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COMMENTS ON PRESENTATION

COMMENTS FROM

Paden Community – November 28, 2005

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

 

15 parents, 5 staff, 1 Board Member, representing 22 students

 

Facilitated by Ardella Dailey / Dave Dierking

Recorded by Donna Fletcher

 

 

·        Huge unfair burden on families with 3 school consolidation plan

·        Doesn’t give many options to deal with any contingencies (could always close another school in the future)

·        What is the source of declining enrollment? 

o       East end schools grew

o       West end schools declines

o       Lots of rentals unoccupied

o       Alameda demographics affected by region and state

·        How does tax base of new houses work?

o       AUSD doesn’t get increase, only development fees for construction

·        Paden is unique because it has geographical diversity and this is a strength and we need to consider preserving it

·        Paden was a choice over private because of principal, staff, diversity – don’t want to lose identity of Paden, academy

·        6-8 Academy adds to richness of school, choices for parents, multi-age environment

·        Too much consolidation limits choices, may create sameness

·        Impact of losing inter-districts from Longfellow – how many would stay in Alameda?

·        Impact of closing or limiting academy on enrollment; how many will stay?  Immigration to private schools is real and could grow if choices are limited

·        Can redistricting solve East end over-enrollment?

 

 


COMMENTS FROM

Longfellow Community – November 29, 2005

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

 

44 parents, 12 staff, 1 community member/alumni representing 59 students

 

Facilitated by Ardella Dailey / Dave Dierking

Recorded by Donna Fletcher

 

·        Would combining 3 schools be a problem for control?  More complicated to manage?

·        Smaller classes means teachers know their students better

·        Combining schools means more pressure on kids and more crowding

·        Bigger schools mean more pressure on teachers

·        Will kids get lost in shuffle?  Will SDC class get larger?  Will SDCX teacher get the support she needs?

o       Yes, supports for SDC class will follow students

·        Transportation, safe school routes, crossing busy streets, will there be crossing guards?

o       Yes, there will be crossing guards

·        More disruptions for Longfellow in Miller/Longfellow/Woodstock option

·        Harbor Island may grow and add more students – wait to see what happens in a year – don’t close Longfellow

·        Need to place more weight on academics and student achievement, not money

·        Emotional impact to kids; what if they lose their teachers?  They have great teachers?  

·        Longfellow is considered for distinguished school! Why close it?

·        Value of inter-district students to AUSD $ may lose if transfer to another school

·        Consider closing only one school at a time

·        Longfellow nurtures my students and helps them excel

·        Longfellow works for us; it has close community feeling

·        Longfellow’s diversity is a strength – don’t lose it

·        Please consider allowing inter-district students to stay if schools combine

COMMENTS FROM

Miller Community – November 30, 2005

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

 

6 parents, 2 staff, 1 representing 11 students

 

Facilitated by Ardella Dailey / Dave Dierking

Recorded by Donna Fletcher

 

·        Get display boards and hand-outs on the new Woodstock School to Miller and Longfellow parents so they can see the design

·        Miller parents want new name for new school that combines schools

·        Miller parents need same info and same opportunities as Woodstock parents and in timely fashion

·        What will happen to new playground structure that Miller parents fund-raised for

·        Consider using Miller play structure to new school or creating park for community at old Miller

·        Suggestions for new name: Bayport Elementary

·        Honor needs of McKinney-Vento homeless families.  Make sure they know they can attend new school

·        Parents would want to know who the new principal is

·        New name is new start and new reputation

·        New school would need new mascot

·        Get list of mascots already in use to Miller parents