Before responding to recent Wake County school news, I checked the date to make sure it wasn’t April 1st — I can hardly believe this peculiar plan!
As one of the world’s organizationally challenged, I have to say that making one day a week a different length from the others is very likely to mean that some children will be picked up late; I have it on good authority that some (three-quarters of the way through the school year!) are quite frequently picked up as much as an hour late as it is. Most authorities tell us that children thrive on routine, and, after 20 years of parenthood, I believe it.
From what I have observed, the value of an Early Release day is less than half that of a full day; it seems almost as if students come to school, have a (disruptive) early lunch and then go home.
Believe it or not, nearly half a century ago, my teachers managed to deliver a sound education between the hours of 9 and 4, every day of the school year without early releases, planning days, professional development during term-time, and adverse weather closures. I have no idea how, where or when they did their continuing education and planning, but can only assume it was before or after school, at the weekend or during the summer.
Back then, the curriculum was plainer and changed less often, too, but I’m starting to think that was a good thing; I have seen so much change and “innovation” in curricula since my children started school here in 1994, even if these educational products are any good, I don’t think they’re given enough time to work.
I maintain an old-fashioned belief in the basics and remain highly skeptical of expensively packaged, overtly marketed programs, which come in with a lot of hoop-la and hype, change nothing and are replaced with the next “big thing” two or three years later.
I think what each one of our children needs most is plenty of time with good teachers, and any plan that impinges upon that gets a “NO” from me.
Deborah Samad
Raleigh
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So, it will cost an additional $150,000 to run a middle school year-round vs. traditional and an additional $100,000 to run an elementary year-round vs. traditional? Really. And aren’t we in an economic recession, where school programs are being cut left and right? Don’t the numbers show us that there is no reason to convert the traditional schools to year round — that growth has slowed and that there are empty seats in the existing year round schools already? Can someone help me understand how our school board feels it can spend more money on something that just doesn’t make sense???
Susan Mehlman
Raleigh
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Regarding the March 25 article “Wake schools may shorten a day”:
Like a lot of families who have an elementary student and a middle or high schooler, getting the children out the door has turned into a two-hour process. The middle schooler leaves the house at 7:05, and the second-grader does not have to be in school until 9:15. I bet over 90 percent of elementary students who are on the late schedule are in their desks by 9 and 75 percent by 8:45. The buses do not need all the time they are given. I agree, we need to start those schools earlier.
However, 7:30 is too early to begin with. If we start earlier than that, many of these children will go unfed for breakfast and zombie through the first hour of the day. If the schools want to tack time onto that day, tack it onto the en....I don't mind them getting out at 2:30 as opposed to 2:15! Frankly, I think we have it all backwards anyway. The younger ones should leave early and get home early. The older ones (it is proven) need to sleep later and are better off without all that time in the afternoon.
Cotten Barnes
Raleigh
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Why would the school board convert the Leesville Elementary School to year-round and then the middle school on the same campus to year-round and then the high school (same campus) stays traditional calendar? It doesn’t make sense. They did it to add capacity, which was not and is not needed.
This has been disruptive for our family for a second time around with children in two of these schools that are on the same campus yet on different calendars! It costs more to run the year-round programs, and they are not filled to the capacity they had “planned.” There are year-round options close by if parents want this option.
Bottom line, they are spending more money for something that will not be needed. Is this saving the taxpayers money? I was forced to apply for my traditional option, which is farther from our house, just to keep our family on the same schedule. Leesville Road Middle School hasn’t even had time to plan this conversion. Parents have not yet been informed what track they will be assigned to and cannot plan their vacations/childcare/events this year.
Diane Hart
Raleigh
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While professing to care about families — “This is going to be difficult for parents in the community to make this adjustment,” said school board member Lori Millberg. “I want to assure them that this will be time well used.” — the school board reaches a higher level of hypocrisy yet!
In this economic hurricane, the chance to save the school system hundreds of thousands of dollars is being written off as 11th hour. Revisiting under-enrolled mandatory year-round schools has the potential to save a lot of funds that could then be directed at programs — such as CIS — that aims to help the poorer and at-risk students, a statistic WCPSS claims to be concerned about, but now states it is too late. The system is also holding off sending out opt-out letters until May. Isn’t that kind of 11th hour, when year-round schools start on July 7th?
Ironically, it’s not too late to throw the entire school system off kilter by adjusting start times, adding 10 minutes per day and shortening one school day a week by one hour thus affecting many many more families than those at just five or six schools. In addition, the board is considering changing the schedules of 11 schools this fall.
For example, East Wake High School might start later, at 8:05 a.m., while four high-poverty elementary schools could start earlier, at 8:30 a.m.
But it’s too late to revisit mandatory-year-round and potentially save money?
When will it end? This maddening, endlessly spinning example of fiscal irresponsibility and lack of accountability? This October.
Angela Williams
Raleigh
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The headline of Ruth Sheehan’s recent column “Stupid is as stupid does” was quite appropriate, although not in the way The N&O intended it. Once again, the focus is on rewarding those who have created difficult situations for themselves because of their own behavior at the expense of those who play by the rules (can you say bailout?).
Since Wake County school budget cutting may result in the closing of alternative educational programs for kids who are given long suspensions, Sheehan wanted to label such an action as stupid. So, would it be intelligent to reduce programs, increase class size, etc. for the kids acting appropriately and to use the money for the benefit of the juvenile delinquents (you don’t get a long suspension for chewing gum in class)? These kids are not victims of circumstances beyond their control. They are paying a price for not doing the right thing when given the opportunity.
Yes, it is sad that many of these kids are in tough situations at home and that the closing of alternative education programs may be another obstacle to overcome. But it is sadder and dare I say “stupid” to use scarce educational resources for their benefit while depriving kids who are just as deserving of a quality education and are capable of maintaining proper decorum. There are consequences for one’s actions (or at least there used to be).
Michael L. Ragland
Apex
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The concerned residents of Wake County are not going away this time. It is time to put egos aside and put children and families first. Consistency is an important element of a child’s development, which our current system ignores. Community is another important part of a child’s development, which the current system ignores.
Children don’t learn anything positive on a 30- to 45-minute bus ride. Putting 6th graders on buses at 6 a.m. is not healthy. The farther the distance from the school, the less the parent and community involvement.
Having communities, neighbors and friends fighting over assignment is not healthy and a waste of time and energy that can be used for volunteer hours in the community school. If there is no school due to poor planning then we need to correct the action before it becomes worst. We fail to achieve our academic goals and reward Dr. Burns, but we yell about AIG. It is time to change a school board that has closed it eye and ears and focus on community.
Gerald H. Ballan
Member, Brier Creek Education Action Committee
Raleigh
