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Annoyed
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Sadly, that is what it sounds like, my only question, was it willful? I understand another Newfield neighborhood was attacked by the BoE in 2005, they were able to fight it because they had time on their side and because they were willing to throw other Newfield families under the bus as I understand it. I believe a couple of these same individuals are now on the current Newfield PFO, coincidence??? Disappointed wrote: <quoted text>
The Newfield PTO very clearly "fell asleep at the wheel".....unfortunately at a a very critical time and at the expense of the Newfield community.
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Annoyed
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Yes, I agree all schools have representation and they should do just that represent all of the school community and not just adhere to their own personal agenda or goals, if they do not abide by the bylaws which states that there must be repsrenstation at all meetings then they should be forced to resign their post and the school community should enforce it! I wouldn't want anyone like that representing my school community..... Another SPS parent wrote: Publius is correct that by late 2007 the BOE at a public meeting had mentioned that area west of High Ridge was up for consideration for being redistricted from Newfield to Hart. While the BOE at that meeting may not have referred to Meadowpark, I distinctly remember the Advocate referring to it as such. I feel badly for those Newfield parents who feel they were blindsided, but all the schools have PTOs who should be sending reps to each BOE meeting and those reps should then report back to their school's families. This redistricting has been in the news for 14 months now, and it really is incumbent upon all parents, and even non-parent residents, to be involved and kept up to date on what is going on. If a particular school hasn't been affected yet, that doesn't mean it won't be affected, but just that the BOE hasn't gotten to that part of this very complex puzzle.
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Annoyed
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It's unanimous it sounds like everyone wants the same thing, they want a choice where they send their children! We shouold be allowed choice! PeterG wrote: give the parents at Rogers or Toquam a choice. 50% can move their kids to the new EMS K-8. 50% can move with the IB or Bank program to Stark (yes, they shouldn't have closed that option). If they redistrict the 200+ Custer kids from Stark, the numbers work. Allocation to the two schools would be determined by a lottery open only to Rogers or Toquam kids.
Ads:
Parents get a choice (their school is being closed, not yours).
Stark potentially avoids the NCLB problem.
the EMS stays K-8 & everyone gets an equal shot at their kindergarten.
We keep the same number of magnet seats.
The custer kids were getting moved anyways.
The EMS/Stark lottery could ensure balance.
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Publius
AOL
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Redistricted Parent wrote: <quoted text>
You make good points and I am not arguing. I am trying to show that most of don't have the knowledge that you have. This has been a learning experience for us all.
Now has redistricting always been done piecemeal and have such a huge lag time between redistricting? Redistricting has always been an arduous process, filled with anxiety and anger. Parents want to make sure their children are secure in an environment that is familiar to them, and are anxious about a change to a different school that they are not familiar with. That is a completely normal reaction. We all love our children and are charged with protectig them. We do not trust others to have the same level of individual concern for them, and they don't. So whatever process the BOE uses to reach its final conclusions, the parental response is anger with the result if it affects their child. What happens though, is the process is attacked, whatever it is. Every redistricting i have observed has encountered large amounts of negative parental reaction. Sometimes, the parental reaction generates valid issues that causes the BOE to rethink a position; sometimes the BOE just caves in to the pressure and backs off; and sometimes the BOE goes forward and absorbs the attacks, and once the students are moved, everything settles down. What dragged this redistricting out is that after the process began, the Board realized it had to close a school because of rising expenses that were exceeding funding provided by the City. Without a decision on which school to close, most of the rest of redistricting could not go forward. You can't move kids around if you havent decided which schools will be there to put them in. So that's why it is taking so long. The "lag" betwen major redistrictings is typical (the last one was in 1998). Redistricting is such an upsetting process for the whole community (as we can see from the anger expressed in here)that the BOE tends to avoid it as long as possible.
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Annoyed too
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I agree it should be a rationale process but when some areas aren't given the ccommon courtesy or opportunity for discussion regarding redistricting it only leaves others to assume that their is colusion between PFO, Administrators and BoE members, then it's not rationale, it only invokes hostility!! The redistricting should be stopped and done in a manner which it's open for open and full discussion (period)! Publius wrote: <quoted text>
Just so people don't get the wrong idea, I am NOT a member of the BOE. But i was formerly on the BOE and that is why i am familiar with the issues.
It is unfortunate that parents feel like victims, and i understand that. I have been through redistricting (in the dim distant past) as a student and as a parent.
But i am not privy to any secret information. i just started paying attention long before the issue became joined, so i have a longer perspective, and no personal interest.
The reason i am spending a little time responding to some of the comments in here is to apply that perspective and help people understand it a bit better. There is just so much emotion being applied to what shoud be a rational process.
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Publius
AOL
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Annoyed wrote: Sadly, that is what it sounds like, my only question, was it willful?
I understand another Newfield neighborhood was attacked by the BoE in 2005, they were able to fight it because they had time on their side and because they were willing to throw other Newfield families under the bus as I understand it.
I believe a couple of these same individuals are now on the current Newfield PFO, coincidence???
<quoted text> You know, the BOE is all volunteers, and so are the PTO officers. Why does everything have to be put in conspiratorial terms? Why should anyone volunteer for these jobs if they get personal attacks from the peanut gallery? Your characterization of the previoius attempt to redistrict Newfield is poorly stated. The BOE presented a plan to move some Newfield students to Stark. It was not an "attack" on a neighborhood. it was an effort to fix overcrowding and imbalance at Newfield by moving a group of streets not immediately adjacent to the school to another school. While the Newfield parents raised many emotional, and some inappropriate, objections, the process also raised questions about whether Stark had enough room to absorb the additional students without moving some students FROM Stark to another school, and the BOE decided to put the move off to be dealt with in a more universal redistricting. When the public speaks and makes sense, the BOE listens, and responds. When the public makes emotional, angry, self-serving statements, the Board listens politely, but considers the source. That's exactly what you would want in any public board, isn't it?
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dont agree
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Judged:
1
1
Your points are well stated, however I know for a fact that the tactics and attitude shown by this particular neighbhorhood in 2005 was not pleasant, I know becaue I was there too! They were willing to throw other neighbhrhoods under the bus, they even brought maps to the board room and they brought up another interesting fact, the out of district kids at Newfield, suprise suprise, that is still a problem today. As for your statement about the BoE and PFO position being volunteer, you are correct and with all due respect do you expect me to believe that people take these positions out of the goodness of their hearts, please I'm not that naive, no one does anything for free, there is always something to be obtained from the effort.... And good luck if you can get into the clique, oh I mean PFO......... Also, I have to laugh at your comment referring to us as the "peanut gallery" because that is my point exactly, if you are not in the BoE or PFO posiiton that is exactly how one is treated or ignored should I say.... Publius wrote: <quoted text>
You know, the BOE is all volunteers, and so are the PTO officers. Why does everything have to be put in conspiratorial terms? Why should anyone volunteer for these jobs if they get personal attacks from the peanut gallery?
Your characterization of the previoius attempt to redistrict Newfield is poorly stated. The BOE presented a plan to move some Newfield students to Stark. It was not an "attack" on a neighborhood. it was an effort to fix overcrowding and imbalance at Newfield by moving a group of streets not immediately adjacent to the school to another school.
While the Newfield parents raised many emotional, and some inappropriate, objections, the process also raised questions about whether Stark had enough room to absorb the additional students without moving some students FROM Stark to another school, and the BOE decided to put the move off to be dealt with in a more universal redistricting.
When the public speaks and makes sense, the BOE listens, and responds. When the public makes emotional, angry, self-serving statements, the Board listens politely, but considers the source. That's exactly what you would want in any public board, isn't it?
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Publius
AOL
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dont agree wrote: As for your statement about the BoE and PFO position being volunteer, you are correct and with all due respect do you expect me to believe that people take these positions out of the goodness of their hearts, please I'm not that naive, no one does anything for free, there is always something to be obtained from the effort....
And good luck if you can get into the clique, oh I mean PFO.........
<quoted text> Well, i guess we know how much volunteer work YOU do. It may well surprise you, but there are thousands of good people in Stamford who volunteer their time and effort "out of the goodness of their hearts", or as i would say it, "civic responsibility". Some of them volunteer through their church; some in the schools in various capacities; some at the hospital; and some in political positions. We may not always agree with the decisions they make, but they ALL deserve respect for their work. People who assume that "no one does anything for free" are unfortunate. They clearly do not understand the personal reward people feel from giving, and generally they contribute little to the community.
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Another SPS parent
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I've heard from some Meadowpark families that they're willing to send their kids to Hart, but don't want to then have to send these kids to Cloonan when Rippowam is so much closer to their neighborhood. Does anyone know if the BOE has looked at changing the feeder system? If elementary magnet kids can go to a different MS than their ES cohort, why couldn't these children? Or are MSs also unbalanced?
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volunteer queen
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Judged:
1
I volunteer just as much as anyone else does both in the schools and in the community, with me it's an additiction and I can tell you I sometimes feel foolish for doing it but I do it because I know it's the right thing to do and the fact that I can make a difference in someone elses life is a tremdous gift I can give and to pass along to my children.... However, I see many doing it for the sole benefit of their own children....I'm not just talking about those from the "peanut gallery" either. Anyway, it doesn't matter because with redistricting, like everything else it's all about WHO YOU KNOW!!!!!! Publius wrote: <quoted text>
Well, i guess we know how much volunteer work YOU do. It may well surprise you, but there are thousands of good people in Stamford who volunteer their time and effort "out of the goodness of their hearts", or as i would say it, "civic responsibility".
Some of them volunteer through their church; some in the schools in various capacities; some at the hospital; and some in political positions.
We may not always agree with the decisions they make, but they ALL deserve respect for their work.
People who assume that "no one does anything for free" are unfortunate. They clearly do not understand the personal reward people feel from giving, and generally they contribute little to the community.
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SPS parent
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Good luck if you can get into the clique, oh I mean PFO.........
"Don't agree" - it sounds as though you have personal issues with you PTO that have nothing to do with redistricting..... let's stick to the topic at hand and try not to bring personal grudges into the mix.
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Meadowpark
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Publius wrote: <quoted text>
Redistricting has always been an arduous process, filled with anxiety and anger. Parents want to make sure their children are secure in an environment that is familiar to them, and are anxious about a change to a different school that they are not familiar with. That is a completely normal reaction. We all love our children and are charged with protectig them. We do not trust others to have the same level of individual concern for them, and they don't.
So whatever process the BOE uses to reach its final conclusions, the parental response is anger with the result if it affects their child. What happens though, is the process is attacked, whatever it is.
Every redistricting i have observed has encountered large amounts of negative parental reaction. Sometimes, the parental reaction generates valid issues that causes the BOE to rethink a position; sometimes the BOE just caves in to the pressure and backs off; and sometimes the BOE goes forward and absorbs the attacks, and once the students are moved, everything settles down.
What dragged this redistricting out is that after the process began, the Board realized it had to close a school because of rising expenses that were exceeding funding provided by the City. Without a decision on which school to close, most of the rest of redistricting could not go forward. You can't move kids around if you havent decided which schools will be there to put them in. So that's why it is taking so long.
The "lag" betwen major redistrictings is typical (the last one was in 1998). Redistricting is such an upsetting process for the whole community (as we can see from the anger expressed in here)that the BOE tends to avoid it as long as possible. Sorry Publius I didn't state my question clearly. Has the BOE redistricted piecemeal before? If yes, has there always been such a long time between each piece? For example, Meadowpark/Long Ridge and Conn Ave/Myano were redistricted Jan 22. Since then, most of the meetings have dealt with which school to close, EMS, etc. It's been four months and no other students have been redistricted. As I've said, it was premature to redistrict any students until the decision of which school to close was made.
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Meadowpark
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Publius wrote: <quoted text>
You know, the BOE is all volunteers, and so are the PTO officers. Why does everything have to be put in conspiratorial terms? Why should anyone volunteer for these jobs if they get personal attacks from the peanut gallery?
Your characterization of the previoius attempt to redistrict Newfield is poorly stated. The BOE presented a plan to move some Newfield students to Stark. It was not an "attack" on a neighborhood. it was an effort to fix overcrowding and imbalance at Newfield by moving a group of streets not immediately adjacent to the school to another school.
While the Newfield parents raised many emotional, and some inappropriate, objections, the process also raised questions about whether Stark had enough room to absorb the additional students without moving some students FROM Stark to another school, and the BOE decided to put the move off to be dealt with in a more universal redistricting.
When the public speaks and makes sense, the BOE listens, and responds. When the public makes emotional, angry, self-serving statements, the Board listens politely, but considers the source. That's exactly what you would want in any public board, isn't it? You have an enormous amount of insight as a former BOE member. This has been a learning experience for me (and I'm still learning). I would love to pick your brain over coffee. I agree that the BOE does listen as I have expereienced this with almost all of the BOE members. BOE members have listened to me and have engaged in a dialogue of what I think is a mutual respect. We definitely don't see eye to eye on many issues but do know that they are listening.
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while we are chatting
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FYI....Stark will welcome your kids with open arms under ANY circumstance. It is a unique place of great tolerance and discipline. Scores can & will rise so fear not. The kids at Stark learn and grow exactly as in the other schools so rest easy if you are "stuck" coming to our wonderful school. As for the PFO (please join us)...it is NOT political, open to everyone's input; and multicultural too! We are very proud of the work we are doing at this time and hope not to be lumped into any stereotype of PTA eras gone-by, or compared to other schools. Recent events have caused a sleeping giant to awaken to endless possibilities. So...if you end up at Stark WELCOME and GET INVOLVED in your child's educational experience in a positive way. They are watching us!
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Sunshine Law
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Publius wrote: I believe as long ago as November, the Board discussed moving streets districted to Newfield on the west side of High Ridge road to Hart. That is pretty descriptive. I'm not sure that having the exact list of street names is critical for a decision that won't take effect for another year and a half.
The BOE has a responsibility to provide information. but parents and homeowners also have a responsibility to protect their own interests.
Several years ago, the BOE proposed moving some streets in the Newfield district to Stark to address issues of overcrowding and, at that time, racial imbalance. The Newfield parents complained vociferously that they were being picked upon, and that redistricting should not happen only to them, but should be part of a city-wide redistricting process. The BOE withdrew its proposal at that time.
So when the BOE announced it was entering into a citywide redistricting process, and Newfield still had the same issues of overcrowding and (now socio-economic) imbalance, one would think the Newfield PTO would have expected some action to be taken that would affect Newfield, and would have been right on top of it.
I know you don't want to hear this, and it won't change your mind that you have been victimized, but what was Newfield thinking? Did they think they would just be passed over? When Newfield came out at the extreme end of disadvantaged percent, wasn't anyone thinking the BOE might be proposing changes? When Newfield had high class sizes in the early grades, did anyone consider that the trend if continued could not be housed?
When the BOE was discussing redistricting for months, some schools sent representatives to watch. Did Newfield? When the BOE formed a PTO representative committee, did Newfield PTO send a representative?
Yes, the BOE could have communicated earlier and more clearly. But we all have responsibility to protect our own interests, and that requires vigilance. OK, So Newfield was too tough before and not tough enough this time. Fact is when I spoke to our PFO presidents, you know those FOOLS building playgrounds and filling in the gaps since we lost our enrichment programs. They were made to feel that since neither president could attend THAT ONE MEETING they were not able to send anyone else. This may be true/untrue, but since I have worked with these people for almost a decade. It is hard to believe that these hard working women are lying to me. On the other hand the “Powers that Be”(BOE, Admisatrations and Dr. Starr) have been less than forth coming and transparent. I can make a long list but I don’t feel like it. But a short list contains ... Magnet Access Forgien Language Teachers amd students being accused of being Sexual Offenders Lots of unanswered questions! Truth is that if the BOE wants wants to be legal, it needs to engage the ENITRE population of the SPS, send a letter like for NCLB or radon testing, or sports opportunities, etc…and not rely on overworked volunteers like the BOE and the PFO's. Unless of course Newfield was too organized the last time and nobody wanted to deal with that and the Meadowpark pawns were no accident. Oh and glad that "west of Hight Ridge" works for you but since were are at least three schools districts (Stillmead, Newfield and Davenport) not including the many Out of Disrtict placemetns all over town! Sorry we are so stupid, it is great that you can teach our kis at all.
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Sunshine Law
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OH AND ONCE AGAIN WHY CAN MY OVERPOPULATED WHITE KID GET IN TO WEST OVER? Is there not onyl 350 kids left over there?
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Sunshine Law
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There are only 350 left Davenport? or better yet - send my kids to Davenport. Because honestly my kids are not going to be buses to Adams Street.
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redistricting soap opera
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I also heard from one of the Newfield PFO presidents afterwards, that she couldn't attend that particular meeting and that they asked the BOE before that meeting about the areas/schools being discussed. They were told that none of their streets were affected at that meeting. So they were very unpleasantly surprised that their school was actually "redistricted" at that meeting. At least that is what I recall about that conversation 4 months ago. I may be wrong though.
Also Publius calling us (the parents) the peanut gallery is very demeaning and shows what the BOE and former BOE members probably think about their constituents. I am also more of the skeptical nature and believe that a lot of those people have their own agenda which is not necessarily for the overall good of Stamford. Otherwise they would have gone with the Stark scenario. See former BOE member Kara Prawl who send her kid to private school citing a conflict of interest. Give me a break... And the major living in the Shippan area and pushing the Roger scenario and more or less blackmailing the BOE by withholding funding for the new school unless "they close the right school". I wonder how much his neighbours influence him. It is nice for your property values if your school district has a brand new K-8 IB magnet school.
But I agree that the BOE is flip-flopping a lot. Which is a result of the open and transparent process everybody wants. Unfortunately they seem to change their mind constantly if you have a loud enough crowd regardless which school they belong to.
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interested
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Sounds great but you will be getting a handful of Newfield parents (Belltown and possibly Fieldstone), at least that is one of the plans, it will be interesting to see if it happens or if somehow certain neighbhorhoods will be able to "escape" the redistricting.... Regardless, I'm sure they will be happy to know you are all very welcoming, great to hear.... Maybe I'll apply for out of district to your friendly neighbhorhood school... while we are chatting wrote: FYI....Stark will welcome your kids with open arms under ANY circumstance. It is a unique place of great tolerance and discipline. Scores can & will rise so fear not. The kids at Stark learn and grow exactly as in the other schools so rest easy if you are "stuck" coming to our wonderful school. As for the PFO (please join us)...it is NOT political, open to everyone's input; and multicultural too! We are very proud of the work we are doing at this time and hope not to be lumped into any stereotype of PTA eras gone-by, or compared to other schools. Recent events have caused a sleeping giant to awaken to endless possibilities. So...if you end up at Stark WELCOME and GET INVOLVED in your child's educational experience in a positive way. They are watching us!
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interested
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Judged:
1
I stand by my statment because without being allowed on the PFO you are in the "peanut gallery" and not privy to much information.... I've been to many BoE meetings and once someone recongizes themselves as PFO the BoE sits up straight and takes notes while the rest of us might as well be saying, "blah, blah, blah.....No matter how intelligent the statement... SPS parent wrote: Good luck if you can get into the clique, oh I mean PFO.........
"Don't agree" - it sounds as though you have personal issues with you PTO that have nothing to do with redistricting..... let's stick to the topic at hand and try not to bring personal grudges into the mix.
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