Wilson HS Budget

[Anonymous]

For those who are concerned about the cuts, below is a link to a Wilson Budget Primer from Ruth Wattenburg's website:

https://ruth4schools.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/wilsonbudgetprimer.pdf

Key nuggets about the impact of the cuts:

The specific impact of the budget cuts will mean:
• Wilson, with the fifth highest number of at risk kids, will have to cut a special education position,
compromising the school’s ability to support children most in need of learning supports.
• Cutting a freshmen Biology teacher (increasing class sizes for freshmen at a time when all
classes are honors and some students will need additional support);
• Cutting an art teacher will result in fewer arts classes, jeopardizing students access to courses
and credits needed for colleges, such as Pratt, Parsons and the Rhode Island School of
Design, that historically have taken Wilson students.)
• Fewer classes generally will further squeeze educational opportunity at a time when Wilson
has seniors who do not get a full day of school (some finish as early 11am, or don't have class
until after 10:15) due to staff and space constraints.
• Wilson will have to cut a counselor position, despite the Mayor’s touted (2/27) initiative to
expand support for high school students to improve college and career support. That initiative
apparently does not apply to Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happens every year and then things are always made right again. Just sit tight and don't let it raise your blood pressure too much.

+1 Back in the day, when it's budget was cut, the NYC Department of Sanitation would simply leave the garbage out on Park Avenue. Problem solved. DCPS is using the same strategy here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who are concerned about the cuts, below is a link to a Wilson Budget Primer from Ruth Wattenburg's website:

https://ruth4schools.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/wilsonbudgetprimer.pdf

Key nuggets about the impact of the cuts:

The specific impact of the budget cuts will mean:
• Wilson, with the fifth highest number of at risk kids, will have to cut a special education position,
compromising the school’s ability to support children most in need of learning supports.
• Cutting a freshmen Biology teacher (increasing class sizes for freshmen at a time when all
classes are honors and some students will need additional support);
• Cutting an art teacher will result in fewer arts classes, jeopardizing students access to courses
and credits needed for colleges, such as Pratt, Parsons and the Rhode Island School of
Design, that historically have taken Wilson students.)
• Fewer classes generally will further squeeze educational opportunity at a time when Wilson
has seniors who do not get a full day of school (some finish as early 11am, or don't have class
until after 10:15) due to staff and space constraints.
• Wilson will have to cut a counselor position, despite the Mayor’s touted (2/27) initiative to
expand support for high school students to improve college and career support. That initiative
apparently does not apply to Wilson.

My reaction to this is that students who want to go to Pratt or RISD should have applied to Ellington, where there is plenty of room, and where students also get admitted to these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is messed up for those parents with rising seniors. Truly a disaster. They get rid of the one counselor that had extensive knowledge about the college process.

I was always neutral till now, but Ms. Martin is ruining that school.

Ms. Martin is fighting hard for the budget. This is 100% the fault of the Mayor and DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is messed up for those parents with rising seniors. Truly a disaster. They get rid of the one counselor that had extensive knowledge about the college process.

I was always neutral till now, but Ms. Martin is ruining that school.

Ms. Martin is fighting hard for the budget. This is 100% the fault of the Mayor and DCPS.

Do you think the principal controls how much money the school gets?

[Anonymous]

I am hearing that two guidance counselors have been cut. That would leave four counselors for 1700+ students. Unreal. What can be done?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who are concerned about the cuts, below is a link to a Wilson Budget Primer from Ruth Wattenburg's website:

https://ruth4schools.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/wilsonbudgetprimer.pdf

Key nuggets about the impact of the cuts:

The specific impact of the budget cuts will mean:
• Wilson, with the fifth highest number of at risk kids, will have to cut a special education position,
compromising the school’s ability to support children most in need of learning supports.
• Cutting a freshmen Biology teacher (increasing class sizes for freshmen at a time when all
classes are honors and some students will need additional support);
• Cutting an art teacher will result in fewer arts classes, jeopardizing students access to courses
and credits needed for colleges, such as Pratt, Parsons and the Rhode Island School of
Design, that historically have taken Wilson students.)
• Fewer classes generally will further squeeze educational opportunity at a time when Wilson
has seniors who do not get a full day of school (some finish as early 11am, or don't have class
until after 10:15) due to staff and space constraints.
• Wilson will have to cut a counselor position, despite the Mayor’s touted (2/27) initiative to
expand support for high school students to improve college and career support. That initiative
apparently does not apply to Wilson.

My reaction to this is that students who want to go to Pratt or RISD should have applied to Ellington, where there is plenty of room, and where students also get admitted to these schools.

WTH! We know very talented kids rejected from Ellington who are going to Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who are concerned about the cuts, below is a link to a Wilson Budget Primer from Ruth Wattenburg's website:

https://ruth4schools.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/wilsonbudgetprimer.pdf

Key nuggets about the impact of the cuts:

The specific impact of the budget cuts will mean:
• Wilson, with the fifth highest number of at risk kids, will have to cut a special education position,
compromising the school’s ability to support children most in need of learning supports.
• Cutting a freshmen Biology teacher (increasing class sizes for freshmen at a time when all
classes are honors and some students will need additional support);
• Cutting an art teacher will result in fewer arts classes, jeopardizing students access to courses
and credits needed for colleges, such as Pratt, Parsons and the Rhode Island School of
Design, that historically have taken Wilson students.)
• Fewer classes generally will further squeeze educational opportunity at a time when Wilson
has seniors who do not get a full day of school (some finish as early 11am, or don't have class
until after 10:15) due to staff and space constraints.
• Wilson will have to cut a counselor position, despite the Mayor’s touted (2/27) initiative to
expand support for high school students to improve college and career support. That initiative
apparently does not apply to Wilson.

My reaction to this is that students who want to go to Pratt or RISD should have applied to Ellington, where there is plenty of room, and where students also get admitted to these schools.

Because it's totally reasonable to expect 8th graders to know that they want to go to art school and choose their high school accordingly.

And there's no reason an art school-bound student might want to go to a comprehensive HS that provides a wider array of course offerings, sports, extracurriculars, etc.

And, of course, every Wilson-bound student has the support, resources, and werewithal to get to Ellington every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson's Budget is being cut, again. Today several employees have been "excessed" including two counselors. Who can we contact to re-instate the budget per the needs of the school?

Contact the Mayor and ask why we need to spend $200 million dollars to renovate Coolidge (aka "Jail") instead of investing in schools that actually produce graduates.

Seriously, Coolidge has maybe 300 students and none of them can read at grade level. Send the kids to Roosevelt, sell the property to a developer and there will be some great condos and more tax revenues in Takoma.

Different budgets. Capital vs operating. Find another ox to gore.

Different PP, but DC has a surplus. They couldn't find the money. If it was for one of her developer friends, the Mayor would have found the money.

[Anonymous]

How can they cut a special ed position? I.E.Ps must be followed, can't just get rid of special ed. What is the plan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can they cut a special ed position? I.E.Ps must be followed, can't just get rid of special ed. What is the plan?

Don't remember when, maybe 2014 the Sped Coordinator position became optional and funds had to come out of school direct budget. Some schools opted to keep one others didn't, not sure how schools without a coordinator manage the process re. IEP meetings or if there have been increase in complaints/court cases since this decision. Seems all schools that serve a significant number of students with IEPs should have a Special Ed. Coordinator and if have a small pop should share an itinerant coordinator. The law specifies how many Special Ed. teachers per population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can they cut a special ed position? I.E.Ps must be followed, can't just get rid of special ed. What is the plan?

There are 30 fewer students with IEPs at Wilson this year than last--and fewer economically disadvantaged children too.

So cutting a special educator doesn't necessarily mean the IEPs won't be followed.

From the OSSE enrollment audit data https://osse.dc.gov/enrollment

Wilson
2015-16
1791 students
563 economically disadvantaged students (29.8%)
234 students with disabilities (13.1%)

2016-17
1749 students
423 economically disadvantaged students (24%)
204 students with disabilities (11.6%)