Open enrollment over in Lakewood schools?

[Jim O'Bryan]

I was speaking with some parents and all hinted at packed classrooms this year. So it
occurred to me that this could possibly cause the end of open enrollment as we go from
6 schools to 5 in the near future.

I am not an expert but do not see how it can continue, and Lakewood can continue to
improve our schooling on over crowded students.

I am getting emails of kids taking classes in hallways, gymnasiums with multiple classes,
how can this work out?


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[Melissa Page]

I know a parent who lives in Roosevelt neighborhood and was declined from enrolling her kids into Roosevelt. They are currently in Harrison and she just wants a shorter walk to school and to be in the same schools with her neighbors. Harrison is busting at the seams and Roosevelt is the smallest enrolled school (with space to grow within its walls I believe). I know of several Lakewood Catholic Academy kids who just transferred to either Emerson or Roosevelt. St. Cyril kids had to go somewhere too. I'm sure managing a consistent student teacher ratio across schools must be challenging and I'm sure the decision making is done with care. But it still peaks my interest.

Just as last year when he was in Kindergarten, my child's 1st grade level had to expand to 3 classes. They have a nice student teacher ratio now of something around 18:1.

I've been curious as to what other student teacher ratios exist out there in Lakewood. And are they relatively equal among the elementary schools or are there schools getting the disadvantage of higher ratios? I understand the ratios for higher elementary grade levels are higher than what my 1st grader's is. And then I hear about the average ratio in Parma or Cleveland and I'm thankful we don't have it that bad.

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

What a great topic and so thanks for bringing it up! It is my understanding that under open enrollment once a child open-enrolls to a school outside of their home school neighborhood that they are not permitted to go back to their home school if they change their mind.

Considering the the BOE wants to close an elementary school that means things are getting tighter and so they can't always grant every open enrollment request. Under the law, school districts have to offer some kind of open enrollment; however, they are able to set their own policies. From talking with our administrators, it seems as if Lakewood has traditionally followed a very liberal open enrollment policy compared to other districts in Ohio. Many of us who are involved and go the school board meetings knew that open enrollment would change. We were warned that class sizes would go up too and to get used to the idea.

I wrote about common-sense in education in another thread. To me, it would stand to reason that if you have room at one school and overcrowded conditions in another that maybe the policy needs to be more flexible. At Grant, our 2nd grade is in the hallway and the total number of kids is 30. An aid was hired to help this teacher, but unlike some other schools, the class was not split. We are squished in other areas of the schools, too. Yet, the BOE will not open the mods that they spent a fortune to put in our parking lot. We've been told they cost too much too clean. Apparently, I guess running the heat and the air all year long isn't a cost issue.

Here is the thing. We currently have 2570 elementary students enrolled. OSFC has told us that 350 students is the average/norm for one building. Many of you will notice that would require us to have about 7.34 schools. Our newer schools do hold more kids, but even if we put our 5th grade at the middle schools (which is being considered) we would still need about 6.34 schools with what is left. Our enrollment is not dropping. We have been sustaining our numbers.

Open enrollment will have to be stricter if we are to fill up the schools and have the right number of kids in each school. During Phase 3 the issue of parody between the elementary schools was brought up time and time again. We shouldn't have some schools that are bursting and others not being filled up. We shouldn't have some schools enjoying classrooms with an 1:18 ratio and others conducting class in a hallway with a 1:30 ratio.


Attend the community meetings being scheduled by the BOE, October 12th and October 20th. Don't be afraid to let the BOE know you don't like the way they are running schools our schools.

[Meg Ostrowski]

According to a flyer I picked up at the library last week we are all invited by Lakewood City Schools to:

Schools: A Community Conversation

Tuesday, October 12, 7 p.m. Horace Mann Elementary Cafetorium 1251 W. Clifton Blvd.

OR

Wednesday, October 20, 7 p.m. Emerson Elementary Cafetorium 13439 Clifton Blvd.

"Join us for an evening of discussion about the Lakewood City Schools. School officials will update the community on the district's financial status and its strategy for continuing to offer quality educational programming in the face of economic uncertainties. Then it's your turn to speak. We want to hear your thoughts, concerns and ideas. Our schools are only as strong as the community behind them."

[Jim O'Bryan]

We shouldn't have some schools that are bursting and others not being filled up. We shouldn't have some schools enjoying classrooms with an 1:18 ratio and others conducting class in a hallway with a 1:30 ratio.

Is this typical in every school?

One of the things I always questioned was that the idea of less schools was based on a
managing downsizing mentality that it now the new fondue. Do not look to attract more,
look to manage the downsizing of a city. Did enrollment go up?

I was just watching MSNBC and they mentioned schools in the USA are ranked 25th in english, 45th in science and math. Do 30 kids in a hallways create this. What message does this send the kids as they past and talk to friends that actually have classrooms?

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[Danielle Masters]

Jim, I can only give elementary enrollment numbers but this is what we've had in the past few years.

2010-2011: 2,570
2009-2010: 2,521
2008-2009: 2,431
2007-2008: 2,473
2006-2007: 2,501
2005-2006: 2,533
2004-2005: 2,658

As you can see our numbers have jumped around a bit. The have been up the past two years. Looking at kindergarden numbers is important too as it gives up a view of what is to come. This years kindergarden class is about the same as the class in 1999-2000.

2010-2011: 436
2009-2010: 431
2008-2009: 371
2007-2008: 397
2006-2007: 349
2005-2006: 370
2004-2005: 370
2003-2004: 402
2002-2003: 415
2001-2002: 397
2000-2001: 420
1999-2000: 437

Lakewood is an inexpensive city to live in and we have a wonderful school system, it seems to make sense that elementary enrollment will continue to go up and if it does then where will we house the students?

[marklingm]

Jim,

I have consistently been posing a series of questions to the Administration regarding open enrollment for over one year now. I was recently advised that the Administration will pursue looking into all the various issues surrounding open enrollment once that State of Ohio gives the Lakewood City Schools word to move ahead with the Phase III process. In the meantime, I will continue to ask the questions.

Matt

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim,

I have consistently been posing a series of questions to the Administration regarding open enrollment for over one year now. I was recently advised that the Administration will pursue looking into all the various issues surrounding open enrollment once that State of Ohio gives the Lakewood City Schools word to move ahead with the Phase III process. In the meantime, I will continue to ask the questions.

Matt

Matt

I am not sure how the board works or communicate, though we are upping our coverage of
the board and its meetings because of the outcry from readers to do so. Is this normal? To
ask questions and get no flow of information?

Will you be able to discuss this and other topics at the upcoming community school
meetings for the public to attend BUT NOT ASK QUESTIONS?

Thanks for taking the time to underline that you seemingly alone are always open to get information out and ideas in in any different ways.

It is refreshing in this town.

,

[Bill Trentel]

The upcoming events are being labeled "Schools: A Community Conversation" but I only see two items listed in the description of the event 1) the doom and gloom financial outlook presentation by the administration and 2) "Then it’s your turn to speak. We want to hear your thoughts, concerns and ideas." I don't see questions and ANSWERS as part of the program.
I would expect the typical school board and administration public communication technics, just a bunch of bobble-heads. I think they need to look up the word "Conversation". I know that books where one of the items cut from the budget so maybe they don't have a dictionary handy. This link might help: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conversation

Bill

[marklingm]

Will you be able to discuss this and other topics at the upcoming community school meetings for the public to attend BUT NOT ASK QUESTIONS?

Jim,

The upcoming community meetings are not school board meetings. I am told that the community meetings are being held by the Administration in an effort to share information and obtain feedback. I will not be at the first community meeting due to a prior conflict.

There is, however, currently a public comment section at each of our regular school board meetings. That is certainly a forum to ask questions.

Matt