Prior Lake American - School Board - Comments

Looking at the past average

Joanna Miller — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:32:33 -0500

Looking at the past average daily membership (ADM) numbers, the district shows 4.57-percent growth for 2006-07 and 3.09-percent growth for 2007-08.

In straight enrollment numbers for this year (not ADM) the district shows just over a 2-percent increase compared to last year.

You're correct that from last year to this year, the trends show growth in middle and upper grades, and this year's kindergarten class is nearly exactly the same. The first grade shows a decrease.

That 3% number is the fudge

Robert Thibodeaux — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:45:10 -0500

That 3% number is the fudge factor from an old study for all enrollment (K-12)

Right after that both the state and country (and even the school district own budget numbers) changed the numbers lower for K & 1-3 based on the lower birth rate.

And that didn't take into account the housing market slowdown.

I was wondering if that was a new number you had, but sounds like the the same "fudge" factor they have used in budget presentations since they ran study.

If you look at the district projects, they show the wave of students moving through the district (and increasing at the high grades) but a slowdown and decline in growth in elementary age students.

The anticipated growth

Joanna Miller — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:36:35 -0500

The anticipated growth estimate came out of an enrollment projection study conducted by Hazel Reinhardt Consulting Services.

I'm working on an enrollment story for this week to highlight the average daily membership reported to the state, as well as to look at class sizes in the district. Look for more online and in upcoming editions of the Prior Lake American.

Joanna, I went and pulled

Robert Thibodeaux — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:20:51 -0500

Joanna,

I went and pulled the districts full budget (the printed version, not the online summary) and also the projections from last years budget meetings.

Where is this 3% growth number?

According to the district we have declining enrollment in K & 1-3 and projections of ten years of declining enrollment.

Thanks for the question,

Joanna Miller — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:59:51 -0500

Thanks for the question, Robert.

Glendale and WestWood elementaries are just under capacity. By state law, the district doesn't have the option to close open enrollment unless the schools are at/over capacity.

There are no empty classrooms at either school (or any school in the district); they would have to increase class sizes to add students in these buildings.

Currently, 43 percent of elementaries are over the class size targets (look for an enrollment report in this week's Prior Lake American and Savage Pacer).

The district anticipates it would open Redtail Ridge Elementary at 85-percent capacity next year. Students would come from reducing class sizes district wide and from the increase of 3-percent to the student body with annual growth.

Why are we having a

Robert Thibodeaux — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:22:36 -0500

Why are we having a referendum to open a new electuary school?
We were told by the district we have and immediate need to relieve overcrowding in the elementary schools and yet we have two elementary schools that are still have room to accept out of district students.
Did I miss something in this article?

Respectfully, Dan

swannyww — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:02:41 -0500

Respectfully,
Dan Swanson
The way the school bus service was handled in Richfield in the "olden days" was the drivers ran their routes, and in between they worked in the schools as custodians. During the summer they ran routes also and worked in the parks or the bus garage. The system was efficient and the service was great for all the years at Richfield. Parents didn't have to drive their kids to school because their tax dollars were being used to protect their most cherished from harm. Somehow that has changed, and it needs to change back.

This behavior is why

Robert Thibodeaux — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:46:36 -0500

This behavior is why referendums fail (and deserve to.)
We have an out of touch board, who feels that the public is an inconvenience who disturbs their important work.
We are too stupid to understand their great plans and must just agree with them.

They do not want to interact or talk with the public, just talk down to them.

After reading the story on

Gwen Wick — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:42:29 -0500

After reading the story on the front page, I wonder why more people don't get involved in reviewing the budget and get their input on what should be cut (when public input was sought many times). If the parents of this situation did, then maybe they would understand that something needed to get cut - and bussing was better than a teacher. If this trust issue is really something that would get people to vote "no" this November, they really need to attend the Sept 29th Board workshop to understand what will happen if this critical referendum does not pass. We will all lose.

The busing incompetence is

SavageResident — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:50:36 -0500

The busing incompetence is regretful but, it only makes sense that as things contiune to be cut and funding is not sufficient, kids and parents will feel it. You get what you pay for.

Not necessarily true. This

PLpayer — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:04:50 -0500

Not necessarily true. This district would purchase extravagant buses, just like the excessively wasteful high school design. That would negate the cost savings in allowing the district to run the bus program. And the excess in the city has most likely grown substantially from the 33 million they reported a year ago, I expect over 40 million sits there now. Way to go Ralph, a true for profit business !!

Respectfully, Dan Swanson If

swannyww — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:30:57 -0500

Respectfully,
Dan Swanson
If the schools ran their own bus company like they did in my time, the kids could have the best service possible. All this will do is make the parents drive the kids to school if they value their child's safety, especially elementary kids. Lets see 20 below with a wind equals about 40 below walking a mile. Who would walk a mile in those conditions? Adults wouldn't do it, so why should kids be expected to what adults wouldn't do. Maybe the city could give some of the 33 million they have in excess to fund the schools.

hahaha, yes, great scene,

dbmasters — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:33:16 -0500

hahaha, yes, great scene, and of course, a mite bit extreme version of the point I was trying to make.

"All in all it's just

Shawn Hogendorf — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:14:46 -0500

"All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall."
dbmasters, your comment makes me think of the scene in the movie "The Wall" where all the children are in unison, perfect order and being marched into the grinder to be molded into the same thing (it's all symbilism of course).
"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"
"You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!"

"everyody wears the same

dbmasters — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:36:27 -0500

"everyody wears the same thing no hats no fights no yelling no music no talking without raising your hand only talking to teachers for an hour with a 5 minute break 20 minute lunches"

sounds like a well run, disciplined school, if school was run like this from kindergarden and kids were taught some moral values, respect and personal responsibility in school and by their parents from birth, there wouldn't be the problems there are now.