APS budget cuts - no MS sports or extracurriculars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow this thread has jumped the shark.
Please everyone who cares about middle school clubs (not just sports -- this is cancelling act 2 and ALL CLUBS), please write in and let the school board know!

but how many students can participate at any one time in an ACT 2 class for example?
I have seen no numbers to support the claims that these MS programs - sports or otherwise - are utilized by high numbers of students.

*Can* participate or *do* participate?

Actually both - first the sizes for many of these programs are capped so realistically at any one time they can only be providing services to a small number of students on a given day.

And how many students consistently show up week to week.

[Anonymous]

At my kids middle school orientation a few weeks ago, they said that over 50% of kids participate in after school activities. They also said there are as many sections of act 2 as there were kids interested, you had to indicate interest on the Google form for academic planning so they could plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably some $$ to be saved by getting rid of H-B and converting it to a regular school.

How would it save money? Right now it has the regular complement of staff at the same staffing ratios as other schools so its operating budget is no different than a "regular" program. And where would you put the hundreds of kids being sent back to their home middle and high schools? The only potential savings is buses since it is countywide, and they don't purchase any buses for it, they just run 6 buses for two extra routes each day, plus three sports buses go to the comprehensive high schools at the end of the day.

It can become a neighborhood school, therefore eliminating the need for buses.

Also, are HB’s staffing ratios similar to the other overcrowded high schools?

Let’s get rid of ALL option schools. All of them.

Still, it eliminates the need for buses. Montessori getting extra staff is crazy. Get rid of all option schools! If someone wants a niche school, they can go private.

uh, yeah

only Montessori gets away with having extra staff

Actually, Title 1 schools get extra staff to create smaller class sizes. How is that fair?

Because Title I funds restrict class sizes to begin with. And that's "fair" because title I schools have many more students with greater needs that are better addressed by small schools (300-500 students) and small class sizes. It's "Fair" because wealthy schools are filled with fewer students learning English, fewer students who didn't have preschool, fewer students who are behind when they begin. "Fair" does not mean "equal."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably some $$ to be saved by getting rid of H-B and converting it to a regular school.

How would it save money? Right now it has the regular complement of staff at the same staffing ratios as other schools so its operating budget is no different than a "regular" program. And where would you put the hundreds of kids being sent back to their home middle and high schools? The only potential savings is buses since it is countywide, and they don't purchase any buses for it, they just run 6 buses for two extra routes each day, plus three sports buses go to the comprehensive high schools at the end of the day.

It can become a neighborhood school, therefore eliminating the need for buses.

Also, are HB’s staffing ratios similar to the other overcrowded high schools?

Let’s get rid of ALL option schools. All of them.

Still, it eliminates the need for buses. Montessori getting extra staff is crazy. Get rid of all option schools! If someone wants a niche school, they can go private.

uh, yeah

only Montessori gets away with having extra staff

Actually, Title 1 schools get extra staff to create smaller class sizes. How is that fair?

Because Title I funds restrict class sizes to begin with. And that's "fair" because title I schools have many more students with greater needs that are better addressed by small schools (300-500 students) and small class sizes. It's "Fair" because wealthy schools are filled with fewer students learning English, fewer students who didn't have preschool, fewer students who are behind when they begin. "Fair" does not mean "equal."

SP - and Title I schools do not have the PTA budgets that provide all that extra support and enrichment programming and parental volunteers at non-Title I schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Do you think academic support can be improved, the achievement gap addressed, and quality instruction - including small class sizes - can happen without additional employees? There's a new CDEIO position that everyone insists APS has. He needs staff to do his job. One teacher specialist added to the gifted services office - someone who might help APS actually properly serve gifted students. Math coaches - real people providing direct academic support to students.

Everybody seems to complain that APS is overloaded with central office personnel. I disagree. APS operates, generally speaking, with a skeleton crew for the size and quality of our school system.
I don't even know what an "equity audit" for curriculum even means; so I might be with you there. But if it's just reviewing curriculum for inclusive and honest content, I don't think that requires additional staff; so what's the harm?

PP must work at Syphax. Schools do not need a bunch of additional GT and math coaches to lord over the teachers. They need these people to get out of the teachers' way and give them more time to plan.

PP Here and not a Syphax employee or an APS employee. Just an APS parent.

Math coaches and RTGs provide direct services to students and enable teachers to provide better instruction in their classrooms. More time to plan does not create more time to teach multiple lessons directed at students at multiple levels of proficiency in every subject during each class period. These are not central admin staff people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably some $$ to be saved by getting rid of H-B and converting it to a regular school.

How would it save money? Right now it has the regular complement of staff at the same staffing ratios as other schools so its operating budget is no different than a "regular" program. And where would you put the hundreds of kids being sent back to their home middle and high schools? The only potential savings is buses since it is countywide, and they don't purchase any buses for it, they just run 6 buses for two extra routes each day, plus three sports buses go to the comprehensive high schools at the end of the day.

It can become a neighborhood school, therefore eliminating the need for buses.

Also, are HB’s staffing ratios similar to the other overcrowded high schools?

Let’s get rid of ALL option schools. All of them.

uh, yeah

only Montessori gets away with having extra staff

Montessori does not get extra staff. First of all, any prek class must have second adult, so unless you want to eliminate prek the argument is moot. Second, the pedagogy requires second adult so lead teacher can teach individually or small group in the moment. It is individualized learning, which many parents prefer to the classic teacher lecturer. If you accept the pedagogy you must accept second adult. There are actually many ways to save money in Montessori that APS doesn't do: 1. Cut textbook allotments, they are unnecessary in the Montessori hands-on method. Cut tech allotments too - Montesso kids don't need iPads or whatever latest IT is as core instructional instrument. What you see as "extra" - because you don't understand the pedagogy or don't care to - could be better paid for within the existing budget now. Then there is the fact that APS Montessori brings in $1.4M in tuition, which goes into gen fund, ANd the fact that MPSA pupil costs are below many neighborhood schools such as elite Jamestown. APS Montessori should be expanded to monetize on the huge wait list and to leverage the below-average pupil cost...oh, and to give parent what they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably some $$ to be saved by getting rid of H-B and converting it to a regular school.

How would it save money? Right now it has the regular complement of staff at the same staffing ratios as other schools so its operating budget is no different than a "regular" program. And where would you put the hundreds of kids being sent back to their home middle and high schools? The only potential savings is buses since it is countywide, and they don't purchase any buses for it, they just run 6 buses for two extra routes each day, plus three sports buses go to the comprehensive high schools at the end of the day.

It can become a neighborhood school, therefore eliminating the need for buses.

Also, are HB’s staffing ratios similar to the other overcrowded high schools?

Let’s get rid of ALL option schools. All of them.

uh, yeah

only Montessori gets away with having extra staff

Montessori does not get extra staff. First of all, any prek class must have second adult, so unless you want to eliminate prek the argument is moot. Second, the pedagogy requires second adult so lead teacher can teach individually or small group in the moment. It is individualized learning, which many parents prefer to the classic teacher lecturer. If you accept the pedagogy you must accept second adult. There are actually many ways to save money in Montessori that APS doesn't do: 1. Cut textbook allotments, they are unnecessary in the Montessori hands-on method. Cut tech allotments too - Montesso kids don't need iPads or whatever latest IT is as core instructional instrument. What you see as "extra" - because you don't understand the pedagogy or don't care to - could be better paid for within the existing budget now. Then there is the fact that APS Montessori brings in $1.4M in tuition, which goes into gen fund, ANd the fact that MPSA pupil costs are below many neighborhood schools such as elite Jamestown. APS Montessori should be expanded to monetize on the huge wait list and to leverage the below-average pupil cost...oh, and to give parent what they want.

Montessori does not get extra staff. First of all, any prek class must have second adult, so unless you want to eliminate prek the argument is moot. Talking about grades 1-5 which have a full-time aide in the class which no other elementary schools have for regular classrooms.

Second, the pedagogy requires second adult so lead teacher can teach individually or small group in the moment. It is individualized learning, which many parents prefer to the classic teacher lecturer. If you accept the pedagogy you must accept second adult. OK....so they do get extra staff.

There are actually many ways to save money in Montessori that APS doesn't do: 1. Cut textbook allotments, they are unnecessary in the Montessori hands-on method. Cut tech allotments too - Montesso kids don't need iPads or whatever latest IT is as core instructional instrument. What you see as "extra" - because you don't understand the pedagogy or don't care to - could be better paid for within the existing budget now. Doesn't offset the annual cost of 20 full time classroom aides

Then there is the fact that APS Montessori brings in $1.4M in tuition, which goes into gen fund, that covers the cost of teaching 3 and 4 years olds with higher incomes, which should not be subsidized by taxpayers. Taxes cover K-12 education and VPI. That tuition money doesn't pay for "Montessori," it covers the cost of teaching the individual preschool kids who would otherwise be in private preschools. Yes, it goes into the "general fund" because each school does not have its own bank account, but they money tuition for upper income preschoolers to cover their costs

ANd the fact that MPSA pupil costs are below many neighborhood schools such as elite Jamestown. If you are looking at the actual school budget, that is based on things like teacher salaries that are based on tenure and how actual special ed students there are in the building, etc. If Montessori has more lower-cost teachers and more newer administrators, their average salaries will be lower which can bring down the average per-student cost. It isn't because of anything special the school is doing, it just happens to be the mix of staff at that school that year. Also, depending on school enrollment and whether a school hits the tipping point for more staff per the planning factors, the average cost per student in a building can look high or low.

APS Montessori should be expanded to monetize on the huge wait list and to leverage the below-average pupil cost...oh, and to give parent what they want.

[Anonymous]

Did this end up going through? I can’t tell from what’s on board docs

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did this end up going through? I can’t tell from what’s on board docs

After school activities and buses were removed from the budgetary line items on the chopping block, so presumably “saved.”

[Anonymous]

Once again. Lots of drama for nothing. Knee they wouldn’t actually cut middle school activities.

[Anonymous]

They should cancel MS sports, it’s all just travel kids getting free practice time. Except for frisbee.

Sure Act II can grow to expand enough kids, but it’s basically signing up for MORE school.
https://kenmore.apsva.us/activities/act-ii-program/

So provide fun exercise and team sports for kids who already play competitive sports or signup for mandatory after school classes with grades? Or frisbee.

MS sports is a stshow, they should abolish or expand to actually make accessible to all kids. No cut sports is first rule; if over subscribed make sure you have enough variety and slots, and then allocate on lottery not by ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should cancel MS sports, it’s all just travel kids getting free practice time. Except for frisbee.

Sure Act II can grow to expand enough kids, but it’s basically signing up for MORE school.
https://kenmore.apsva.us/activities/act-ii-program/

So provide fun exercise and team sports for kids who already play competitive sports or signup for mandatory after school classes with grades? Or frisbee.

MS sports is a stshow, they should abolish or expand to actually make accessible to all kids. No cut sports is first rule; if over subscribed make sure you have enough variety and slots, and then allocate on lottery not by ability.

Ultimate isn’t the only no cut sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should cancel MS sports, it’s all just travel kids getting free practice time. Except for frisbee.

Sure Act II can grow to expand enough kids, but it’s basically signing up for MORE school.
https://kenmore.apsva.us/activities/act-ii-program/

So provide fun exercise and team sports for kids who already play competitive sports or signup for mandatory after school classes with grades? Or frisbee.

MS sports is a stshow, they should abolish or expand to actually make accessible to all kids. No cut sports is first rule; if over subscribed make sure you have enough variety and slots, and then allocate on lottery not by ability.

Ultimate isn’t the only no cut sport.

But none of the popular sports, like baseball, basketball, soccer, etc

[Anonymous]

I disagree. There’s frisbee and swim and wrestling and cheer and tennis. These are not just “travel” sports. Agree it’s hard to play the ones that kids have been honing their skills for college scholarships. But there are other great options for kids to try new things and connect with other students who enjoy it. And that is also a purpose (should be the main one) of MS sports.