Friday, November 30, 2007
Thank You!
Another reason not to close schools...
Smaller Schools are Better
If our goal is to do what is right and good for our district, this should be taken into account: existing research overwhelmingly supports the idea that small schools are better than large schools. Most research indicates that a “small” elementary school has no more than 300- 400 students. If schools are closed in our district, several of our schools will no longer be small schools. Even if school closures will reduce some of our debt, the costs in other areas far outweigh any alleged savings.
o Small schools have higher levels of participation in extracurricular activities. Students in smaller schools are more likely to hold positions of importance and feel better about their participation.
o Small schools have quality curriculum that is equal to or similar to that in larger schools. While some larger schools may have slightly more varied curriculum, the difference is small, and it requires a great deal of increase in enrollment to result in a small amount of increase in variety of curriculum. In addition, studies have shown that a very small percentage of students take advantage of the extra classes offered at large schools, and most extra classes are not advanced or distinctive classes, but tend to be additional introductory classes instead.
o Small schools can be operated very efficiently, and when compared to many large schools they are more cost effective. As schools grow, more staff is needed to maintain control. This includes assistant principals, yard duty personnel, security, and other support staff. Costs of utilities and maintenance increase with enrollment growth as well.
o In small schools academic achievement is as good as or better than it is in larger schools. “Achievement measures used in the research include school grades, test scores, honor roll membership, subject-area achievement, and assessment of higher-order thinking skills.”(Cotton 1996).
o In small schools students have a more positive attitude toward school than in large schools. Students have a sense of belonging, and more positive self-regard.
o Negative social behaviors, such as truancy, aggressive behavior and vandalism, are less common in smaller schools.
o Small schools have better attendance rates than larger schools.
o Small schools have much lower dropout rates than larger schools.
o Small schools have better interpersonal relations between students, and between staff and students.
o Small schools have higher rates of parent involvement. There is better communication and there are better relationships between parents and staff and between parents and administration.
o Small schools have a narrower achievement gap between poor children and more affluent children.
o In small schools students are more likely to go on to college, and are as prepared or more prepared for college success, as students in larger schools.
o Smaller schools can focus on the needs of the students rather than the organizational challenges of a large school. There is a feeling of community, almost like family, at a small school. Every student is known by the staff and administration, and the students know each other and look out for each other as well.
o Teachers benefit from working in smaller schools as well. There is more collaboration and cooperative learning, and more flexibility in scheduling in a small school. Teachers are familiar with each other and can share knowledge and experience with each other. They are familiar with the administration and have easy access to support and guidance.
o Smaller schools are a better deal for the district in the long run. They offer many benefits that will help our district reach its goal of being a “benchmark organization,” as is claimed on the web site.
School Size, School Climate, and Student Performance By Kathleen Cotton. May 1996. http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/10/c020.html
Response from Carl Wong
Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding the difficult decision being addressed by the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District and Superintendent Vrankovick. Sonoma County has a total of 40 individual school districts serving over 71,200 K-12 students at 177 local school sites. For the past 4 years, over half of the districts, including Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified, have experienced a decline in their student enrollment. Since school finance is dependent upon revenues generated by student enrollment/attendance, local school boards and superintendents have had to make strategic decisions regarding the cost of operating multiple school sites.You are probably aware of on-going countywide discussion on the need forexploring some type of school district re-organization, consolidation and/or unification.The County Superintendent of Schools and the County Board of Education has no legal purview over the authority of local governing boards regarding budget and operational decisions. This matter resides with the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District Board of Education and Office of Superintendent Vrankovick.
Sincerely,Carl Wong, Ed. D.
You're Invited!!
Where: Santa Alicia Park
When: Friday, November 30 @ 5pm
You're all invited! Tell your family, friends and neighbors. This is a community event celebrating Rohnert Park. Let's make this a fun and friendly rally reminding the community why we all chose to raise our families in the Friendly City of Rohnert Park.
Banner Making
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Response from the Governor
hearing from my fellow Californians on the quality of education
we’re
providing for our children.
I have visited schools all over our state, and I’ve been able to see
firsthand the terrific work being done by our students and teachers.
To support those efforts, my proposed 2007-08 May Revision budget
fully
funds Proposition 98 at $57.6 billion, an increase of $2.6 billion
over
last year. This money will bring per pupil spending up to $11,562 –
an all-time high for the state.
As Governor, I remain committed to ensuring that all students have
access to the resources they need to succeed in California’s public
schools. To achieve that goal, my budget includes a number of
education
initiatives, including $12 million to create the EnCorps Teachers
Program
to add 2,000 experienced retirees to California’s teaching corps.
It
also includes $50 million to continue the Low-Performing School
Enrichment Block Grant for a third year. To support Career Technical
Education (CTE), my revised budget includes $125 million to expand and
improve
CTE throughout the state.
In this budget and through state initiatives, we are hard at work
addressing some particularly pressing needs that include teacher
shortages,
access to information about particular schools, Career Technical
Education, low-performing schools, school safety, preparing students
to
graduate from high school and improving student health.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write. I value the comments of
people who appreciate the important role education plays in
California.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Candlelight Vigil
Addl info for rebuttal committee
In addition, in terms of additional ADA from outside of CRPUSD Gold Ridge has 27 interdistrict transfers which comes to $156,017.30 (half the savings of closing the school) which may be lost. La Fiest has 12 which is $69,341.04.
I am still running the numbers but another factor to add in is the cost of 8 portables (approximately $840,000 one time cost) as well as $7,200 annual leasing for 2 years ($115,200) so we are spending approximately $955,200 to save $600,00 over the next two years not to mention the deferred maintenance costs at Evergreen and Hahn.
Lastly, if the plan is still to have a rebuttal letter written and left at the podium for people to read in 3 minute increments does anyone know when it will be available for people to say. I know I would like a chance to read through it once before Tuesday. Thanks Jodie Palmigiano.
Contact Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey
If anyone else is interested, here is the information to contact her as well...I figure the more of us that are calling the more serious they realize that we are:
Anita Franzi
Field Representative for Congresswoman Woolsey
(415) 507-9554
- Leisa
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Candlelight vigil
Keep up the great work!
Heidi
Banner Making
Candlelight Vigils Tues.
Tuesday December 4, 2007
Candlelight Vigil at Creekside 1 hour prior to the School Board Meeting.
We want to be out there when the board arrives.
Monday, November 26, 2007
RP Anniversary Celebration
Park on Friday November 30th from 4 to 7 celebrating the 50th
Anniversary of the opening of Rohnert Park's first neighborhood. It
might be a great place for people to go and spread the message about the
impending school closures. Here we are celebrating our community for its
great "Master Plan" and the vision of Paul Golis where "the school would
be the nucleus of a cohesive community" when all the while, two of our
elementary schools are on the chopping block. Seems like a contradiction
to me and a slap in the face to the founders of our city. Kind of puts a
damper on the celebration! It would be nice if we could get a booth or
maybe do a picket to inform people about what is going on. -Tobi Honey.
Small Schools Project
of small schools, and that it is fiscally responsible to spend
school construction dollars on small school facilities. Many people know intuitively that small schools work best for children and teachers, but now
there is research to prove it. Unfortunately, many communities have already lost their good, small schools because they could not argue successfully against
educators and policy-makers determined to implement “economies of scale” through consolidation."
http://www.smallschoolsproject.org/PDFS/dollars_sense.pdf
Sample Letters
Click on "comments" to see sample letters.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
check this link for research we can quote in regards to school size and student performance.
Board of Trustees Cotati-Rohnert Park School District
5860 Labath Avenue
Rohnert Park, Ca. 94928
email: school_closure@crpusd.org
Rohnert Park City Council
6750 Commerce Blvd.
Rohnert Park, Ca. 94928
Dr.Carl Wong, Superintendent of Schools
Sonoma County Office of Education
5340 Skylane Blvd.
Santa Rosa, Ca. 95403
email: cwong@scoe.org
Remember, every voice counts!
Jamie Mitchell