Mundo Verde and CReative Minds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone troubled that average class size will increase from 18 to 24 students with no increase in the number of instructors in each room? This is a huge change.

How many instructors did they have before? Our charter has 22 kids for PS and PK with 3 adults (2 teachers and 1 aide) and that works just fine. K is 22 with just the 2 teachers and it also works fine.

You go to IT, right? MV is smaller classes, I believe--around 18/classroom, some smaller, in the current location. And there are a max of two teachers per classroom, not 3.

[Anonymous]

1) they have not addressed this increase in size with DCI - so this may be a point of issue with the DCI folks as this brings them back out of alignment with the other schools (and YY may have issues).

2) this was done to bring the number of classes from spanish/english to make it easier for the teachers to teach (not better for the kids to learn) - which was interesting.

3) it did not sound like there was any plan to increase the number of staff at this time which would probably need to be addressed now that this has been approved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone troubled that average class size will increase from 18 to 24 students with no increase in the number of instructors in each room? This is a huge change.

How many instructors did they have before? Our charter has 22 kids for PS and PK with 3 adults (2 teachers and 1 aide) and that works just fine. K is 22 with just the 2 teachers and it also works fine.

You go to IT, right? MV is smaller classes, I believe--around 18/classroom, some smaller, in the current location. And there are a max of two teachers per classroom, not 3.

Depends on what class--PS3/PK4 at MV is 18/classroom with 3 teachers. K-2 averages 19-22 per class with a max of 2 teachers. My child is in 1st grade and since K has always had at least 20 kids in the class, but no more than 22 with 2 teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) they have not addressed this increase in size with DCI - so this may be a point of issue with the DCI folks as this brings them back out of alignment with the other schools (and YY may have issues).

2) this was done to bring the number of classes from spanish/english to make it easier for the teachers to teach (not better for the kids to learn) - which was interesting.

3) it did not sound like there was any plan to increase the number of staff at this time which would probably need to be addressed now that this has been approved.

Can you explain #2--not sure what you mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) they have not addressed this increase in size with DCI - so this may be a point of issue with the DCI folks as this brings them back out of alignment with the other schools (and YY may have issues).

2) this was done to bring the number of classes from spanish/english to make it easier for the teachers to teach (not better for the kids to learn) - which was interesting.

3) it did not sound like there was any plan to increase the number of staff at this time which would probably need to be addressed now that this has been approved.

Thanks for these points. Could you explain number two some more?

[Anonymous]

Jinx!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) they have not addressed this increase in size with DCI - so this may be a point of issue with the DCI folks as this brings them back out of alignment with the other schools (and YY may have issues).

2) this was done to bring the number of classes from spanish/english to make it easier for the teachers to teach (not better for the kids to learn) - which was interesting.

3) it did not sound like there was any plan to increase the number of staff at this time which would probably need to be addressed now that this has been approved.

Can you explain #2--not sure what you mean.

It appears from what was mentioned at the meeting, that they had an odd number of classrooms which caused difficulty for the logistics of how their teaching worked (1/2 spanish and 1/2 english). They may have had 3 classrooms? The additional classroom made it easier for them to work logistically - most likely they were waiting for approval for the additional kids to hire additional teachers (and wont just make huge classrooms).

I am not at MV, but this was the discussion for why they wanted the expansion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) they have not addressed this increase in size with DCI - so this may be a point of issue with the DCI folks as this brings them back out of alignment with the other schools (and YY may have issues).

2) this was done to bring the number of classes from spanish/english to make it easier for the teachers to teach (not better for the kids to learn) - which was interesting.

3) it did not sound like there was any plan to increase the number of staff at this time which would probably need to be addressed now that this has been approved.

Can you explain #2--not sure what you mean.

It appears from what was mentioned at the meeting, that they had an odd number of classrooms which caused difficulty for the logistics of how their teaching worked (1/2 spanish and 1/2 english). They may have had 3 classrooms? The additional classroom made it easier for them to work logistically - most likely they were waiting for approval for the additional kids to hire additional teachers (and wont just make huge classrooms).

I am not at MV, but this was the discussion for why they wanted the expansion.

MV parent here-- yes, there are odd numbers of classes for some grades. Also, like you stated, my understanding from talking to administration/leadership is that the classes will not get bigger, there will be additional classrooms in certain grades, e.g., 4 classes of 18 PS/PK instead of 3. Because the school is moving into a large building and there will be no middle school (students would attend DCI) MV has to fill the space both financially and practically; hence more classrooms per grade, not necessary more students per class. Yes, the school will be larger and feel less intimate. However, this expansion provides opportunities for more kids to attend, which IMO is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, MV parent! Do you know if next year they will actually try to have as many students as they requested in the charter amendment? That would be more students in every grade, including 92 in 1st through 3rd grade (which I believe are much smaller now). It would also be more students in PK3 (40), PK4 (66) and K (69). If that's the case, then I would think they would have significantly more lottery slots in every grade than they originally anticipated (and stated they had in the info sheet they distributed at the last open house).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, MV parent! Do you know if next year they will actually try to have as many students as they requested in the charter amendment? That would be more students in every grade, including 92 in 1st through 3rd grade (which I believe are much smaller now). It would also be more students in PK3 (40), PK4 (66) and K (69). If that's the case, then I would think they would have significantly more lottery slots in every grade than they originally anticipated (and stated they had in the info sheet they distributed at the last open house).

They plan to have the number that is listed on the info sheet. They will continue to grow gradually over the next couple years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, MV parent! Do you know if next year they will actually try to have as many students as they requested in the charter amendment? That would be more students in every grade, including 92 in 1st through 3rd grade (which I believe are much smaller now). It would also be more students in PK3 (40), PK4 (66) and K (69). If that's the case, then I would think they would have significantly more lottery slots in every grade than they originally anticipated (and stated they had in the info sheet they distributed at the last open house).

They plan to have the number that is listed on the info sheet. They will continue to grow gradually over the next couple years.

So next year, they won't have any more classrooms opening or more kids in each class, despite the size of the new school and the cost of renovations/upkeep? Why do they, e.g., say on the application that they'll have 40 PS students in 2014-2015, if in fact it is only the 28 they had on the ifo sheet? I thought one reason that they asked for the amendment was that they could not afford the school with the current amount they are taking in. Or are they going to rent out some of the J.F. Cook space to another school? I am thoroughly confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, MV parent! Do you know if next year they will actually try to have as many students as they requested in the charter amendment? That would be more students in every grade, including 92 in 1st through 3rd grade (which I believe are much smaller now). It would also be more students in PK3 (40), PK4 (66) and K (69). If that's the case, then I would think they would have significantly more lottery slots in every grade than they originally anticipated (and stated they had in the info sheet they distributed at the last open house).

They plan to have the number that is listed on the info sheet. They will continue to grow gradually over the next couple years.

So next year, they won't have any more classrooms opening or more kids in each class, despite the size of the new school and the cost of renovations/upkeep? Why do they, e.g., say on the application that they'll have 40 PS students in 2014-2015, if in fact it is only the 28 they had on the ifo sheet? I thought one reason that they asked for the amendment was that they could not afford the school with the current amount they are taking in. Or are they going to rent out some of the J.F. Cook space to another school? I am thoroughly confused.

Am 99% sure that 28 was an approximation of the number of non-sibling spots that would be available for PS3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, MV parent! Do you know if next year they will actually try to have as many students as they requested in the charter amendment? That would be more students in every grade, including 92 in 1st through 3rd grade (which I believe are much smaller now). It would also be more students in PK3 (40), PK4 (66) and K (69). If that's the case, then I would think they would have significantly more lottery slots in every grade than they originally anticipated (and stated they had in the info sheet they distributed at the last open house).

They plan to have the number that is listed on the info sheet. They will continue to grow gradually over the next couple years.

So next year, they won't have any more classrooms opening or more kids in each class, despite the size of the new school and the cost of renovations/upkeep? Why do they, e.g., say on the application that they'll have 40 PS students in 2014-2015, if in fact it is only the 28 they had on the ifo sheet? I thought one reason that they asked for the amendment was that they could not afford the school with the current amount they are taking in. Or are they going to rent out some of the J.F. Cook space to another school? I am thoroughly confused.

Am 99% sure that 28 was an approximation of the number of non-sibling spots that would be available for PS3.

That would be fantastic, but I asked this specifically to a woman who worked there (not the ED/principal, however), and she said it was the total slots, including sibs. Also, they said that is because there are 4 classrooms total and 7 PK3 kids per class (more PK4 kids/class), so I'm almost sure that was the same as the # of students they had this year. I am not surprised that at the first open house (the one I attedned last week), they would be conservative in the # of slots they said were going to be offered, as they had not yet been approved by the charter school board. Will be curious to see if they update the #s in future open houses. If you have any info, I'd appreciate it! I am not sure whom I would contact at the school to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, MV parent! Do you know if next year they will actually try to have as many students as they requested in the charter amendment? That would be more students in every grade, including 92 in 1st through 3rd grade (which I believe are much smaller now). It would also be more students in PK3 (40), PK4 (66) and K (69). If that's the case, then I would think they would have significantly more lottery slots in every grade than they originally anticipated (and stated they had in the info sheet they distributed at the last open house).

They plan to have the number that is listed on the info sheet. They will continue to grow gradually over the next couple years.

So next year, they won't have any more classrooms opening or more kids in each class, despite the size of the new school and the cost of renovations/upkeep? Why do they, e.g., say on the application that they'll have 40 PS students in 2014-2015, if in fact it is only the 28 they had on the ifo sheet? I thought one reason that they asked for the amendment was that they could not afford the school with the current amount they are taking in. Or are they going to rent out some of the J.F. Cook space to another school? I am thoroughly confused.

Am 99% sure that 28 was an approximation of the number of non-sibling spots that would be available for PS3.

That would be fantastic, but I asked this specifically to a woman who worked there (not the ED/principal, however), and she said it was the total slots, including sibs. Also, they said that is because there are 4 classrooms total and 7 PK3 kids per class (more PK4 kids/class), so I'm almost sure that was the same as the # of students they had this year. I am not surprised that at the first open house (the one I attedned last week), they would be conservative in the # of slots they said were going to be offered, as they had not yet been approved by the charter school board. Will be curious to see if they update the #s in future open houses. If you have any info, I'd appreciate it! I am not sure whom I would contact at the school to ask.

NP here. Not to be snarky, but does it really matter how many slots there are? Even if there are 28, your odds of getting in are extremely slim. Rank MV first, of course, if it's your first choice, but you're going to drive yourself crazy trying to figure out exactly how awful your chances are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, MV parent! Do you know if next year they will actually try to have as many students as they requested in the charter amendment? That would be more students in every grade, including 92 in 1st through 3rd grade (which I believe are much smaller now). It would also be more students in PK3 (40), PK4 (66) and K (69). If that's the case, then I would think they would have significantly more lottery slots in every grade than they originally anticipated (and stated they had in the info sheet they distributed at the last open house).

They plan to have the number that is listed on the info sheet. They will continue to grow gradually over the next couple years.

So next year, they won't have any more classrooms opening or more kids in each class, despite the size of the new school and the cost of renovations/upkeep? Why do they, e.g., say on the application that they'll have 40 PS students in 2014-2015, if in fact it is only the 28 they had on the ifo sheet? I thought one reason that they asked for the amendment was that they could not afford the school with the current amount they are taking in. Or are they going to rent out some of the J.F. Cook space to another school? I am thoroughly confused.

Am 99% sure that 28 was an approximation of the number of non-sibling spots that would be available for PS3.

That would be fantastic, but I asked this specifically to a woman who worked there (not the ED/principal, however), and she said it was the total slots, including sibs. Also, they said that is because there are 4 classrooms total and 7 PK3 kids per class (more PK4 kids/class), so I'm almost sure that was the same as the # of students they had this year. I am not surprised that at the first open house (the one I attedned last week), they would be conservative in the # of slots they said were going to be offered, as they had not yet been approved by the charter school board. Will be curious to see if they update the #s in future open houses. If you have any info, I'd appreciate it! I am not sure whom I would contact at the school to ask.

NP here. Not to be snarky, but does it really matter how many slots there are? Even if there are 28, your odds of getting in are extremely slim. Rank MV first, of course, if it's your first choice, but you're going to drive yourself crazy trying to figure out exactly how awful your chances are.

It does to me. To each her own on how you go about applying to schools, but probability of getting in is definitely one dimension for me, and 40 vs. 28 would be appreciably greater.