Closing the Achievement Gap

[WeBe204]

steckmom said:

brad204 said:

Actually, I thought you had some really good points about achievement. Your argument about ensuring there is enough funding to deal with the gap made sense. Until I read:

"I honestly believe that those who think we should ignore achievement are simply using it as an argument to stay at NV. I'm not saying you shouldn't stay at NV. I'm just saying I agree that the SD should look at achievement."

Then I just glazed over.

Okay, I'll back off of that statement. It was meant to be inflammatory -- but not against the entire SW side-- and I apologize.

What I really think is that people are using this argument so that they get the boundary determination that they want.

I really don't have any ill will against the SW side or people wanting to stay at NV. I can understand wanting to stay at a nearby school. I want to stay at WV. But if achieving more balanced schools so that our district can heal, perform better over all and have a better reputation, thus resulting in my kids having to go to MV, then I'm okay with it.

Thanks

But seriously your other point gave me a perspective I have not considered before. I was in the camp achievement balancing was just a method to smooth out rough edges. But there is a lot of merit to the fact either a school gets a disproportionate amount of funding or we spread out achievement.

See that is why I like it out here. I get other perspectives..

[twhl]

steckmom said:

Wow. I didn't know you and these few posters represented all the feelings of the SW side.

Again, I never said nor I have I ever said I am in the SW side. Warrior pride. I am concerned about our feeder schools and issues there and what are we doing about it. If you are going to MV - thats probably a good thing. Again dissapointed you jumped to the conclusion you did.

[steckmom]

twhl said:

steckmom said:

Wow. I didn't know you and these few posters represented all the feelings of the SW side.

Again, I never said nor I have I ever said I am in the SW side. Warrior pride. I am concerned about our feeder schools and issues there and what are we doing about it. If you are going to MV - thats probably a good thing. Again dissapointed you jumped to the conclusion you did.

That was sarcasm.

I have no idea where you are from (other than perhaps a current or future WV area) because you don't include it in your profile.

I like how you are quick to assume though that I have a problem with the SW side, when all I was referring to was a few posters.

[sam2]

steckmom said:

Here's why I think the school district should attempt to balance achievement.

When you have a high percentage of low achieving students at a school, that school must use more resources to get those low performing students to meet standards. Because our schools do not have unlimited resources, the students who are already meeting or exceeding standards will not get the resources they deserve.

I think I understand your point. However, I would respectfully argue that the amount of resources required is not reduced by scattering them about. My concern is that by moving these students around, they can be ignored since they won't adversely affect the overall test scores. If a school has poor scores, it demands attention. If 10 students have poor scores, they can be ignored. I don't think the resources required are reduced by moving them about.

For the record, I have no students who will be impacted by the boundary decision. I just think that assigning boundaries based on test scores is more window dressing than solution.

[researching]

I feel like I keep repeating myself but here I go again...

I absolutely oppose using achievement as a criteria in the boundaries. Quite frankly, I am surprised that it is even listed as part of the criteria at all. M2 and BG were very clear during the last boundary process that they too oppose trying to balance acheivement with boundary changes. Why the sudden change? The only clear supporter of this criteria last time around was JC.

BTW- if you think that the kids are oblivious to the intentions of the SB to create a "new" WV, they are not. Carpool is a wonderful thing. I learn a lot. During this ride I heard one of the kids say "they just want to pull in our higher test scores to make up for their low scores" and another said "so they make the mess and we are brought in to clean it up". What kind of environment will this attitude make at WV? Unbelievable! This is what the admin. and SB can expect if they keep using such ambiguous criteria to set these boundaries.

"Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The above quote is what I want for my children. Does this SB represent that?

[sleeplessinnpvl]

researching said:

BTW- if you think that the kids are oblivious to the intentions of the SB to create a "new" WV, they are not. Carpool is a wonderful thing. I learn a lot. During this ride I heard one of the kids say "they just want to pull in our higher test scores to make up for their low scores" and another said "so they make the mess and we are brought in to clean it up". What kind of environment will this attitude make at WV? Unbelievable! This is what the admin. and SB can expect if they keep using such ambiguous criteria to set these boundaries.

"Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The above quote is what I want for my children. Does this SB represent that?

Wow, makes you realize our first priority should be erasing this perception the kids already have of the two schools. Did these kids attend the board meetings? I'm curious as to how they formulated their opinions.

[bob]

"they just want to pull in our higher test scores to make up for their low scores" and another said "so they make the mess and we are brought in to clean it up".

[steckmom]

bob said:

"they just want to pull in our higher test scores to make up for their low scores" and another said "so they make the mess and we are brought in to clean it up".

I keep wanting to respond to this, but I don't really know what to say. I keep hearing how there is no perception problem, that it is just SW bashing, but when I see this, I see the proof.

No way did these kids attend the school board meeting. They got it from their parents or friends that 'WV is a mess.'

I don't blame the school board for that one.

[researching]

sleeplessinnpvl said:

researching said:

BTW- if you think that the kids are oblivious to the intentions of the SB to create a "new" WV, they are not. Carpool is a wonderful thing. I learn a lot. During this ride I heard one of the kids say "they just want to pull in our higher test scores to make up for their low scores" and another said "so they make the mess and we are brought in to clean it up". What kind of environment will this attitude make at WV? Unbelievable! This is what the admin. and SB can expect if they keep using such ambiguous criteria to set these boundaries.

"Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The above quote is what I want for my children. Does this SB represent that?

Wow, makes you realize our first priority should be erasing this perception the kids already have of the two schools. Did these kids attend the board meetings? I'm curious as to how they formulated their opinions.

No need to skirt the issue. They heard it from the adults. Not any surprise. People are talking about this everywhere, grocery stores, play groups, dinner parties, local sporting events.

Unfortunately, if the boundaries are set trying to balance achievement, the kids ARE being placed in specific schools based on their test scores.

I do not feel that there is any mess to clean up however. I also have stated many times that to imply we need a new WV is insulting.

[doctorwho]

bob said:

"they just want to pull in our higher test scores to make up for their low scores" and another said "so they make the mess and we are brought in to clean it up".

Kids are repeating what they are hearing at home -- let's be honest. I have shared with some here some of the comments my daughter is hearing at MS right now-- these are not the kids making these up, listen to the verbage - .... they are just repeating what they hear. It is very sad.

[doctorwho]

researching said:

sleeplessinnpvl said:

Wow, makes you realize our first priority should be erasing this perception the kids already have of the two schools. Did these kids attend the board meetings? I'm curious as to how they formulated their opinions.

No need to skirt the issue. They heard it from the adults. Not any surprise. People are talking about this everywhere, grocery stores, play groups, dinner parties, local sporting events.

Unfortunately, if the boundaries are set trying to balance achievement, the kids ARE being placed in specific schools based on their test scores.

I do not feel that there is any mess to clean up however. I also have stated many times that to imply we need a new WV is insulting.

As a lifetime Warrior-- I couldn't agree more.

[researching]

steckmom said:

bob said:

I keep wanting to respond to this, but I don't really know what to say. I keep hearing how there is no perception problem, that it is just SW bashing, but when I see this, I see the proof.

No way did these kids attend the school board meeting. They got it from their parents or friends that 'WV is a mess.'

I don't blame the school board for that one.

I disagree that the SB is not ultimately responsible. Who coined the term a "new WV"? If you are on the SB, you need to always be mindful that people are listening to every word you say. They need to choose their words wisely. Especially when they are speaking at a SB meeting! What else could have come from making that statement and then setting boundary criteria that weighs achievement?

[Arch]

doctorwho said:

researching said:

No need to skirt the issue. They heard it from the adults. Not any surprise. People are talking about this everywhere, grocery stores, play groups, dinner parties, local sporting events.

Unfortunately, if the boundaries are set trying to balance achievement, the kids ARE being placed in specific schools based on their test scores.

I do not feel that there is any mess to clean up however. I also have stated many times that to imply we need a new WV is insulting.

As a lifetime Warrior-- I couldn't agree more.

I like optimizing. Those that think we need a 'new WV' should just go a tad more north and make a 'new mv'

[twhl]

Heres a thought for ya Arch, lets keep the Brach Brodie boundaries:

* send those in the WV boundary to the "new MW"
* send those in the MW boundary to the "new WV"
* send those in the NV boundary to the "new NV"

That way we all are new and we all feel the pain, equally.

[forthekids]

twhl said:

Heres a thought for ya Arch, lets keep the Brach Brodie boundaries:

* send those in the WV boundary to the "new MW"
* send those in the MW boundary to the "new WV"
* send those in the NV boundary to the "new NV"

That way we all are new and we all feel the pain, equally.

With the cost of gas those in Tall Grass would have a real complaint about driving to the northernmost part of our district to go to school.