The District 150 Board of Education voted Monday to close four schools — Kingman, Tyng, Irving, and a high school to be named later — and increase class sizes.
Combined, the operational savings by the end of the 2011 school year would mount to well more than $11 million.
Yep, and we were supposed to be enjoying $9 million in savings this year due to the closing of Blaine-Sumner and White schools. Who wants to bet me this new $11 million figure will similarly evaporate and a new crisis will emerge in 2011?
How will the “protesters” help with this transition? Now that the decision has been made, I hope they put their efforts into making this situation as smooth and successful as possible. Time to put down the signs, roll up the sleeves and REALLY help students.
People in this town just like to protest stuff.
Jane sez: “How will the “protesters” help with this transition? Now that the decision has been made, I hope they put their efforts into making this situation as smooth and successful as possible. Time to put down the signs, roll up the sleeves and REALLY help students.”
Excellent! Still, this will chap many asses so doubtfull.
Jane: They will move across the river, to Bartonville or Dunlap. Those who can’t move will continue to be victimized by our Board of Education and District Administrators. Maybe Peoria Christian will explode their enrollment and have to build another school.
“the School Board also adopted increasing class sizes ”
what is this all about? “operational savings ”
What is their “excuse”? “Severely hampered by revenue shortfalls, no cash reserves, declining enrollment and teaching in buildings built nearly a century ago”
How clever of them not to mention wasteful spending on 4 superintendents (including paying off Royster’s contract), countless consultants both in and out of house, unbelievably overpaid administrators and teachers, and failure to produce learning results.
The School District just committed suicide.
When’s the next school board election?
C.J. is right; Kcdad, so are you–at least, I could find no fault with anything in your last post. 150 will find some way to squander any savings–and I don’t believe it will be on teachers’ salaries.
Ben, according to the district’s website:
Gorenz – term expires 2010 (District 3)
Wolfmeyer – term expires 2011 (District 2)
Butler – term expires 2012 (District 2)
Parker – term expires 2012 (District 2)
Ross – term expires 2013 (District 1)
Spangler – term expired – will replaced by Laura “Eyebrows McGee” Petelle 07/01/09 (District 3)
Stowell – term expires 2011 (District 3)
i hate to admit this, but i reluctantly agree with kcdad. in fairness, i had an awful morning and my grumpy tendencies are in full force. he forgot to mention accountants. i know of a recent hire at 90k that is president of library board, was otherwise unemployed until D150 hired him, [portion of comment removed by blog owner].
“i had an awful morning and my grumpy tendencies are in full force”
Welcome to my world
They are increasing class size by 3 students. The horror of it all.
“increasing class size by 3” from ?
Nick Weedi writes
I vote close the schools
Since every study ever done… from Socrates to KenHinton… has proven class size is inversely proportional to student achievement, ANY increase in class size is a failure of the school system.
I’m with Nick… close ’em all!
This is nick
I thinking if they close a bunch of schools, have a few more fights at local gas stations and places, then peoria could balance their budget by arresting the brallers and charging that 20.00 extra free.
why is it when their fighting it over their turf, territory why they don’t use any wrestling moves anymore.
I guess the effects of class size depends on the research you read. Manual Principal Sharon Kherat just wrote to me about the John Hopkins program that ,
“The courses are often taught to over 30 students per section, although we recommend no more than 25.” Of course, she also indicated that covering a year’s English in one semester and going without English for a semester and a summer with not be a problem. The students will be taught so well in that semester that they will retain the information.
All I can say is that the student body has changed considerably since I left–if these expectations have any chance of becoming reality. 150 administrations and some board members manage to live in a real dream world–I had forgot (until last night) that Mary Spangler also lives in never-never land. Maybe I’m not open to change, but shouldn’t change be based on some semblance of reality?
To Emtronics-I will have a kindergarten student in the fall. I know our class sizes at our school currently are 27 students per classroom so that is 30 children per room 1 teacher…no aides, no assistant..varying levels of needs . I don’t know how children are able to have their needs met. I can leave the district and go to smaller class sizes in virtually every other area school. This school closure decision makes me sad.
Jenny: When school starts next year, I think we should split up the schools among several of us and ask for the actual class size of all classes by grade and high school by subject. It’s time that this “class average” nonsense cease. The administration has been getting away with violating the teachers’ contract long enough.
I believe Ken violated it Monday by adding 3 to class size without negotiating with teachers. He used the excuse that, according to the contract, they try to stick to class size numbers “whenever possible.” That isn’t the same as actually raising class size to make the new number the norm.
I need a nap: again my grammar – (from an earlier post) make it “I had forgotten”–my score on this blog is not meeting AYP standards
Well, the average class size in District 150 is 17. 3 more students would make the average class 20 but in some cases I am sure that classes will be larger. I am part of the baby boom and went to District 150 schools when classes were big. 30+ students was the norm. We lived. Lets wait and see how this plays out before everyone starts second guessing how big classes will be.
Sounds like next year will be rich with volunteer opportunities for any person/parent who is concerned that the kids need extra help.
I’m looking forward to pitching in to do whatever I can to help my school.
Contact your local school and volunteer to help.
Exactly, EmergePeoria, let’s not expect our “experts” elected and appointed to do their jobs with their salaries, let’s relieve them of their responsibilities by doing what they should be, but aren’t doing.
After all, as it is, they are getting paid for doing nothing (at best) and we aren’t volunteering to fill their shoes. We might as well continue to pay them for doing nothing AND volunteer to do their jobs.
BTW, can anyone else here the school and county boards across the river cheering District 150’s decisions to close more schools? (Or is it the realtors I hear cheering?)
How again do they not have enough money? I know my property taxes have gone up quite a bit over the last few years. And everyone I have talked to have had their taxes go up. So how are they outspending what they have coming in? Am I missing something?
Emtronics: “Well, the average class size in District 150 is 17. ”
Where does that number come from? I know the district’s report card states Kingman’s class average is about 13 and it is waaaaaay off. The only way to know what the classrooms look like is to visit the school and look in the classrooms. Numbers on reports include teachers who do not have classrooms as well as special ed classrooms which may have quite a few less than the regular division classrooms. I think comparing past classes to today’s classes isn’t a fair comparison.
Kcdad: I knew I wasn’t reading your post carefully enough “unbelievably overpaid administrators and teachers, and failure to produce learning results” and now your latest post–I guess I should be careful about agreeing with you.
Emtronics: I taught classes over 30 in the 1970s and 80s and truly didn’t object. But today things are much different–and the lower grades should never have that many children in a class.
Emtronics it is not true what you are reading on the website for class numbers. I promise. I hear what you are saying about class size in the baby boom era. During that time, I am assuming more 2 parent homes and 1 parent home to be at the school assisting. I am trying *really trying* to remain optimistic. The kindergarten teachers & principal are not happy about this at all.
Things are indeed different today. I’ll bet a teacher wastes a lot of time on discipline issues in some schools.
The class size number I saw somewhere, can’t recall.
Emerge: excellent idea! I think next school year if Manual is still open, I’ll go back and help out with the Boosters or help in the halls and lunch room like a did a few years back.
kcdad: Christ! No one is going in to do the book keeping or plan out curriculum. Gosh you must live in a dark world. Just parents getting involved and showing the school some support. Do you own guns?
Maybe it would be neat if each took a school, signed in at the office, and counted class sizes and reported back what we found. It would be interesting, wouldn’t it and I am sure each of us on here could spare a half day to do it. Right?
Emtronics—Sure…I’ll report back with Whittier numbers.
yipee! i got censored! sorry cj, i thought that little aside might be pushing the line.
I want to clarify. It is *my perception* that the K teachers and Principal are not happy about adding more students to the classroom.
:))))
District 150 website STILL down… hmmmm
emtronics:”kcdad: Christ! No one is going in to do the book keeping or plan out curriculum. Gosh you must live in a dark world. Just parents getting involved and showing the school some support. Do you own guns?”
Is anyone doing them properly now?
Sharon:”Kcdad: I knew I wasn’t reading your post carefully enough “unbelievably overpaid administrators and teachers, and failure to produce learning results” and now your latest post–I guess I should be careful about agreeing with you.”
You don’t think $200,000 or even $100,000 for a public administrator is overpaid?
You don’t think $75,000 (for 9 months) for a teacher is over paid? How about a tenured French teacher who can’t even speak French? (Whose students after 3 years with her have to take their 4th year in a another language because they have learned nothing and the 4th year French teacher actually requires that HER students know French) How about a History teacher who may be a great coach but knows little about History (other than what is in the American History textbook)? How about an English teacher that don’t require their students to write in proper English?
Sharon, how exactly do YOU figure a person’s “worth” economically speaking?
I take it you are pleased with the public record results of District 150s education of our children. I guess maybe I would agree if by “outstanding” you mean out standing in the streets trying to find someone to help them read a help wanted notice,.
I really hope this latest fiasco will not distract people from the systemic problem of public schools… they are “owned” and operated for the local businesses to prepare good little laborers… not to lift our children into the world of ideas and ideals.