W’boro to consider dividing schools
Waynesboro’s four elementary schools could be divided into two schools of grades PreK-2 and two schools of grades 3-5 next fall, based on the recommendation of a committee that has studied city redistricting since October.
A public hearing on the proposal will be held Jan. 5 at Waynesboro High School, and the Waynesboro School Board could vote on the idea later in January.
The 12-member committee was formed to look at redrawing attendance lines to alleviate a space issue at Westwood Hills Elementary. Without any changes, art classes would have to offered by a teacher with a cart next fall at Westwood.
But Superintendent Robin Crowder said the committee has concluded that shifting students from Westwood to the three other elementary schools would only lead to another redistricting in a few years.
Under the proposal unveiled Tuesday night, students living in the western portion of Waynesboro would attend PreK-2 at William Perry Elementary, followed by grades 3-5 at Westwood Hills.
Those students living in the eastern portion of Waynesboro would attend Berkeley Glenn Elementary in PreK-2 and Wenonah Elementary for grades 3-5.
Crowder said the proposal makes sense for multiple reasons that include:
n Maintaining low student-teacher ratios at all the elementary schools of 18-1, 20-1 and 22-1.
n A better utilization of the existing facilities.
n Prevents the construction of another elementary school during difficult economic times or the addition of mobile classroom units.
Crowder said the change would last the city for the next 8 to 10 years without any further moves.
While neighboring school enrollments have been flat, Crowder said Waynesboro’s has continued to increase.
As of late November, the school district has 3,027 students, more than 30 students over what was budgeted for in 2009-10.
Parents and area PTOs were awaiting more information on the proposal, but weighed in with some reaction Tuesday night.
Amy Manners, a vice president with the Berkeley Glenn PTO and a substitute teacher, said she supports whatever decision the school board makes “because they will do what is best for the kids and teacheers.”
Manners said her first-grade daughter “loves Berkeley Glenn” and her wish is for her to remain there, but said she is also aware of the crowding at Westwood Hills.
Jennifer Jones, the president of the Westwood Hills PTO, said parents need to support the school district in their deliberations over the elementary changes.
“The most important thing is that the kids get a great education,’’ she said.
A flyer showing a map of the city, outlining the recommendations and detailing the date and time of the public hearing will be sent home with students late this week and early next week.
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Reader Reactions
I think that it’s important to not get distracted by #1) stupid things people say, and (as a result) #2) make a U-turn from the “purpose” statement put out by the schools. Ignorant comments made by a few should stay right where they belong, in the garbage. They don’t deserve more press. They do nothing but serve to distract us from the tough decisions that need to be made for our children.
So let’s try to get back to the question at hand: Is there really a pressing need to bus kids all over the City to accommodate two classrooms at Westwood next year? Parents must understand that there are many other ways to accomplish the “Purpose” statement. Did you know that?
So let’s talk about the “purpose” that’s been provided to parents for a second. It’s to deal with growing pains at primarily one elementary school, and to keep student to teacher ratios as low as we can at all schools so that the schools can get more state/federal money. These are both very valid needs/goals, and are a testament to a school system that is looking out for the best interest of our kids.
The point though is that before I, or you sign off on having our children bused all over the City next Fall, don’t you think you deserve to understand why this is the best option over any of the other options that the Redistricting Committee came up with? Don’t you deserve to at least know what those other options were? Don’t you deserve to know if we’ve considered all potential ideas? Don’t you deserve to ask why do this plan, and why now, especially when no comparative school district has taken fewer than 1 1/2 years of research and discussion before acting? Don’t you deserve to know why other communities have abandoned the very same system that Waynesboro is proposing? Did you even know that? Did you know that no one had asked that question before? I’ve had the opportunity to talk to each of the school board members, and they didn’t know that, and neither did the Redistricting Committee. That doesn’t make them bad people; it just provides one simple example that we are moving way too fast.
The only constant in life is change, I know that, and sounds like you know that too. That’s why we’ve started a petition drive (http://waynesboro.epetitions.net/) to NOT stop change, but to take a deep breath, ask questions, get informed, and let’s Plan this as a Community, Discuss it as a Community, and Decide as a Community.
We’ve also set up a Facebook page (http://bit.ly/5stiyX)where over the course of the next few days and weeks, we’ll begin to post some alternate information and relevant links that you can download and view online.
I think the fact that anyone has made reference to this school being better than school, means that this proposal MUST go through. I would have preferred a more mixed scenario, where they bus certain neighborhoods into different schools, etc, but can understand how that would be very taxing on the city’s bus system.
The fact is that we MUST stop thinking in regards of “neighborhood” schools. These children are all going to end up together in KCMS and WHS. It has been my experience that BG students have the least amount of “culture shock” when they move to KCMS because it is the most diverse of the schools. There are extremely wealthy kids sitting right next to the most impoverished children. This is a good thing. We should strive to have ALL schools like this. Life isn’t about being in the “right” neighborhood. If the school system is doing it’s job right, then all the schools are acredited and are going to give your child a good education. If you bought your house based on the school your child would go to, then you are being an elitist and your child will suffer for it eventually. I promise you they will not always go to school with economically similar students.
When I was a child, I went to Berkeley Glenn for my entire elementary school education. From Kindergarten to 6th grade, I can remember every single one of my teachers’ names. I remember Mr. Brandt was the principal and Mrs. Coulling (who is still there) was the school secretary. I have fond memories of BG; walking to and from school every day with my friends, Christmas plays, book fairs, even my first school dance (in 6th grade) I distincly remember. At our 6th grade graduation I cried because I didn’t want to leave BG and go to Kate Collins. I loved BG so much that when I went to KC and WHS I would come back and visit my old teachers just to see how they were doing. Being a BG student gave me great pride and instilled a love for higher learning at an early age that I carried into adulthood. Today, my son is a student at BG and he loves it as much as I did. As a matter of fact, his one of his teachers taught me! I want him to have the same memories about elementary school as I did. However, this new proposal would not allow this as he would not be able to have that connection with his teachers because of moving from school to school. So for the person who commented that elementary school doesn’t really affect their life, it’s terrible that you didn’t get a chance to experience a great school like BG, because you clearly would have some great memories that you would be able to share with your children like I was able to do with mine.
Where to start. . .Okay I to am a parent who very much knows my children are growing up before my eyes and their childhood will soon be just a memory and I also do everything in my power to make sure each of those memories are good ones and shape them into good people.
So where do we differ again—I think how close we live to the school they attend so they can walk in the neighborhood is not a memory that is worth getting so worked up over. Take them for a walk on the weekend. What’s important is who they attend school with, good friends and great teachers. If you choose not to put them on a bus, then drive them to school, that can be a fun childhood memory too.
Thanks for that perspective. Maybe you don’t live in a neighborhood, and if you do, maybe you don’t even have sidewalks to walk to school. Or maybe you have both, but for whatever the reason, you chose not to walk your child to school…and you know what…that’s great! That’s a pretty good feeling isn’t it…you know…to be able to make a decision about how you want your child to remember the first few years of his/her school life, and what it was like to move thru and experience their neighborhood. As a parent, you must relish in the comfort of knowing that you’ve got choices that you can make for your child. After all, some people may enjoy the convenience of having a yellow bus haul their kid miles from their home to another part of the city to get an education. That doesn’t make you a bad person …it simply makes you a parent making choices for your kids.
But that’s where you and I differ. I get that my 7 year old will one day become a 10 year old, and then one day will become a 13 year old, and then become an 18 year old. But I also get that as years go by, the decisions and experiences that I have control over in her life will also change. Maybe I take my role as a parent too seriously, or maybe I’m too emotional about the memories that I want to create for her, or maybe, just maybe…I want to have a choice too. That doesn’t make me a bad person…it simply makes me a parent that wants to make choices for my kids.
I think parents are working themselves up over nothing—so your child will have to ride a bus to school, instead of walking. . .really? So you’ll have kids at 2 schools, um that would happen soon enough with the older child in middle school. Think back to when you were in elementary school—how much did it really effect your forever life; not really at all—as long as your kids have friends at school and they are happy at home, they don’t care where they go, but they will surely feed off their parents emotions about this change.
SoxFreak,
I did not mean to imply that you were categorizing my child…I apologize. However, I am aware that there are some who would. I did the same thing. Now because I got over myself; I have learned a valuable lesson.
I appreciate your first comment. It is hard to read about what people think of the school your child goes to. It is a known fact both of the schools get a bad wrap and mostly just because of where the locations of the two schools are. No one likes their child to be categorized. My child is well behaved not because of school but because my husband and I take great pride in the fact of having a child. Raising good kids comes from either end of town and no matter which school you go to. Parents are the key to their child’s education and with great teachers it can only be better. I do like William Perry and I can only comment about the teachers there because of first hand knowledge. I did not mean to imply the teachers of other schools were not as good. I just don’t have first hand knowledge of them. My interactions with the staff of a certain school was not pleasant and well the lady gave me the impression that my child was not good enough to go to any other school. I have always been told make a good impression the first time because you may not get a second chance. Well the staff of that school gave me a very bad impression. I have no doubt the school board will do what is best for the children of Waynesboro.
I do have one more thing to ask though. Why do people refuse to name the schools? It is no secret about the location and the attitudes most people have about the schools themselves. I heard all the bad comments about William Perry and it scared me to death. As parents we made a decision to not listen and try it out because we are involved with our child. I am very glad we made that decision. How kids will do in school is only as good as the first teacher they have and her teacher is the BEST (another opinion).
curious-
I’m not saying that the kids in certain areas are somehow not a good “type” of kid. I’m simply stating (as you yourself agree since you name schools) that there are some (not including myself) that look down on certain schools because they falsely perceive that there is a different clientele at that school.
My message to those (whom I disagree with) is moreso one of IF you’re right, then that’s still not a reason to object to dividing the school up. Because it will be divided evenly.
It’s ignorant of people to judge a student because of what school they go to. Yet, I’ve heard this same complaint.
Also-you’ve sort of done the same thing yourself in judging teachers based upon which school they teach at. There are phenomenal teachers at all the schools.
This division of schools will result in a lot of teachers moving, so if you prefer a certain faculty set it’s very likely that your children would still see some of them.
Won’t all of these kids be combined eventually in JR High & High School no matter which school distric they’re in now? So what’s the difference?
I am terribly offended about the comment not sending your child to a certain school. We all know what schools are being referred to: William Perry and Wenonah. My child goes to William Perry, so I am curious about the “type” of child she is. My child is well behaved, polite, respectful, and well as a proud mommy very smart. You can find “those” kids at any school. I don’t care if the make-up changes or not. Just because you live in a certain area does not mean you child is better then someone who lives in a different part of town. I am not fond of my child going to another school because my encounters with the staff and parents of that school are not very friendly and they think they are better then everyone. I would prefer my daughter to stay at William Perry with a great group of teachers and personable staff.
I do want a good education for my child and if this is the way to do it then I support the school boards decision. We all must make sacrifices for our children and our community. If it means going a little out of the way then well it is better then paying higher taxes for a new school when there were other options to try.
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