Kindergarten Roundup - The search for the perfect kindergarten by Jennifer DeJournett

Coming Soon...... 1 / 21/ 2009

Why Class Sizes Matter To Our Students by Collette Guyott-Hempel

Our class sizes matter most to the students. Twenty to thirty years ago, English Language Learners and Special Education students were rare. Today in District 279 overall, these groups each account for ten percent of the students in our classrooms. In a typical class of 25 students, there are 5 students in these two categories plus another 4-5 students of the class that struggle to learn the standards set for the curriculum (lowest 25%- Learning Curve Statistics). Now add 20 more students suddenly you have 16 students that will need additional educational support in that class.

To reiterate the importance of class sizes to our children’s educations; students receive more direct mentoring from teachers. It creates an environment where students feel confident in asking questions and realize they aren’t just a number to the teacher. Students struggle with emotional needs for attention and the more students in a classroom the less likely an emotional or academic connection is made. This is true for all levels of academic ability.

Let’s face it, a child in a classroom of 30 students receives less than 2 minutes per hour of attention, students in a class of 42 students receive less than 1 minute of attention per hour (maybe 6 minutes in a good day-if they answer or ask a question). Many colleges and seminars limit the class sizes to less.

The choices are not easy regarding limited funds available to our District. During tough economic times and given the current State budget forecast it is likely that our District will be facing budget cuts.

In order to keep the far from the classroom, I have complied some suggestions/choices for school districts facing budget cuts:

1-Cut space-leased and evaluate the purpose of buildings owned.
2-Have fee-based transportation provided for students under two miles of their school building
3-Revisit after school extracurricular activities including sports and clubs-participation fees, tickets and budget amount from general fund.
4-Review and reconsider administration/teachers on special assignment assigned at the Educational Service Center. Reinstate those teacher back to the classroom.
5-Review general levy funds used by the Adult Education and Early Childhood that are not specifically funded by grants or state aid earmarked solely for their use.
6-Review utility efficiency in buildings and leasing prices to groups with permits.
7-Advocate the Legislator for consolidation of school districts eliminating board members, superintendents, administrative staff, and buildings.(As a state we don’t need 347 of them we have 87 counties.)
8- Consideration of salary cuts and hiring freezes for teachers and administration, and Board Members. However, paraprofessional salary levels are at minimal levels, therefore, a further cut or pay freeze is not appropriate.
9- Finally, as a last resort, I would reducing the number of building staff-engineers, administration, playground-lunch staff, office staff, special education staff and teachers.

There are no easy choices in order to balance the District budget.

I would advocate that the Community express your spending cut choices to the board and to your elected state officials. We have to realize that academics and citizenship is what the state constitution expected to be the priorities for public education. Our legislators and School Board members need to hear from the Community. We need to work together and discuss our priorities during these tough economic times.

I know we can “Make a Difference for the Kids” who have no vote in spending priorities.

Finally, please consider donating to your schools through your local Parent Teacher Organization or through the District 279 Foundation.

I can be reached via email at cmguyott@aol.com

Collette Guyott-Hempel

New Community Discussion Blog Introduction

In the age of the internet, the Community has multiple ways to connect to learn about their local schools. There are many opportunities for the Community to become engaged and learn about issues related to the education of our children.

The intent of this Community Discussion Blog is provide a vehicle for members of the community to discuss issues from all perspectives regarding our District. This Community Discussion Blog is meant to be complementary to the other community websites and FACEBOOK pages already published on the internet. Therefore, links to these existing vehicles are also posted on this page. Please advise if any are missing and they will be included.

All view points are welcome here and the District will become stronger when more of the community becomes engaged.

This Community Discussion Blog will allow the following:

1. Discussion topics related to school issues
2. Discussion on the overall state of Education in Minnesota
3. Discussion on legislative topics related to Education
4. Public Interest Post, linking to new articles
5. Post related to Community events within District 279
6. Discussion “For” and “Against” School District Levies
7. Links to all known community websites
8. Feedback regarding our District

What this Community Discussion Blog will NOT do is endorse candidates. However, we will allow candidates for Public office to post their view points. We will also allow public officials, district employees, and district officials to post here as well. We will be actively seeking out their opinions on topics of the day.

There is no “enrollment” required to post on this blog to comment on a “Posted Article”. This blog specifically allows “anonymous” posts, as well as posts people wish to attribute to oneself.

If one wishes to “Post an article, community event, request for assistance, etc”, one can do so in the following ways:

1. Become a regular contributor to the Blog, email Jennifer DeJournett at jdejournett@aol.com or call 612-384-1479

Please provide your email and “Posting Name” (Can be your real name or the name you would like to post under).

A separate email will be sent to you, inviting you to the Contributor list.

2. You may also contact this blog by emailing CommunityComments@gmail.com.

Feel free to offer us suggestions, commentary, or feedback on this site to the Blog Committee.

3. You can also use the comment section under blog postings to provide your feedback as well.

4.. If you wish to post to the website, but do not desire to become a regular contributor, you can always email your post to Jennifer or to CommunityComments email address and we will post the Document for you.

The only requirement for a blog post is that the golden rule must apply (i.e. respect others as you would wish to be respected yourself). We must as a community debate issues, but we can do so in a manner that follows the “Golden Rule.”

We look forward to having this venue because the more opportunities for the community to speak to each other the greater the likelihood of us solving our district issues together!

Best Regards,
District 279 Community Discussion Group Contributors