Enrollment Numbers Discussion

[harry]

This is a case of the kid's v. parents?? Thank you posters who, themselves, believe that the school is overcrowded but that their kids wouldn't go to any other school if offered just to do cartwheels in the halls. The kids haved voted, they are ok. No parents' definition of overcrowding matters in the least. If this were in fact true, the SB would have portables at every school over 'comfortable capacity' or 'true capacity'. If the SB listened to parents about overcrowding , we would have portables coming the lst of January, for the next three years.

Why don't we??? Because the SB is listening to the children...they are the ones in school afterall. And their vote is that they are just fine in their individual situations.

As far as posts talking about enrollment and capacity,,,,isn't this the seminal reason for this board??? All topics lead back to enrollment/capacity/# of students/getting on teams/hallways/class seats. Nearly every topic IS related to our enrollment/capacity situation, there are no 'pure' threads as much as some would like.

or

[harry]

concerned said:

Scullen is overcrowded. This year they have blocked off the middle of two of the houses so they can have more class rooms. It is a very tight squeeze to move around in these houses. I do believe that Crone has the same situation. Scullen has one portable and it is very nice. My kids love going in there for class. As for the lockers they moved over the lockers from Wheatland and the kids do not have to share lockers this year.

My kids are very happy at Scullen, kids adapt. My kids don't know any difference. I believe they are getting a very good education at the MS.

Thank you concerned as you support my theory. And thanks for letting us know that your kids are happy and getting a good education. You must be a good parent in helping them balance new/different situations and adapt.

Concerned... Have you written the SB to inform them of the Scullen situation and to let them know that the portable is very nice?? Maybe if they hear positive points regarding portables, the SB will get off of their haughty attitude of "Naperville doesn't do portables" and get a few more of them for some of 'the parents' that don't go to school anymore.

[rew]

Harry, so it is not enough for you that the schools are overcrowded. Now your criteria for building additional space is that the kids be miserable?? That learning cease? That parents riot? At what point do you think the situation needs to be resolved, not just tolerated?

Portables are a five year solution. by state law and we know we have more than five years of too many students. I have never met or spoken to a parent that had a "haughty attitude" about portables.

[harry]

rew said:

Harry, so it is not enough for you that the schools are overcrowded. Now your criteria for building additional space is that the kids be miserable?? That learning cease? That parents riot? At what point do you think the situation needs to be resolved, not just tolerated?

Portables are a five year solution. by state law and we know we have more than five years of too many students. I have never met or spoken to a parent that had a "haughty attitude" about portables.

The kids have spoken, they are not miserable. They are learning, they are not hurting. Parents seem to be the issue.

5 year solution?? Who comes up with this type of reasoning. If we need portables for 20 years and cycle them in and out who cares??? I guess it would be anyone who is haughty.''

I suggest that you take this issue up with our fine SB who believes that there is no overcrowding or we would have portables on order to relieve the overcrowding in all of the schoolsl. Ask them why they have not reacted?

[rew]

They have reacted, with a plan for a new HS, ready and waiting to be built, and the voters supported the plan. I suggest we all "take this issue up" with the SB and ask them to close on the BB property as soon as possible and start construction.

[title1parent]

I have a question for those Scullen parents.....Do the kids have enough supplies? Meaning enough text books or are they xeroxing pages, enough consumable supplies for Art, Science, etc? In Science are there 2-3 kids doing dissection or 4-5? Sorry Harry I am looking at this from an Educator's point of view. I just want to know. How big are the biggest classes? My point being, if I am conducting a science experiment, do I have to adjust the lesson because there is a safety issue with so many kids? Or I don't have enough supplies to perform that experiment?
Kids look at learning one way, teachers and parents look at it another way. Are the kids getting through the material they should be or are they losing out on things because of the size of the classes. Just curious as I don't have a child at Scullen either, however worked in a SD that became overcrowded and still is due to continued growth.

[justme]

rew said:

They have reacted, with a plan for a new HS, ready and waiting to be built, and the voters supported the plan. I suggest we all "take this issue up" with the SB and ask them to close on the BB property as soon as possible and start construction.

The voters supported the boundaries. IMO that is what was really voted on. If that wasn't the real issue why do so many (dare I even say most) on this message board freak out at the mention of changing boundaries?

I have said it before and I'll say it again. After the trial decision, I will not support the BB property in ANY way.

Wasn't this thread about enrollment numbers?

[justme]

title1parent said:

I have a question for those Scullen parents.....Do the kids have enough supplies? Meaning enough text books or are they xeroxing pages, enough consumable supplies for Art, Science, etc? In Science are there 2-3 kids doing dissection or 4-5? Sorry Harry I am looking at this from an Educator's point of view. I just want to know. How big are the biggest classes? My point being, if I am conducting a science experiment, do I have to adjust the lesson because there is a safety issue with so many kids? Or I don't have enough supplies to perform that experiment?
Kids look at learning one way, teachers and parents look at it another way. Are the kids getting through the material they should be or are they losing out on things because of the size of the classes. Just curious as I don't have a child at Scullen either, however worked in a SD that became overcrowded and still is due to continued growth.

None of what you have mentioned has ever been an issue with my child whatsoever. I will have to double check though. During curriculum night everyone sat 2 to a lab table and there were extra seats left. The extra seats could have been due to parents unable to attend but the fact that Mom & Dad both came in some instances might balance that out.

[concerned]

My kids are happy at Scullen, but as a parent I do think it is too crowded. At curriculm night the gym teacher stated that the school was built to conduct 3-4 gym classes at once, but this year they are running 6 classes at a time. Right now they are able to have class outside, but when the weather is bad they have gym class in the hallway in front of the cafeteria. The kids are running up and down the hallway. It is very loud.

As for books and materials I don't feel that there is a shortage. I really do think the SB should be addressing the MS issues while deciding where and how to build the 3rd high school. This is where I am very frustrated. I knew the BB land would be hard to get and feel that all this has been a waste of time, while my kids are packed into Scullen with no relief for them.

[concerned]

FYI- The super is having a coffee meeting at Scullen on the 18th at 8:15AM and Bradshaw will be at the PTA that same night at 7PM.

[harry]

rew said:

They have reacted, with a plan for a new HS, ready and waiting to be built, and the voters supported the plan. I suggest we all "take this issue up" with the SB and ask them to close on the BB property as soon as possible and start construction.

What does building a new hs to be completed in 2010, three years from now, have to do with the current orvercrowding situation??? How are they reacting to the current enrollment issues TODAY???

p.s. If a former posters facts are correct, waiting until Oct 30th @ a $15.000 per day to make a decision on BB (most likely because they put all of their eggs in one basket and had NO Plan B) is a waste of money equating to just about 2 premium portables. ;D

[bob]

If a former posters facts

Who quit?

[bob]

harry said:

rew said:

They have reacted, with a plan for a new HS, ready and waiting to be built, and the voters supported the plan. I suggest we all "take this issue up" with the SB and ask them to close on the BB property as soon as possible and start construction.

What does building a new hs to be completed in 2010, three years from now, have to do with the current orvercrowding situation??? How are they reacting to the current enrollment issues TODAY???

p.s. If a former posters facts are correct, waiting until Oct 30th @ a $15.000 per day to make a decision on BB (most likely because they put all of their eggs in one basket and had NO Plan B) is a waste of money equating to just about 2 premium portables. ;D

You might wantto re-read that article.

If a school district buys land it condemns, it has to pay interest on it at a rate of 6 percent a year, according to Jim Wilson, head of litigation at the Shefsky and Froelich law firm in Chicago.

For a property worth $31 million, the district is racking up charges of nearly $5,100 for each day it takes to decide whether to buy the land.

That would be $153,000. It is a little short of two big premium portables. It might be only 60% of one.

[harry]

I apparently need glasses AND am Dyslexic.. You are correct about the amount. If the verdict came down on 9/27 than the $5100 X 35 days (Oct 31 decision) would put the figure closer to
$180.000. (or 72% of a $250.000 portable)

Thanks for the catch, Bob.