***
Hello Howard,
I am finally getting settled into the new school year and have some time to follow up on our conversation from earlier this summer.
Are there any new updates about central office communication? I know that the School Board has had a Communications Committee, but I am not sure how what we discussed has been integrated into this committee's work.
Also, I have received feedback from parents requesting central office level discussion on the following topics:
* Nutrition in our schools
* Full day kindergarten versus half day
* Budgetary process / allocation of district funds
* Heterogeneous classes versus tiered in the upper levels
* Foreign language education
* District follow-up on standardized test results
* Athletic facilities (e.g., running track, etc.)
* College placement and comparative/competitive high school curricula
* Special needs children / falling through the cracks
All these topics are quite monumental in scope and could consume hours (days) of discussion. Nevertheless, I recall our discussing regular meetings/brown bags and superintendent office newsletters to cover topics of interest. I hope that we can still move forward with these initiatives. Please let me know how I may be able to help. Indeed, these are issues that concern district parents.
On another note, I am very excited about the new school year. Moharimet continues to amaze me with the creative and exciting programs offered to enhance my child's learning!
Sincerely,
Megan Turnbull
cc: ORCSD School Board and Wendy DiFruscio
I am finally getting settled into the new school year and have some time to follow up on our conversation from earlier this summer.
Are there any new updates about central office communication? I know that the School Board has had a Communications Committee, but I am not sure how what we discussed has been integrated into this committee's work.
Also, I have received feedback from parents requesting central office level discussion on the following topics:
* Nutrition in our schools
* Full day kindergarten versus half day
* Budgetary process / allocation of district funds
* Heterogeneous classes versus tiered in the upper levels
* Foreign language education
* District follow-up on standardized test results
* Athletic facilities (e.g., running track, etc.)
* College placement and comparative/competitive high school curricula
* Special needs children / falling through the cracks
All these topics are quite monumental in scope and could consume hours (days) of discussion. Nevertheless, I recall our discussing regular meetings/brown bags and superintendent office newsletters to cover topics of interest. I hope that we can still move forward with these initiatives. Please let me know how I may be able to help. Indeed, these are issues that concern district parents.
On another note, I am very excited about the new school year. Moharimet continues to amaze me with the creative and exciting programs offered to enhance my child's learning!
Sincerely,
Megan Turnbull
cc: ORCSD School Board and Wendy DiFruscio
I received a reply from Howard Colter today I would like to share (NOTE: The formatting on this post is messed up, sorry!):
ReplyDelete"I am happy to hear that your child is having another great year at Moharimet. We are very fortunate to have so many talented and dedicated teachers in our school district.
Thank you for sharing a list of possible topics for discussion with the community. I plan to review this list with Meredith, Danielle, and Sue.
Certainly, we can discuss one or more of these topics this year. As you
know, we are busy with the formation of a budget for next fiscal year.
Also, I am sure you know that the Board has approved a budget advisory
committee, which is another opportunity to discuss one of more of the
issues on your list. I should also mention the work of the Strategic
Plan Committee. The SPC's next meeting is this Saturday, starting at
9:00 AM, at ORHS. The public is certainly invited! We are meeting in
the library."
Later, Howard sent me another e-mail regarding the school start times:
"Also, Megan, I am planning to hold three meetings in November to hear
from parents and community members about the possibility of altering the start time for schools in the future."
Was anyone else aware that the SPC meeting was this Saturday? What time does it end? Most of us parents have soccer on Saturday, but could go in the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteSome of you people have way to much time on your hands!Get a life and stop worrying about the way the schools are run . They do a pretty damn good job!
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure the schools are doing "a pretty damn good job" if they're producing people who think "to much time" is proper English.
ReplyDeleteWe can stop worrying when our children graduate.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I have about 3 more years of worry.
How dare you tell us not to worry about our children's education.
So long as these are "public" schools we have every right to know exactly how are children are being educated and how are tax dollars are spent.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who would deny our right to do so is either an idiot or a school administrator--though in some cases those amount to the same thing.
The Strategic Planning Committee is meeting from 9am-2pm on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteDear Meghan,
ReplyDeleteIf later start times at the high school is going to be a priority discussion, I hope the School Board looks at ALL the research:
"Sleep isn’t a priority for teenagers, and it typically isn’t made one by parents or schools."
--Jodi Mindell, PhD, Director of Graduate Program in Psychology, St. Joseph’s University and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Regarding the start time issue, I know that this is a concern. I did not include this in my list to Mr. Colter because I know that it is already under review. I have no strong opinions on this issue (this could be due to my own ignorance on the subject, I admit!). So, I cannot comment on the previous post except to say my name is spelled without an 'h' in it. Thanks!
ReplyDeletePlease don't forget an orchestra for middle/high school!
ReplyDeleteI agree with ChrisAnn. I would LOVE to see more music offerings at the middle school and high school.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did forget to mention the issues related to music curricula. The list goes on...
ReplyDeletePlease write your own letter to Mr. Colter and the School Board. Hearing from others is helpful.
Interesting list by M.T., and add the MS orchestra too; all good, sound activities to provide and/or consider for our students. Most increase the budget which this site and the majority of the current Board wants to cut.
ReplyDeletePrincipals in our schools have already been given their marching orders to cut the budget and that message has been conveyed to staff. With many jobs and programs being considered for cuts, potential class sizes increasing for NHDOE mandated courses and programs, how can one justify adding programs that will increase the budget?
This to me shows the frenzied logic of many subscribing to this site. Not too much of what is suggested is based in reality. The mean tone of many also says a lot about the real motives of a few.
As someone who also pays attention I have not seen much attempts at "lets cut" at this site. Quite the opposite, it is usually about how to make things better. Look up posts last year during budget season, protests over staff cuts, NOT support. The last two years the budget has had such slush, last year a 2million dollar surplus, the year before another surplus.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the music program at the middle school is excellent. It was when my child got to the high school that the offerings became slim.
Scheduling is partially to blame, but it would be nice to see more of a continuium of program offerings.
Please use some logic to put things together here. Look at the cuts made in staffing and programs...the result=surpluses returned to the towns
ReplyDeleteThe cuts may not be directly advocated for, but they are strongly implied!
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing:
ReplyDeleteWe have a $37 million budget. There is no way with a student base like we have and that dollar amount, we cannot create these programs. No one, since this blog has started, has answered why our budget is so high! Not one!
So...what is attributed to that cost?
Food? - perhaps but have you SEEN what our kids eat? It is awful and nutrition seems to be an afterthought with this administration.
Transportation? - OUR BUSSES KEEP BREAKING DOWN!
Facilities costs? - Does anyone know what these actually are? We outsource this to Aramark and that person has not offered to explain.
Salaries? Maybe....but does anyone want to go through what Portsmouth just went through? Our teachers are good if not great.
Benefits costs - Who knows? Is the district even shopping around for the same quality at lower costs.
I think the question is not: "you are cutting the budget yet want more"
The question is: "why, on a comparison basis, do we not have the same programs as other schools with the same student base and same (if not larger) budget?"
How can you complain..."from someone who knows" when we just had a $2 million budget surplus. It's ridiculous! This district needs to adjust to the new norm and get on board with being creative with money and justifying all expenses. The community supports you but not to frivolously throw away our taxes. This is administration mostly...not teachers...but all have to be on board to get us through this.
Implied vs. stated. All I have seen stated is a desire for transparency, not cuts. When cuts were proposed then occured last year there was a stated lack of support, not implied.
ReplyDeleteStick to the facts.
I agree with the previous post, when you look at other districts and what they have vs. us, you do have to wonder.
You all have a marvelous opportunity to offer constructive input. One such step is to volunteer for the advisory budget committee. There are many things we all can do. Remember almost all meetings are public with the single exception of closed meetings during which discussions of personnel, or those which involve individual students take place.
ReplyDeleteYour viewing of the televised SB meetings are more than welcomed as is your criticism of what transpires during them.
Jim and Krista:
ReplyDeleteYour willingness to post to this blog and to otherwise engage with community members is exemplary. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to do so.
It appears that a new pre-school playground was just put in at the high school. What a waste of tax payer money!! The decision happens to also go against the individuals with disabilities education act (IDEA)because it places our preschool students away from the neighborhood school that they should attend with peers closer to their age. The least restrictive environment for a three year old is not at the same school as an 18 year old. I guess Oyster River thinks they do not have to comply with federally mandated laws.
ReplyDeleteLeast Restrictive Environment regulation definition: (You all decide if our preschool disabled students are being served in the least restrictive environment while at the high school)
ReplyDeleteIDEA REGULATION
§300.114(a)(2) General LRE requirements
(2) Each public agency must ensure that—
(i) to the maximum extent appropriate,
children with disabilities, including children
in public or private institutions or other care
facilities, are educated with children who are
nondisabled; and
(ii) special classes, separate schooling or
other removal of children with disabilities from
the regular educational environment occurs
only if the nature or severity of the disability is
such that education in regular classes with the
use of supplementary aids and services cannot
be achieved satisfactorily.
§300.115 Continuum of Alternative Placements
(a) Each public agency must ensure that a
continuum of alternative placements is available
to meet the needs of children with disabilities
for special education and related services.
(b) The continuum required in paragraph (a)
of this section must—
(1) Include the alternative placements listed
in the definition of special education under
§300.39 (instruction in regular classes, special
classes, special schools, home instruction, and
instruction in hospitals and institutions); and
(2) Make provision for supplementary
services (such as resource room or itinerant
instruction) to be provided in conjunction with
regular class placement.
EXPLANATION
The “public agency” is the school. It is
responsible for making sure that children with
disabilities are educated alongside children
without disabilities to the extent appropriate
for the child.
“Appropriate” means that the education fits the
child’s special needs and allows the child to
make educational progress.
The regular education classroom is the first
placement choice the Individualized Education
Program (IEP) team must consider. When an
IEP team, which always includes the parents,
considers where a child will be educated, it must
Cont. from above:
ReplyDeleteask what can be provided so the child can stay
in the regular education classroom or activity.
It must consider what “supplementary aids and
services”(extra supports) will allow the child to
be placed in a regular classroom environment.
Examples might include assistive technology,
special behavior strategies, use of a resource
room, or accommodations or modifications in
the curriculum or assignments.
IDEA REGULATION
§300.116 Placements
In determining the educational placement of a child with a
disability, including a preschool child with a disability, each
public agency must ensure that—
(a) The placement decision—
(1) Is made by a group of persons, including the parents, and
other persons knowledgeable about the child, the meaning of
the evaluation data, and the placement options; and
(2) Is made in conformity with the LRE provisions of this
subpart, including §§300.114 through300.118;
(b) The child’s placement—
(1) Is determined at least annually;
(2) Is based on the child’s IEP; and
(3) Is as close as possible to the child’s home;
(c) Unless the IEP of a child with a disability requires some
other arrangement, the child is educated in the school that he
or she would attend if nondisabled;
(d) In selecting the LRE, consideration is given to any
potential harmful effect on the child or on the quality of
services that he or she needs; and
(e) A child with a disability is not removed from education
in age-appropriate regular classrooms solely because of needed
modifications in the general curriculum.
IDEA REGULATION for preschool placement:
ReplyDelete§300.116 Placements
In determining the educational placement of a child with a
disability, including a preschool child with a disability, each
public agency must ensure that—
(3) Is as close as possible to the child’s home;
(c) Unless the IEP of a child with a disability requires some
other arrangement, the child is educated in the school that he
or she would attend if nondisabled;
(d) In selecting the LRE, consideration is given to any
potential harmful effect on the child or on the quality of
services that he or she needs; and
(e) A child with a disability is not removed from education
in age-appropriate regular classrooms solely because of needed
modifications in the general curriculum.
From what I can tell looking at per pupil costs at nearby schools [obviously an imperfect formula as each school is not an exact replica of another]....ORSD has one of the highest public education per pupil costs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the posters who are demanding transparency. & second, with tax rates as high as this there should be a stellar public education program for our students.
Instead, I am looking at whether or not to put my girls in Portsmouth Christian Academy for them to follow their talents/interests.
It needs to be obvious where the money is going to avoid the very problems stated in this comments. Why are there cuts? Why is the budget not predicting preditable increases such as salaries/benefits? Why is the school board not striving to improve the cirriculum? Economic times are tough, the last thing ORSD needs is for people to start moving their families to other towns with cheaper houses, cheaper taxes, and more activities available to their students. The towns of Lee, Durham, & Madbury can't survive on the reduced taxes of it's older residents.
It is time for an answer to the repeated question of why it costs Oyster River so much to educate their kids.
ReplyDeletelOOK AT WHAT OUR CHILDERN EAT ARE YOU SERIOUS???? YOU THINK THE COST OF FOOD IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE EATING??? THATS FUNNY.... HOW ABOUT LETS START P A Y I N G FOR WHAT OUR KIDS ARE EATING. DOES ANYONE KNOW THAT FOODSERVICE ENDED UP OVER 50 THOUSANDS DOLLARS IN THE RED LAST YEAR BECAUSE PARENTS WERE NOT MADE TO PAY FOR THEIR CHILDS LUCNH??? AND A $30. CHARGE POLICY HAHAHA....PRINCIPALS DECIDED THAT WAS NOT A DECISION THE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD MAKE AND DECIDED TO MAKE UP THEIR OWN POLICY. SO THERE IS A SKY IS THE LIMIT CHARGE CEILING IN MOST OF THE SCHOOLS....WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM.....SO ITS NOT WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING FED ITS THAT THEY ARE BEING FED FOR FREE.....IM GOING TO TRY THIS LINE OF THINKING THE NEXT TIME I GO INTO A GROCERY STORE OR RESTAURANT AND SEE IF IT WORKS FOR MY CHILD THERE
ReplyDeleteI'm curiios to know how bringing in more healthy food is ever going to make a budget go down? Usually the more healthy the more expensive
ReplyDelete