Middle Schools will be taking 6th graders back. To accommodate PAAAS growing student population there was a not too clear indication that the Pre-School program that shares the building with PAAAS will be moved. Where? It was not clear.
All the remarks on reconfiguration at last night's meeting, if they happen, are mainly to solve current overcrowding and to follow state class size guidelines and regulations, this is a welcome sign that the district and school board are looking to align the district with state regulations. Congratulations.
Yesterday, at the open comments section only two people spoke, one parent and yours truly. I am going to see if the parent who spoke wants to share her views here, so I am not going to touch her comments until I hear from her.
Of my three observations, or questions, one is not mine. Reader J sent me a comment on the overcrowded schools yesterday:
Maria,Reader J's comment touched a sore point for many of us who are in this position (this year I joined the crowd by opting out of the school district and sending our 7th grader to private school at our own expense, and with a non-tax deductible tuition.) Anyway; I brought Reader J's comment forward to the school board meeting last night after doing a Census search on how many Plainfield kids were eligible to attend Plainfield public schools.
Just imagine if all the children who were eligible to attend Plainfield Schools attended? A good number of students who are eligible attend private schools...It is amazing because not only do a good number of them not attend the public schools, but if their parents own their home, the taxes still go to education for the local district...It just started me thinking after reading your blog today.
The 2010 census count is as follows:
Under 5 years of age, which includes the pre-school age group, 3 and 4 years old, had 4,151 kids.
The Plainfield school district, as per October 2011 enrollment numbers, serves 1,377 preschoolers.
Ages 5 to 9 age group, which would be your Kindergartners to 3rd/4th graders, had in 2010, 3439 kids.
Ages 10 to 14 age group, 5th to 9th/10th graders, had in 2010, 3243 kids.
Last group, 15 to 19 age group, typically 10th to 12th graders, counted 3,411 youngsters!
So, from Kindergartner to 12th grade, as per the 2010 census, the city of Plainfield has an approximate number of 10,093 kids! This is not counting the pre-school age group.
The Plainfield public school district, as per October's enrollment, only serves 6,530 students from K to 12th grade.
The difference then would be around 3,500 students that get their education somewhere else!
Reader J ended her message to me:
What would happen if all of us who have opted out of the Plainfield public system were to come back? Where would the space be?
And this, proper space, along with a properly run educational system is where the next post will be.
Much thanks to Reader J for giving a voice to those who until now have remained silent.
3 comments:
Although I wanted to go the meeting last night schedulling made it impossible. However, the decisions that have been stated in your blog show more clearly that the previous decision to reconfigure the schools a few years ago did not work. Now the board wants send the children back to the middle schools to eliminate the overcrowding problems but it still is not addressing the core problem which was the middle school have not been successful. Even with a 3 year break with 50% student body the improvements which should have been larger are the same. I wonder now what will happen when they start receiving more students or will parents just opt out and send their children to private or charter schools?
What really is a puzzle is currently the district receives monies to cover students that don't attend the schools here. What would have if they all came back? Also what would happen if parents were able to move their children's district share to the town or school they attend outside the district? This option is currently given to parents who have special needs children but what if it was available to all students? Would the district become a ghost town? I for one would be the first one to take the money and run.
Currently, under the Christie administration, the townships of Springfield, Kenilworth and Winfield Park allow students within Union Country to attend their school (only for underenrolled grade levels and following the protocol outlined in the School of Choice options on the NJ Department of Education website.)
I just noticed that since someone mentioned the IP Fingerprint identification of "anonymous" "Maria's Blog" commenters, the hostile comments which attempted to defend questionable and opaque BOE practices have evaporated.
Transparency is the key to excellent educational practices!
BOE documents belong to the public and administrators should proudly share them or quit/be fired.
Anonymous defenses by BOE insiders is not in any PPS job description.
The anonymity of potential whistleblowers is, however, completely understandable...especially given the state of the current administration.
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