Constructive ways to decrease Janney class size

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is wotp under schooled?

Every wotp school is over capacity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like Murch is overcrowded in terms of the whole school, but class sizes are okay, is that fair?

Yes, that is a fair assessment of the situation. The main building was built for half the current population. They've been adding trailers since 1979. Class size is given priority when it comes to use of limited space. If the science lab has to go to keep a class at optimum size, the lab goes. If the library has to be divided by a new wall, the library is divided by a new wall. If the teacher's lounge has to become a food service/copy room/teachers mini-lounge with bathroom shared by all 90 adults, so be it. If a boys bathroom has to be converted to a nurse's office, a supply closet to a VP's office, it is done. Trailers eliminated the teacher's parking lot. Neighborhood parking signs changed to accommodate teachers. The in-class experience is the most important priority, and class size matters.

Janney's existing building space can be maximized this way too. Trim the fat and make classrooms a priority.

Luckily after all its indoor space maximizing, Murch had room to add trailer classrooms including some that give back lost indoor space, like the Special ed office space, STEM room, ELL room, and rooms for all the other specials are out in trailers now too. Hopefully, Murch's architects will have the advantage in renovation of seeing the problems with inflexible design constraints.

[Anonymous]

^^ This is a really good point.

[Anonymous]

I agree - I don't know the Janney building well, but I would guess there are ways to carve out extra classrooms to help make smaller class size for K and 1st grade.

[Anonymous]

This is also something that could be done by September of the school parents really care about this.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the new principal will make class size a priority.

[Anonymous]

Also, creative use of space would still allow the school to meet its OOB requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, creative use of space would still allow the school to meet its OOB requirements.

Good point. Special use classrooms are not sacrosanct, nor mandated, unlike the set asides, so make room for a handful of at risk students in DC and right size the classes at the same time.

[Anonymous]

I am am a Janney parent of a number of years and I find this whole thread annoying. I think I now understand how current parents in failing schools feel when the gentrifiers arrive, try to take ove the PTA and suggesting curriculum changes and new aftercare programs to the existing families.

There were 27 kids in my child's kindergarten class and she was just fine. Now more kids came so three classes of 27 is now four classes of 26. In any event, the changes that have happened over the years have been done thoughtfully by the principal, teachers, and engaged parents have had input. Contrary to popular belief, the parents do not run the school and that is a good thing.

If you have ideas, join the LSRT or another committee, come to the principal's coffees, learn about what has made the school what it is and where so many families want their child educated. It is not perfect but my children have been quite happy here.

We need to find a strong replacement for the principal, but if you think that you know better than she did what is/was best for the school overall, not just your snowflake, then you are deluded.

Yes, there are changes that could be made to use of space if warrented, but that decision has impacts and they need to be thought through by people that understand more than just what they have read about the benefits of small class size. Who knows, we may have 6 K classes and 6 Kindergartens next year. I have not seen the demographic information and do not know what impact that would have on the class structure, etc. so could not opine whether that is best or not.

You have chosen to send your child to a school with 700 kids and counting. There was something about it that was working well that drove that decision. It is beyond condescending to arrive and be so very certain that your way is the best way given that you had zero to do with making the school as successful as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am am a Janney parent of a number of years and I find this whole thread annoying. I think I now understand how current parents in failing schools feel when the gentrifiers arrive, try to take ove the PTA and suggesting curriculum changes and new aftercare programs to the existing families.

There were 27 kids in my child's kindergarten class and she was just fine. Now more kids came so three classes of 27 is now four classes of 26. In any event, the changes that have happened over the years have been done thoughtfully by the principal, teachers, and engaged parents have had input. Contrary to popular belief, the parents do not run the school and that is a good thing.

If you have ideas, join the LSRT or another committee, come to the principal's coffees, learn about what has made the school what it is and where so many families want their child educated. It is not perfect but my children have been quite happy here.

We need to find a strong replacement for the principal, but if you think that you know better than she did what is/was best for the school overall, not just your snowflake, then you are deluded.

Yes, there are changes that could be made to use of space if warrented, but that decision has impacts and they need to be thought through by people that understand more than just what they have read about the benefits of small class size. Who knows, we may have 6 K classes and 6 Kindergartens next year. I have not seen the demographic information and do not know what impact that would have on the class structure, etc. so could not opine whether that is best or not.

You have chosen to send your child to a school with 700 kids and counting. There was something about it that was working well that drove that decision. It is beyond condescending to arrive and be so very certain that your way is the best way given that you had zero to do with making the school as successful as it is.

Wow, what a warm welcome to Janney.

[Anonymous]

You know what, I apologize. I did not mean for it to sound as aggressive at it did.