Exceptions granted & ramblings

[casey]

Ok, I knew it was bound to happen but I think this will be only the beginning.....tonight both high schools have pretty important events going on and I can't be at both at the same time (hubby is out of town). NV is Honors/AP course selection program at 7:30 and WV has PLAN test results and planning also at 7:30. Oh, that and I need to get kids to different activities too. Poor me, eh? But honestly, that is pretty poor planning on the part of the HS administrators. Don't worry though it only effects a few of us. In fact probably very few.

FWIW, I have heard several kids/parents mention numerous times that they'd like to really count up the number of kids that should be at Waubonsie that aren't. You know all of those kids with medical exceptions, family situations, kids that moved , etc. that are at NV and should have switched to Waubonsie. Now I know there are SOME legitimate exceptions that perhaps should have been honored but for the most - I say they're BS.

Remember the SB and particularly KB standing up and saying absolutely NO exceptions would be granted. Anyone want to add up how many of those NO exceptions were granted. I assure it is quite a bit. Off the top of my head with absolutely no thought effort involved I can name at least 25 and that's just the kids that I know of. Many are siblings, many are athletes, and many just cheated the system. IMO, the SB/Admin did not do a good job at maintaining their position. It's like everything else in the world - it's who you know..... The whole thing reeks.

[slp]

I know of 4 families who had "medical" issues to stay at NV. Why is it better to have a medical condition at one school over another anyway?

[lacy]

Are there additional ones now? (where kids will transfer at the semester?)

[casey]

You've got that right! I just heard of 4 new exceptions that were granted. These are four kids that will be leaving WV at the semester break and going back to NV. The numbers of exceptions being granted boggle my mind. How can KB stand there and pontificate about absolutely no exceptions will be granted. Well, Kathy, there's quite a few. What now?

[doctorwho]

Jan 11, 2010 7:38:43 GMT -6 casey said:

Ok, I knew it was bound to happen but I think this will be only the beginning.....tonight both high schools have pretty important events going on and I can't be at both at the same time (hubby is out of town). NV is Honors/AP course selection program at 7:30 and WV has PLAN test results and planning also at 7:30. Oh, that and I need to get kids to different activities too. Poor me, eh? But honestly, that is pretty poor planning on the part of the HS administrators. Don't worry though it only effects a few of us. In fact probably very few.

FWIW, I have heard several kids/parents mention numerous times that they'd like to really count up the number of kids that should be at Waubonsie that aren't. You know all of those kids with medical exceptions, family situations, kids that moved , etc. that are at NV and should have switched to Waubonsie. Now I know there are SOME legitimate exceptions that perhaps should have been honored but for the most - I say they're BS.

Remember the SB and particularly KB standing up and saying absolutely NO exceptions would be granted. Anyone want to add up how many of those NO exceptions were granted. I assure it is quite a bit. Off the top of my head with absolutely no thought effort involved I can name at least 25 and that's just the kids that I know of. Many are siblings, many are athletes, and many just cheated the system. IMO, the SB/Admin did not do a good job at maintaining their position. It's like everything else in the world - it's who you know..... The whole thing reeks.

Just one more lie piled on top the others. This exact thing was a huge topic for discussion at Great Lakes Center this weekend as many parents are from 204. It kind of surprised me that this was still going on and still an issue but many parents there were talking about how many kids now transferring back to NV - one way or the other - and it is being allowed. I was kind of floored - but certainly not surprised at this admin. Once they got their white elephant on Eola they give a rats behind about anything else.

oh yeah, the one other topic - how crappy the English/grammar curriculum is in 204 ( in this case Granger) and how kids are struggling in private school in that subject because of it - ( also a good reason why test scores hurt for some ).
These were freshman parents at 2 different private HS's - who were raising this issue --maybe we should be worried about that rather than appeasing a few with a back yard HS we didn't need.

[doctorwho]

Jan 11, 2010 12:34:49 GMT -6 lacy said:

Are there additional ones now? (where kids will transfer at the semester?)

yes there are- heard the same thing from some White Eagle residents this weekend - and we are talking more than a few- as some leave and their friends want to go also. For one parent I talked to they are now trying to figure out how to make it happen since ALL of their daughters best friends have now left WV.

[lacy]

The district needs to consider all the kids whose families are not requesting exceptions. This leaves them with fewer and fewer friends who came into the situation in the same boat as them.

So these kids have to continually adjust. How unfair. If there are legitimate reasons, OK - but I wonder.....

It looks like more gerrymandering by the district. They say one thing and do something else behind the scenes.

[macrockett]

When you are accountable to no one you can pretty much do as you please, which is what D204 admin does. After all, they are only following the example set by our School Board.

In law the term is called "arbitrary and capricous". I would bet you could FOIA the number of exceptions to the "policy" (what a joke) and the specific reasons for the exceptions without violating privacy as you wouldn't be asking for names. With that, you could then focus on each case and ask them to tell you specifically why this "exception" was granted. In the end, however, we all know the answer to that question.

[casey]

You're right, macrockett, a FOIA could maybe provide that information. At this point though, what difference does it make? As you said, we know why exceptions were granted. Parents did what they thought was best and moved mountains to keep their kids at Neuqua (whether it was through a BS medical exception, declaring a mother as unfit, pretending to move, providing false addresses, etc.). They didn't care as long as the end result provided them what they wanted. Nice message to send to your kid.

I just wonder how many of these parents/kids will look back on their decision and have regrets. Having kids at both high schools, I can tell you this - Neuqua is definitely not the promised land. There are huge problems there (including overcrowding and large numbers) and it is not the end-all-be-all. The old adage "be careful what you wish for" definitely applies. Unfortunately no matter what happens (exception granted/not granted, kids moving not moving) these kids get ripped off. This class of 2012 should have NEVER been forced into this situation and they didn't need to be. Kids should have been allowed to stay at their existing schools, siblings should have never been split, and MV should have opened with freshmen only.

KB and the SB members can sit on their high horses and act as if all is peachy with the transition but I can assure you it is not. Talk to these kids and see what they say or as Dr. Who said look at their facebooks. They spell it out there.

As you pointed out Lacy, many of these kids are constantly being forced to adjust and it's just not right.

[researching]

Seriously? This situation is simply obnoxious. NO MORE EXCEPTIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED. Honestly, the spirit at Waubonsie is really low already and this Administration just continually perpetuates that by granting these primarily UNNECESSARY exceptions. By granting these ridiculous exceptions it just confirms what the kids already feel. Waubonsie and it's students do not matter as much as the other schools in this district. Why would anyone feel proud about a school that people will lie, commit fraud and compromise their integrity to get out of.

I would be lying if I said this switch has been sunshine and roses for my child. IMO my child has done absolutely everything possible to adjust and embrace the situation. My child got involved right away in extra-curricular activities and wears green and gold proudly. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of many of the veteran kids at Waubonsie who didn't even move at all. School pride is almost non-existent. I have never seen anything like it. Not at such a broad level.

When I asked my child if anyone at WV who transferred in from the class of 2012 socialize with the students who remained at WV, I was told no. They play sports together and they get along but they do not socialize. I then said I wondered why. My child said "Social groups were already formed by Sophomore year. NV only lost a small amount of kids while gaining none and MV started new all the way around. Waubonsie is the only school of the 3 in our district to add and subtract kids so it's out of balance."

I also cannot understand the apathy of the veteran parents. It feels like no one wants to fix anything or progress. They complain but don't want to do anything to truly effect change.

The administration should do something to bridge the gap at Waubonsie. A few of us are really trying to make a go of this. However, when the Admin continually perpetuate the negative view of Waubonsie by granting ridiculous exceptions and by ignoring the updating Waubonsie DESPERATELY needs, it feels like an endless battle we have no hope of winning.

[casey]

Couldn't have said it better, researching.

The thing is my daughter has actually made friends with a few WV veterans but I would agree as a whole most kids are keeping to themselves. She definitely socializes with some of the WV kids out of school and has met some great new kids and is happy with some new friendships. Unfortunately this leads to another major issue - rides and transportation. I have to be honest but when my daughter needed rides to houses around this area (TG, WE, Stillwater, River Run, etc.) it was a heck of a lot easier to organize than trying to get her to Oakhurst and even Ginger Woods (I know that's MV but we've had to get her up there too). Truth be told, a lot of times she can't go to stuff because she doesn't have transportation.

I agree with you about much of the apathy and it's just sad that it is exists in such level at WV. I've been told many times how glad people are to have me at WV to help change things, bring more support to WV, and make things more fair. You know, sometimes I get sick of being the one that has to put my neck out there and complain. Why do I have to do that - why has the virtual unfairness in the district been allowed? And as you said, KB's new exceptions only further perpetuates that message. It'd be much easier to sit back and watch things happen. I can see why parents fall into that apathetic mindset. The SB counting on the new parents of 2012 to make changes is just not going to happen. Sad, sad, sad or as Blago said today "stupid, stupid, stupid.".

On a different note, the Sophomore PLAN night last night at WV was a breath of fresh air. The admin at WV did a fantastic job presenting the material. I walked out of there completely impressed. NV did not do the same overview of the PLAN test results (not even close!) as they just handed my kid results. I walked out proud to have a kid at WV. I know my kid will get a great educational experience. The class size (1243 at NV last year to 649 at WV this year) is a huge plus. Now if we can get all the other crap in line. At this point, I guess I should be happy to have NV end up with more kids due to exceptions all it does is make WV smaller. On principle though, I think it is WRONG!!!!

[doctorwho]

Jan 11, 2010 23:49:47 GMT -6 researching said:

Seriously? This situation is simply obnoxious. NO MORE EXCEPTIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED. Honestly, the spirit at Waubonsie is really low already and this Administration just continually perpetuates that by granting these primarily UNNECESSARY exceptions. By granting these ridiculous exceptions it just confirms what the kids already feel. Waubonsie and it's students do not matter as much as the other schools in this district. Why would anyone feel proud about a school that people will lie, commit fraud and compromise their integrity to get out of.

I would be lying if I said this switch has been sunshine and roses for my child. IMO my child has done absolutely everything possible to adjust and embrace the situation. My child got involved right away in extra-curricular activities and wears green and gold proudly. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of many of the veteran kids at Waubonsie who didn't even move at all. School pride is almost non-existent. I have never seen anything like it. Not at such a broad level.

When I asked my child if anyone at WV who transferred in from the class of 2012 socialize with the students who remained at WV, I was told no. They play sports together and they get along but they do not socialize. I then said I wondered why. My child said "Social groups were already formed by Sophomore year. NV only lost a small amount of kids while gaining none and MV started new all the way around. Waubonsie is the only school of the 3 in our district to add and subtract kids so it's out of balance."

I also cannot understand the apathy of the veteran parents. It feels like no one wants to fix anything or progress. They complain but don't want to do anything to truly effect change.

The administration should do something to bridge the gap at Waubonsie. A few of us are really trying to make a go of this. However, when the Admin continually perpetuate the negative view of Waubonsie by granting ridiculous exceptions and by ignoring the updating Waubonsie DESPERATELY needs, it feels like an endless battle we have no hope of winning.

Researching - it really breaks my heart to hear this. We were a very proud Warrior family ( and were prepared to be again) - and I can tell you when my oldest daughter was there PRIDE was never an issue. Yes there were some issues that never seemed to be addressed by the SB - physical plant issue and inequities - but I can tell you people got past them. Parents proudly wore greenand gold- many I know wore green/gold 'warpaint' to games - and other garb to show our support. We were there all the time for whatever needed to be done...untild hours /days sepnt on things like Senior Sailabration.
Then the idiots who run this district decided they wanted a legacy and built this unneeded 3rd HS and tore the fabric from WVHS. I amazing thing I was told by one who should have known better how they were only trying to make WVHS better - well that appears to be Bull now doesn't it ?


now some of the issue is some of the communities that had the heaviest volunteer population were removed from WVHS -- not trying to cast dispersion on others as everyone has different situations...but Brookdale and Watts were the two heaviest volunteer schools when we were there - they were both dragged to the new Taj Mahal.

Those who caused this must be clueless as to what they did, or else they just don't care.

It just lends more credence to the fact that 5 years from now you might not have to worry about Warrior Pride -- as we have way too many seats - a declining population and a financial crisis on the horizon. That will be a sad day indeed.

The lack of school pride at WVHS -- now SB and admin -- there's the legacy you'll leave behind - nice job. I honestly feel no school in this district at any level had the school pride WVHS did at one point.

[slp]

I can only speak from my own experiences at WV AND the fact that I have never had a child at NV to compare it to.

As far as school spirit goes, it did not seem lacking to me during football season. I thought that the kids/parents seemed very supportive of the football program.

What has surprised my husband and I is the lack of support on Friday nights for WV boys home basketball games. We have seen apathy with respect to that on the part of the student body. When I was a high school student Friday nights were all about attending the varsity event no matter which sport. It would be nice to see that at WV.

As far as the building; I don't get too uptight about inequities between the schools so long as the facilities are usable. That said, I have been told the tennis courts at WV are in disrepair. Also, swimming families have said how horrible the WV pool is in comparison to the NV pool. I don't know what can be done about that though; obviously not an easy fix there. That's what comes with old building vs. new building.

I think one reason parent volunteers are lacking at WV now is that you have families from White Eagle and Tall Grass who may have kids at two different high schools, two middle schools, and an elementary. That's alot of volunteering!

Hopefully as the years go by that will change and the volunteering and school spirit picks up at WV. It really is a great school that has gotten a bad rap in prior years.

[researching]

Jan 12, 2010 10:06:15 GMT -6 slp said:

I can only speak from my own experiences at WV AND the fact that I have never had a child at NV to compare it to.

As far as school spirit goes, it did not seem lacking to me during football season. I thought that the kids/parents seemed very supportive of the football program.

What has surprised my husband and I is the lack of support on Friday nights for WV boys home basketball games. We have seen apathy with respect to that on the part of the student body. When I was a high school student Friday nights were all about attending the varsity event no matter which sport. It would be nice to see that at WV.

As far as the building; I don't get too uptight about inequities between the schools so long as the facilities are usable. That said, I have been told the tennis courts at WV are in disrepair. Also, swimming families have said how horrible the WV pool is in comparison to the NV pool. I don't know what can be done about that though; obviously not an easy fix there. That's what comes with old building vs. new building.

I think one reason parent volunteers are lacking at WV now is that you have families from White Eagle and Tall Grass who may have kids at two different high schools, two middle schools, and an elementary. That's alot of volunteering!

Hopefully as the years go by that will change and the volunteering and school spirit picks up at WV. It really is a great school that has gotten a bad rap in prior years.

I agree with a lot of what you have said slp. Waubonsie has some of the coolest traditions. The Homecoming football game was so fun! However, being that the last 4 home games of the season had rain and cold, the crowds were pretty small.

The Waubonsie / Neuqua football game at North Central was packed but a couple of things stood out at questionable. #1 Why were Neuqua's cheerleaders cheering on the home side of the field? I REALLY didn't like that as it pushed our girls waaaaay down field and we were the home team. Last year Neuqua was home and Waubonsie Cheer cheered to the away stands. It will be interesting to see where the Waubonsie girls end up next year when Neuqua has the home side. I also did not like the way security had to be sooooooo tight. Kids from the class of 2012 who went to school together and are still friends were not allowed to sit together if they didn't all have the same school's apparel on. That was harsh.

I too have been surprised by the lack of fans in the stands at the basketball games. I am sure this Friday's boys basketball game against Neuqua will be packed. Let's just hope it's packed with a lot of Waubonsie fans and not over run by Neuqua only. Let's also hope that our cheerleaders and dancers take center stage instead of being pushed "down the field".

When I talk about facility updating, I am talking about simple, inexpensive fixes like paint, lighting, and freshening decor. I was walking around the concessions area at a basketball game and was completely dismayed to see the lack of care taken with the athletic photos of each year's outstanding athletes. The photos are curling, fading, and you can't even read the names on many of them. In this day of digital, that is unacceptible. It also speaks of the pride an athletic director takes in his programs. Not a good reflection on that department. The trophy cases are a hot mess overall too. Unacceptible.

[doctorwho]

Jan 12, 2010 11:48:06 GMT -6 researching said:

Jan 12, 2010 10:06:15 GMT -6 slp said:

I can only speak from my own experiences at WV AND the fact that I have never had a child at NV to compare it to.

As far as school spirit goes, it did not seem lacking to me during football season. I thought that the kids/parents seemed very supportive of the football program.

What has surprised my husband and I is the lack of support on Friday nights for WV boys home basketball games. We have seen apathy with respect to that on the part of the student body. When I was a high school student Friday nights were all about attending the varsity event no matter which sport. It would be nice to see that at WV.

As far as the building; I don't get too uptight about inequities between the schools so long as the facilities are usable. That said, I have been told the tennis courts at WV are in disrepair. Also, swimming families have said how horrible the WV pool is in comparison to the NV pool. I don't know what can be done about that though; obviously not an easy fix there. That's what comes with old building vs. new building.

I think one reason parent volunteers are lacking at WV now is that you have families from White Eagle and Tall Grass who may have kids at two different high schools, two middle schools, and an elementary. That's alot of volunteering!

Hopefully as the years go by that will change and the volunteering and school spirit picks up at WV. It really is a great school that has gotten a bad rap in prior years.

I agree with a lot of what you have said slp. Waubonsie has some of the coolest traditions. The Homecoming football game was so fun! However, being that the last 4 home games of the season had rain and cold, the crowds were pretty small.

The Waubonsie / Neuqua football game at North Central was packed but a couple of things stood out at questionable. #1 Why were Neuqua's cheerleaders cheering on the home side of the field? I REALLY didn't like that as it pushed our girls waaaaay down field and we were the home team. Last year Neuqua was home and Waubonsie Cheer cheered to the away stands. It will be interesting to see where the Waubonsie girls end up next year when Neuqua has the home side. I also did not like the way security had to be sooooooo tight. Kids from the class of 2012 who went to school together and are still friends were not allowed to sit together if they didn't all have the same school's apparel on. That was harsh.

I too have been surprised by the lack of fans in the stands at the basketball games. I am sure this Friday's boys basketball game against Neuqua will be packed. Let's just hope it's packed with a lot of Waubonsie fans and not over run by Neuqua only. Let's also hope that our cheerleaders and dancers take center stage instead of being pushed "down the field".

When I talk about facility updating, I am talking about simple, inexpensive fixes like paint, lighting, and freshening decor. I was walking around the concessions area at a basketball game and was completely dismayed to see the lack of care taken with the athletic photos of each year's outstanding athletes. The photos are curling, fading, and you can't even read the names on many of them. In this day of digital, that is unacceptible. It also speaks of the pride an athletic director takes in his programs. Not a good reflection on that department. The trophy cases are a hot mess overall too. Unacceptible.

" It also speaks of the pride an athletic director takes in his programs"

don't get me started here -- talking about someone who didn't show up on signing day when my daughter and others signed their scholarship papers... also IMHO no respect for girls sports. After 4 years of being a varsity starter, my daughter and a friend walked into the office one day and he didn't know who they were. She still talks about that. I think maybe saw 2-3 girls VB matches in 4 years..once after a number of parents complained to the principal...of course then you'd have to maybe miss watching a football practice