Problems on the East & Problems on the West: Problems pitting the city against one another
East: (Hawthorne)
Immediate priorities with buildings of lower capacity
Issues concerning the needs of children are fulfilled in a reasonable manner
West:
Overcapacity where there is no other facility with low capacity
A shift of 1100 students
Sell-it:
Parents are the same no matter what side of town they are from.
Parents are afraid of the unknown; empower them to learn more about the school they will attend
Encourage them to visit the schools in their area to understand community and city needs
This may not be the solution, but it’s sure worth the research. It would seem reasonable to move Kennedy students to Elvehjem to alleviate problems at Hawthorne. The classroom dynamics at Kennedy vs. Elvehjem, (at least on paper) are similar and the population being moved is consistent to those currently enrolled at Elvehjem. Elvehjem is also at lower capacity and has space.
Sell-it!
Kennedy parents are afraid because they don’t know: They don’t know the school, they don’t know the staff, they don’t know the building & they don’t know the success experienced at Elvehjem.
Hawthorne has programs for their population. ESL and transportation questions MUST be addressed. (Shenk does not have an ESL program and currently busses these students to another school)
Parents in a school dealing with overcrowding issues ARE willing to move, BUT parents currently in a school that is functioning just fine, need to be SOLD on the idea. The board and administration must come up with solutions; apologies for lack of action, do not solve the problem but it is wise to identify it as a concern to not happen again. I can tell you, the Hawks communities were put at ease (more comfortable) after I visited Glen Stephens and shared my visit with them. The issue of moving us 0.9 miles to a school with early start and then, most likely having to move us again in 2 years (as the existing communities around Muir, Stephens and Crestwood sell homes to young families) is not a solution to our problem.
In the past 3-months of attending board meetings, I can tell you this:
You (the board and administration) represent this CITY….NOT a specific community. You must be the leaders to facilitate an understanding between East vs. West, North vs. South, community vs. community. There is a group of parents; Leopold parents, who have busted their butts to understand the issues of their particular school and who have worked alongside the administration and Madison school Board (for 5 years) to create a wonderful plan. A “PLAN” that the Leopold community needs, that the Leopold majority endorse, that the Leopold teaching staff and administration fully support. A plan that is also ‘sellable’ to the Madison public because of its practicality. These parents have the knowledge, the wherewithal, and stamina to empower other parents and share their experience with other PTO’s across the Isthmus (within Madison) in getting it done!
I simply want to bring to your attention that the answer is within the community. The real solution…beyond building a new school is being exemplified by Leopold parents. And it is costly and frustrating to this city when some communities are being heard more than others. As the Madison School Board, you have run past campaigns stating you want to listen to the community and support their needs. You are defeating a real solution when you pit us against one another, believing one side of town deserves your attention and support more than another. To not believe in the Leopold ‘solution’ is a disservice to the entire city.
Continue your efforts to visit each school. You can’t sell the Doyle Building but you can certainly rent its space to the local businesses and university and get out to the community to understand and pull us together. All PTO’s have come to realize that this year was not what they anticipated…create a network; support all of us!
Marisue Horton
Posted by Marisue Horton at April 8, 2005 10:24 AM | TrackBack