Board of Ed Approves Opt-Out Measure for Seth Boyden In-Zone Families

Robert_Casotto

Jun 19, 2017 at 12:32pm Edited

Seth Boyden zoned families can now opt in to Marshall - Jefferson.

sprout

Jun 19, 2017 at 10:57pm Edited

Allowing SB students an second district school option, which everyone else has had, is a good first step towards fairness.

My read between the lines of Ms. Lawson-Muhammad's statements is that a Seth Boyden-Tuscan pairing option is what she was seeking. I agree that it would have been nice to have the pros/cons, and costs, presented as an option from the demographer.

That said, both schools have a different feeling/approach, that while it may sound more fair in theory to pair Tuscan and SB, my gut says to keep them unpaired -- But somehow make the financials (e.g., the difference in PTA funds) more even.

From the article, one of my growing concerns is the demographer and/or their contract terms. This is the second reference (the first I believe was Ms. Pai in the BOE meeting when the demographer was presenting) about the demographer not providing options of how to manage the growing # of students for review. Was this part of the contract expectations but was not fulfilled? Or was it left out of the contract statement of work?

jmitw

Jun 19, 2017 at 11:44pm

How does Common Core (or whatever they call it) affect a demonstration school? Are they still bound by the same constraints?

I grew up in a town that tried to equalize the schools based on race, socio economic status, etc....the more well off families just moved out. That town is now semi urban, mostly minority 80-90%, and high crime, but the difference is that students were assigned schools--there was no choice of schools-so families just moved out.

sprout

Jun 20, 2017 at 1:15am Edited

Seth Boyden Demonstration School is still bound by all the regular state constraints as Common Core.

I don't know what impact a SB-Tuscan pairing would have on who moves in or out, but I don't expect White-flight is that big of a risk.

The two schools' differences are not only in demographics/socio-economics -- what I sense could be more of an issue is parent and student satisfaction with the schools' approaches. For example, SB seems to focus on exploring and accommodating others. Tuscan, perhaps due to the overcrowded school and lovely, but less kid-friendly, geography, seems to be less accommodating and have stricter rules (e.g., no early entry, and no running on the playground).

With an overall difference in approach, and in formal rules and informal expectations, I suspect pairing the schools would not be a good marriage. However, I do think it's worth a full financial and student count examination to see if significant savings can be found -- which may make it worth the effort to try to make such a pairing work.

I also want to be clear that I could be completely misinterpreting the reasoning behind Ms. Lawson-Muhammad's vote against the policy of SB opting-to-Marshall/Jefferson.

Stoughton

Jun 20, 2017 at 5:59am Edited

M-J is much more racially integrated than Tuscan or South Mountain, so if achieving a better balance is Ms. Lawson-Muhammad's goal, then her point is valid.

I think the board members who voted for the measure understand that this doesn't do much for the racial balance, but is a gesture/interim measure to at least give SB parents some semblance of choice. M-J's ability to take on new students and the fact that half the kids already bus to each school makes it the most convenient choice.

In true waffle spirit, I think both positions make sense. Hopefully a more lasting, comprehensive solution is on the way.

sac

Jun 20, 2017 at 6:09am Edited

I have never been part of the M-J community, so this is second hand. But the biggest complaint I heard from M-J parents through the years about the M-J pairing was that the PTAs were also separate so families with several children were splintered in much of their school volunteering. I always thought they should have had a joint PTA to cover the paired community. If more or different pairings are contemplated, this should be considered.

I also observed (as a SB parent), that one strong reason given by many M-J zone parents for their decision to opt-in was to allow their children to attend the same school K-5 and have more years with their children together in the same school.

Robert_Casotto

Jun 20, 2017 at 9:52am

So what's the over/under on how many SB families opt in to M/J next year? And as to Tuscan, it's already grossly overcrowded, hence the trailers.

sprout

Jun 20, 2017 at 10:19am Edited

Many (all?) of the elementary schools have trailers/portables, even Seth Boyden. Part of the growing overcrowding costs, as indicated by the demographer, includes that not only is new space needed, but also that the trailers/portables are getting old, and need replacement.

walker

Jun 22, 2017 at 3:49pm

I just heard about this so I'm not sure if what I heard is factual. Is it true that the funding for next year is already done and cannot be moved around. This would create a hardship for M/J schools. How can you put this into affect without a study on how many families will change and economic impact. The teachers aren't even aware of this, will it increase class size and lessen quality of teaching. What is the impact to free breakfast and lunch budgets? Why wasn't there community input and discussion about it. Seems like a quick decision from a superintendent who is walking out the door. I believe it passsed 8-1 on the board. Why not involve Tuscan? I also heard that people buying in the Marshall/ Jefferson zone will not be able to send their kids to M/J. Will this affect property value? Last point is that if you moved into S/B school district you should of been aware that is your school zone. The choice was yours.

sprout

Jun 22, 2017 at 4:12pm Edited

Here is the letter emailed to all Elementary School families:

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June 21, 2017

Dear Elementary School Families,

At their meeting on June 15, 2017, our Board of Education voted to provide zoned Seth Boyden families the opportunity to opt in to Marshall and Jefferson in the coming school year, based on the available seats at both schools as of last week. The Board took this interim step to ensure that all families are treated equally with respect to elementary school enrollment choices.

For the 2017-2018 school year:

If you are zoned for Seth Boyden, you can choose for your child to

Stay at Seth Boyden
Opt in to Marshall (K-2)/Jefferson (3-5) (Note: Deadline of June 30, 2017 for request)

If you are zoned for Clinton, Jefferson, Marshall, South Mountain or Tuscan, you can choose for your child to:

o Stay at their current school
o Opt in to Seth Boyden

If you choose to stay in your current school, no further action is required.

If you would like to consider opting in to another elementary school, more information and transfer request forms are available in the Registrar’s Office at 525 Academy Street in Maplewood, and on the District website in the registration section.

If you choose to take advantage of the opt-in opportunity:

SOMSD will provide free transportation to and from your chosen school if you live more than 1 mile away. If you are within a mile, your child will be considered a “walker” and you will be responsible for their transportation to and from school.
Optional after school programming, such as Beyond the Bell enrichment classes and After Care (if available) through the South Mountain YMCA, will also take place at your chosen school, and you will be responsible for transportation home at the end of the day

Please note that all of our district elementary schools offer high quality education, use the same curriculum, provide the same related arts classes, have talented and dedicated professional staff, and offer similar optional after school activities. More information about all of our schools is on the District website and available at the Registration office at 525 Academy Street, Maplewood.

If you have any questions, please contact the Registrar at 973-762-5600 ext. 1830.

Sincerely,
John J. Ramos, Sr., Ed.D.