School’s Out
In a convergence of issues surrounding schools, there were 35 parents standing in line last night for Kindergarten registration at Edison School. (Registration opened at 8:00am this morning). By this morning, KRON 4 and KTVU had news trucks at the school and Marcheta Williams, Edison School Principal, was interviewed on KFOG.
Crazy!
So how did this happen? Over 100 registration packets were handed out for 60 spots and a parental feeding-frenzy ensued. Yesterday afternoon, around 4pm, parents were cruising past the school, scoping out the line situation (where it was going to be, was their anyone in it?). By 8:45pm, 16 people were in line and things went crazy. Phones lit up around the east end, friends calling friends calling friends. By midnight, all 60 spots were taken!
On a separate, but highly related note, the School District will be holding the second of three budget workshops tonight at Lum School @ 6:30pm to present and take feedback on $2million worth of cuts (2.5%), which follow on $6 million in cuts over the past six years. One of the reasons that these shortfalls continue to happen is declining enrollment.
So how are these connected? If the school district can’t find a way to accommodate the kids looking to start school on the East End, where enrollments are surging, then families are going to be heading to private schools, lost forever to the district. The way school funding works, districts are reimbursed by how many students they have (and their attendance). It’s not bad enough that Alameda receives $1000 a student less than surrounding Alameda County districts, if we’re not careful, we could be about to start turning away students as well. It’s a downward spiral.
Neal_J
January 29th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Great analysis, John. A couple of supplemental observations from one of the line-sitters:
It was disheartening that NO consideration was given to younger siblings of Edison attendees. It seems inexplicable to split out kids of the same family.
Many parents arrived by 10:00pm because of the hot East End phone network as you noted. Those outside that communications loop, like new residents to the area, were hosed.
Many parents followed the counsel provided by the school itself at the recent Kindergarten Info Night and arrived between 3:00-7:00am - only to be stunned to learn that the 60th, and final, spot was taken at 2:10am (a slight correction from above).
In total, over 80 kids were represented by parents last night &/or this morning. I don’t doubt that many will investigate private schools like Phillip Neri. A very sad, and in my view completely avoidable, situation.
Neal
Ben Kruger
January 29th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Private/public school, East/West End, you get out of school what you put into school. The recipe for success is parental involvement and work at any level.
laurendo
January 29th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I think it’s sad that parents have to camp out like it’s opening day for a Star Wars film in order to get their child a slot in Kindergarten. I think what is more sad is that parents whose children don’t get into their school of choice would rather send their kid to private school than another Alameda school that may seem less “desirable.”
The school district, the state, the federal government can test the kids until they are blanketed in No.2 pencil lead, but a bunch of numbers doesn’t substitute for getting out to a school and talking to the teachers and possibly realizing that those less “desirable” schools may have really desirable teachers, staff, and programs.
dave
February 1st, 2007 at 11:30 am
I have heard more than once that Alameda receives less funding per student than other districts.
can anyone show a link that proves this? I’m not doubting the claim, just wish to learn more.
And if so, WHY? What is the justification for this?
Mike McMahon
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Dave:
Here is a link comparing Alameda county school districts:
http://mikemcmahon.info/finbaseada.htm
Primary reason for funding levels difference go back to the 70s after Prop 13 passed. The state legislature became responsible for funding local school and they need to establish a funding mechanism. They established something called Base Revenue Limit. It was generated by examining the funding revenue levels of the school district in the 70s. For Alameda, the revenues from the Federal government for Navy personnel was excluded. As a result, our base was lower than other districts.
The intent of the Base Revenue Limit was to “equalize” those districts that were below the average. However, equalization monies only gets approved when there are excess state revenues. (last year AUSD received a $40+ bump from equalization).
The challenge to legislatevly addresses this problem lies in zero sum nature of school funding. Prop 98 establishes the size of the pie and then any increases to underfunded school districts would mean reductions to school districts over the average. Much like the House of Representatives where representation is based on population, those school districts above the average have larger number of representative in the Assembly and block any attempts to level the playing field.
Barbara Kahn
February 8th, 2007 at 7:22 am
In short, the property tax which was set by the school board at that time, was lower than in many districts. The impact aid from the Federal government was substantial, and dumped into the general fund, used for schools across Alameda, not just in the west end schools that were impacted by the military presence here. Then, as now, the west end schools where the majority of the low income housing was located, were not funded proportion to need.
John Piziali
February 25th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
in reference to comment # 2 by Ben Kruger. We can talk forever about school funding and many other issue’s. But I have never heard a more profound and truer statement. Yes you get out what you put into your childerns schooling, I don’t care what end of town you live in or wether it is private or public. Put the time in and you will see results. John P.
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