Lafayette Over Crowding
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Anonymous
| Wow, I can't imagine that many kids in a K class. Last year my kid had 16 kids in her K class (another Deal/Wilson feeder). It was a very calm class, and my kid had a great year--partly due, I think, to the small class size. |
Anonymous
This, exactly. The principal needs DCPS to give her another teacher. And DCPS likely doesn't care. This seems familiar somehow..... -Janney parent Ps: Murch, this is likely your post renovation future. |
Anonymous
That can't be right. Last year's K (this year's 1st) is the same size but has 6 sections. She's given a pot of money based on enrollment and she has discretion about how to spend it. She chose assistant principals instead. And total enrollment is what was anticipated and budgeted, so it's not the underfunding problem of last year. |
Anonymous
| This is where Lynn Main excelled. She played the DCPS enrollment game like a pro and classes were almost always kept at 20-25. |
Anonymous
| Another issue is, why are so many parents waiting until late July to enroll their kindergarteners? This is really entitled behavior ("hey, they'll have room for my kid") but it's DC after-all. |
Anonymous
| Cut peace and cut one of the two Assistant Principals. Finding no longer an issue. Mrs. Main did not have any Assistant Principals, surely one should be enough. |
Anonymous
Agree. Other schools do this. |
Anonymous
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two things:
1) what does the school's LSAT and PTA have to say? Are they making themselves heard? Is the LSAT convening to discuss? 2) The Lafayette budget worksheet I could find on the DCPS website indicates that it is based on a budget with a projected enrollment of 779. The principal's letter said they are already at 807, right? That's a net gain of 28 students (so far) right? Let's average that each student represents $10K in the budget. The principal needs to be pushed back on DCPS and say that they deserve around $300K in budget dollars which can pay for another K teacher (and aide) and another 5th grade teacher. |
Anonymous
What can be done differently? |
Anonymous
| Lafayette Parents: you have 3 weeks time to organize! Get a firm answer on why this year here are 28 kids in K with 5 classes whereas last year K classes were normal sized and at 6 classes. Who made that decision? Does the Principal have full autonomy on the budget? Was there any discussion or thought in cutting elsewhere to preserve class sizes? Ask tough questions and demand accountability. You pay your taxes you ought to know the process. Is it worth it to have the very little foreign language instruction? Is that really a plus for kids? Or would money be better spent with two additional teachers to preserve normal class size. |
Anonymous
| Good points! Cut the fat. Who cares about 45 min of Spanish once a week. Cut foreign language, cut an Assistant Principal or both, and cut HSA funding for things like sports uniforms and participation in Archery tournaments out of State. It is not that hard. |
Anonymous
| Do Lafayette parents have a school listserv? We are new this year, but would like to communicate with other parents on this issue. |
Anonymous
| JKLM K teacher here: 28 kids a class is horrifying |
Anonymous
No, it has been tried before but it seems the preference is to use DCUM. |
Anonymous
Great idea, so the older kids who participate in these activities sacrifice to appease to high strung early education parents. 
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