Post by gumby on Mar 13, 2006 9:46:48 GMT -6
Waubonsie Valley FAQ
Q. Why is a third high school so important to Waubonsie Valley?
A. Without a third high school, Waubonsie Valley is on pace to be one of the two largest high
schools in the state with over 5,000 students. It is widely known that large schools are less
conducive to a safe learning environment and decrease a student’s likelihood of academic
success. According to the U.S. Department of Education:
• “Large high schools…have disproportionately lower achievement and higher incidences
of violence than smaller schools.”
• “In small schools, students tend to be more satisfied, more academically productive,
more likely to participate in school activities, better behaved, and less likely to drop out
than students in large schools.”
• “Smaller schools also may be safer because students feel less alienated, more nurtured
and more connected to caring adults, and teachers feel that they have more opportunity
to get to know and support their students.”
As a 1986 graduate of Hill Middle School and a proud 1990 graduate of Waubonsie Valley, I
know what it is like to receive excellent educational opportunities. However, when I
graduated from Waubonsie, my senior class had 342 students. I can only wonder how
different my educational and professional career would have been at a 5,000+ student
Waubonsie. Would I have been lost in the crowd? Would I have had the same
opportunities to participate in sports and other extra curricular activities? Would I have been
successful in building the resume necessary to be admitted to my college of choice?
You have a choice. What size high school do you want your child to attend: 5,000+ or
3,000?
Q. What will a third high school mean for Waubonsie Valley’s reputation?
A. If the referendum fails, the six lowest performing elementary schools in our district will
remain at Waubonsie. Plus, Waubonsie will – over just a few short years – grow to 5,000
students. Given the circumstances, it will be extremely difficult to build upon WV’s fine
reputation. In fact, evidence from the U.S. Department of Education suggests that
conditions will only deteriorate.
If the referendum passes, Waubonsie Valley will strengthen its national, state and local
reputation for providing a high quality public education for its students. In fact, because half
of WV’s lowest performing elementary schools will be assigned to the new high school,
Waubonsie’s academic standing is expected to significantly improve. Moreover, after the
first couple of years, Waubonsie will have a more manageable 3,000 student population.
Bottom line, if the referendum passes, Waubonsie Valley students will be best positioned for
academic success and continue to have access to outstanding extracurricular opportunities
in athletics, fine arts, music, etc.
Q. What will happen to Waubonsie Valley enrollment in the transition years (2009 and
2010)?
A. In regard to the WV enrollment in 2009 and 2010, I can tell you that the District will take all
measures possible to reduce overcrowding in the transition years. For example, we can
consider leaving the freshman campus in place an additional year, staging the conversion of
the freshman campus and having it used by both 8th and 9th graders during the first year, or
use the extra capacity of the new high school to serve as WV’s freshman campus.
Frankly, without a referendum, we expect to begin shifting students from Neuqua to
Waubonsie as soon as next year. Combining Waubonsie’s own growth (for perspective,
WV’s in-coming freshman class is 282 students larger than the out-going senior class) with
the additional elementary schools from Neuqua, WV could easily be 4,500 students by
2009. That would put approx. 3,375 in the main building, not far from what it will be with a
new high school. However, in this case, enrollment will continue to grow and there will be
no relief in sight.
Q. What happens if the referendum fails?
A. The Board of Education, Administration and community leaders have expended tremendous
energy since 2004 evaluating all the options for our community and informing voters about
the virtues of a third high school. If this referendum fails for a second time, it will be a clear
message from the community that our children will live with 5,000+ student mega high
schools for the foreseeable future.
Voting "no" to this referendum will mean lowering the bar on the quality of education that we
expect and have come to value from this district. According to simple economics, if our
district becomes less attractive to families with children, our home values will suffer
accordingly.
I encourage you to log onto www.ipsd.org and make an informed decision regarding the
referendum.
Respectfully,
Curt Bradshaw
Board Member
Q. Why is a third high school so important to Waubonsie Valley?
A. Without a third high school, Waubonsie Valley is on pace to be one of the two largest high
schools in the state with over 5,000 students. It is widely known that large schools are less
conducive to a safe learning environment and decrease a student’s likelihood of academic
success. According to the U.S. Department of Education:
• “Large high schools…have disproportionately lower achievement and higher incidences
of violence than smaller schools.”
• “In small schools, students tend to be more satisfied, more academically productive,
more likely to participate in school activities, better behaved, and less likely to drop out
than students in large schools.”
• “Smaller schools also may be safer because students feel less alienated, more nurtured
and more connected to caring adults, and teachers feel that they have more opportunity
to get to know and support their students.”
As a 1986 graduate of Hill Middle School and a proud 1990 graduate of Waubonsie Valley, I
know what it is like to receive excellent educational opportunities. However, when I
graduated from Waubonsie, my senior class had 342 students. I can only wonder how
different my educational and professional career would have been at a 5,000+ student
Waubonsie. Would I have been lost in the crowd? Would I have had the same
opportunities to participate in sports and other extra curricular activities? Would I have been
successful in building the resume necessary to be admitted to my college of choice?
You have a choice. What size high school do you want your child to attend: 5,000+ or
3,000?
Q. What will a third high school mean for Waubonsie Valley’s reputation?
A. If the referendum fails, the six lowest performing elementary schools in our district will
remain at Waubonsie. Plus, Waubonsie will – over just a few short years – grow to 5,000
students. Given the circumstances, it will be extremely difficult to build upon WV’s fine
reputation. In fact, evidence from the U.S. Department of Education suggests that
conditions will only deteriorate.
If the referendum passes, Waubonsie Valley will strengthen its national, state and local
reputation for providing a high quality public education for its students. In fact, because half
of WV’s lowest performing elementary schools will be assigned to the new high school,
Waubonsie’s academic standing is expected to significantly improve. Moreover, after the
first couple of years, Waubonsie will have a more manageable 3,000 student population.
Bottom line, if the referendum passes, Waubonsie Valley students will be best positioned for
academic success and continue to have access to outstanding extracurricular opportunities
in athletics, fine arts, music, etc.
Q. What will happen to Waubonsie Valley enrollment in the transition years (2009 and
2010)?
A. In regard to the WV enrollment in 2009 and 2010, I can tell you that the District will take all
measures possible to reduce overcrowding in the transition years. For example, we can
consider leaving the freshman campus in place an additional year, staging the conversion of
the freshman campus and having it used by both 8th and 9th graders during the first year, or
use the extra capacity of the new high school to serve as WV’s freshman campus.
Frankly, without a referendum, we expect to begin shifting students from Neuqua to
Waubonsie as soon as next year. Combining Waubonsie’s own growth (for perspective,
WV’s in-coming freshman class is 282 students larger than the out-going senior class) with
the additional elementary schools from Neuqua, WV could easily be 4,500 students by
2009. That would put approx. 3,375 in the main building, not far from what it will be with a
new high school. However, in this case, enrollment will continue to grow and there will be
no relief in sight.
Q. What happens if the referendum fails?
A. The Board of Education, Administration and community leaders have expended tremendous
energy since 2004 evaluating all the options for our community and informing voters about
the virtues of a third high school. If this referendum fails for a second time, it will be a clear
message from the community that our children will live with 5,000+ student mega high
schools for the foreseeable future.
Voting "no" to this referendum will mean lowering the bar on the quality of education that we
expect and have come to value from this district. According to simple economics, if our
district becomes less attractive to families with children, our home values will suffer
accordingly.
I encourage you to log onto www.ipsd.org and make an informed decision regarding the
referendum.
Respectfully,
Curt Bradshaw
Board Member
