I also wonder:
- What will happen to the PTA? Will we add one for 4-6th graders and if we do will there be enough resources (time, volunteers, and money) to support four PTA groups instead of three?
- In school activities. Maybe not significant, but at least at Shafer 5th graders work as 'safety patrol' and they conduct Shafer news, which is broadcast through the school and on the internet. What happens when 4th & 5th moves out? Will the recording and broadcast equipment be moved to the IS or will 3rd graders perform this function? Same with safety patrol - will 3rd graders replace 5th graders or will we need volunteers or aids?
Personally I also think parent pick-up/drop-off at the IS is going to be even worse than it is now at the MS, but there is at least a transportation schedule/new bell schedule.
3 comments:
Ross, I think there is little worry for the IS PTA. You will have three grades from three schools and will be roughly the size of the MS, so there will be plenty of people and resources. At the ES level, that is where you will see the impact as each one is losing two of their grades.
As for the other activities, they may get the bright idea from your post and build us a state of the art multi-million dollar news room at the new IS. Why not, it's not their money.
I would seriously doubt that they will replace the 5th grade safety patrol with third graders. There is way to much of a maturity gap and don't really think kids that young would be suited to do it. So most likely that will mean we have to hire additional adult safety folks, or potentially get parent volunteers.
Of course, these are only minor issues in the grand scheme in the districts lack of planning.
Look at the bright side, maybe we can get a bailout from the federal government as well.
I disagree with the previous post re parent volunteers for the IS PTA. I am worried that there will be a shortage of volunteers for all the schools. Is there a single PTA in the district that has an overflow at meetings?? You could potentially have a parent with a child in 4 different schools. Will the PTA meetings, open houses, etc. be scheduled with that in mind? These concerns have been brought up - so I know they are aware of them.
There are several studios and news rooms at the new MS, my point was we invested in all this equipment and it probably won't get used at all at the elementary schools once 4th and 5th move out - so move them to the IS and don't buy new equipment.
PTA will have problems as noted by the other person, currently you get just enough to help out. You now go from supporting 3 buildings to 4 buildings. Do we have 33% extra in our PTA's? I'd doubt it.
Also with school enrollments down in each building, it will be that much harder to support existing activities.
Another parent emailed me about after school care and the bell schedules. Probably a pretty good issue as well. Will there be an after school program available? When will it be available? Etc.
I'm sure there are many issues and yes the ones I raised this morning were minor, but the idea was to get others thinking and putting thoughts out there - no one wants to hear only from me all the time!
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