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| Hey, BOE, wake up!; K-8 schools | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 16 2007, 08:42 AM (984 Views) | |
| Purple Haze | May 16 2007, 08:42 AM Post #1 |
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MacArthur expands to add students BY WAYNE PEAL COMMUNITY EDITOR As a K-5 elementary, MacArthur School struggled to fill its classrooms. As the soon-to-open MacArthur Academy, it faced an overflow. With that in mind, school board members Tuesday authorized portable classrooms for MacArthur, which will reopen in the fall as a K-8 school with a special emphasis on math and science. Parents from throughout the Southfield Public Schools applied earlier this year to have their students attend the new school and district officials said they didn't want to disappoint anyone. "Our feeling was that if people wanted to have their students attend MacArthur, then they should be able to attend MacArthur," Deputy Supt. Kenson Siver said. School board members unanimously approved spending $177,401 over the next three school years to lease four modular classrooms for MacArthur. The classes are expected to accommodate another 100 students. "This is something Dr. Hentrel (incoming Principal Bobbie Hentrel) had lobbied hard for," Siver said. The portable classrooms are being provided by Innovative Modular Solutions. The four-classroom unit had previously been used during renovation at Brace-Lederle, the district's other K-8 school. Money will come from the district's general operating budget. In other news, three current elementary school principals will switch schools as of July 1. Vicki Bayne-Perry, currently principal at Leonhard School, will replace Hentrel at Stevenson. "I know I have some big shoes to fill," said Bayne-Perry, who has been at Leonhard for a decade. Teri John is moving from Schoenhals to Vandenberg while Paula Whitted-Lightsey is coming to Schoenhals from Kennedy, which is slated for closing. wpeal@hometownlife.com | (248) 901-2503 |
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| Al Beabak | May 16 2007, 09:16 AM Post #2 |
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Although I am absolutely against the use of modulars as classrooms I would say it is time to consider the option to create the ability to generate student enrollment and fill neighborhood schools in the same manner. It is seriously time to evaluate conversion of numerous schools to K-8. These former Jr. High schools can be used for this purpose. Dickenson Johnson / Lowell Cooper |
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| crazy_cat | May 16 2007, 12:20 PM Post #3 |
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Why would the BOE locate a K-8 school in a building that has already been converted to 5-6 (ie: Johnson and Cooper)? Dickenson sounds feasible but it depends on how many students would attend. Also, if they only do one K-8 school wouldn't it have to be centrally located to be fair? |
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| IlikeLIvonia | May 16 2007, 12:50 PM Post #4 |
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Well, cost would be one reason. It would be much more efficient to operate several k-8 buildings. A k-8 of 700-900 would, with grade sizes in the 80-100 range be preferable over the narrowly configured 5/6 schools with 350-450 students per grade. Think of the relationships that would form over 9 years in one building. Teachers would be able to easily convey info and insights on your child through 8th grade. It's a great idea, really beneficial for the kids. |
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| Major Card Player | May 16 2007, 12:56 PM Post #5 |
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Well, it's only a 'small #' of us who are dissatisfied, so I'm sure the lps bus system could accomodate the few of us who want an alternative to the k-4 configuration!
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| Sunset | May 16 2007, 02:08 PM Post #6 |
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Doesn't seem the BOE is interested in "fairness" when it comes to school location. My son goes to school 4.8 miles away from home and we live four blocks from a 5-6 grade school. |
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| FlowerPower | May 16 2007, 02:18 PM Post #7 |
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Every time I hear this idea I wonder if those speaking actually have a child in 7th or 8th grade. There is such a huge difference between an 8th grader and a lower elementary or even upper elementary child. Plus, my child and many of their friends were so very ready to leave elementary and move on to middle school. Chosing to have my children attend the same school from K - 8 would definitely not be something our family would chose. 8th graders have such different interests and are so much more grown up. I couldn't imagine sending them off to school or on the bus with a lower elementary child. The interests and maturity levels are just too different. |
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| Al Beabak | May 16 2007, 02:44 PM Post #8 |
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Personally I am not speaking as a parent of one of those aged children. I am speaking from the research and data that I have read regarding the benefits of this K-8 grade configuration. The obvious option would be to make it one of choice for each family, not mandated. |
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| IlikeLIvonia | May 16 2007, 03:11 PM Post #9 |
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You're right, "fairness" doesn't seem to be a consideration in their decisions. Also, if the admin. felt that converting ALL ele. buildings to k-8 as a cost saving measure...the BOE would approve it in a heartbeat. Remember, it's just a configuration, all the teachers remain the same, teaching the same curriculum. 7th and 8th graders are more resilient to change, they'd adjust. I'd even bet that a great deal of them would be excited about the change. |
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| crazy_cat | May 16 2007, 03:17 PM Post #10 |
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I never heard "several K-8" schools as an option and definately never heard them as a replacement for the 5-6 schools. This BOE is very committed to the grade level configurations we have now. My bet is that they will offer one, if any, and where to put it will be a matter of great controversy. At this point, I am not sure I am interested in a K-8 school either. Maybe if it was focused on something that interested my child at the time (math perhaps). I definately don't want my kindergartener on the same bus with 8 graders though unless they have some kind of assigned seating. |
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| Amy P | May 16 2007, 03:19 PM Post #11 |
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Well, I have had two children at that grade level, one is now in college and the other in high school. I would love to be able to send my younger two daughters to a K-8 school. I believe the older children develop a sense of compassion and empathy when they are aroung younger children. It also allows them a real opportunity for responsibility if they choose to become a helper (safety, service squad) and mentor the little ones. Research done by many people on this forum certainly suggests that this is a very successful grade configuration. |
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| Vanna White | May 16 2007, 04:56 PM Post #12 |
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The parochial schools seem to succeed with this configuration and the kids do in fact ride the (LPS) bus together. Has anyone heard that there are problems on the buses that take the parochial school kids to Frost and then to their particular schools? I don't have a child of that age but I remember what it was like when I was that age. As soon as I went to junior high, everything changed immediately. Kids were smoking and doing drugs, they dressed more adult-like and they started experimenting with sex. Kids got crazy at activity night: couples were kissing in the halls and some even smoked dope or dropped acid before they arrived. I remember being very scared by what I saw at first, but it didn't take long for me to blend in. If you look at my school pictures, I went from a 6th grader with pigtails and ribbons in a pink jumper to a 7th grader with long straight hair, makeup and a tight figure-showing top with low rise bell bottoms on. It was the 70's. My focus went from academics to boys. My parents didn't have a clue about much of what I was doing since I was an A student and "very responsible." Would I have "matured" that quickly if I had remained in the elementary school atmosphere for a couple more years? I don't think so. The behavior and the clothes would not have been tolerated because there would have been smaller kids around. These days the teenagers are even more daring from what I can see. Some 12 year old girls wear clothes that show an awful lot of skin and are very sexy-looking. Myself, I am all for keeping kids younger a little longer if possible. It doesn't matter what the kids want, because I am the adult and I make the decisions about what is best. Of course they want the freedom that comes along with the big middle schools. Unfortunately they don't have the skills to make the right decisions much of the time. They are much less mature then they appear. |
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| Nikki | May 16 2007, 06:58 PM Post #13 |
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I'm sorry, but I just don't understand this way of thinking. Yes, there is a big difference between a 12 year old and a 6 year old. I have a middle schooler and I also have younger children as well. They all live and co-exist within the same house. I have also experienced the k-8 setting. You would be surprised how much better the behavior of the older children is when they are in that type of setting. They know they are role models and they act appropriately. Of course, there will always be some kids that act up, but they are the exception and not the rule. |
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| Must Be Psychic | May 16 2007, 09:20 PM Post #14 |
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One of the best things about a school of choice is that it is a choice. While I completely disagree with you, if the district opened one or more K-8 schools of choice, you could certainly chose to keep your child in one of the overcrowded middle schools where he/she can act more grown up if that is what you prefer. |
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| LPS Reformer | May 16 2007, 09:24 PM Post #15 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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The more choices the better. |
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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