| Alameda County, CA | November 7, 2006 Election |
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Closing Schools to Save Money? Think Again!By Anne WilliamsCandidate for Governing Board Member; New Haven Unified School District |
This information is provided by the candidate | |
The real cost of closing schools should be measured by how many students fail to thrive in our large schools. We have the largest elementary schools in the county. Is it any wonder our test scores are low? Small schools promote higher achievement. Higher achievement produces more high school graduates. What is the true cost of closing schools?We never look at the cost of closing schools. We are only told we must close schools to save money. But the research on small schools consistently shows that they have a much lower drop-out rate. They graduate more students than large schools, so the cost per graduate is less. What benefit is it to educate a child for ten years, only to have them drop out? What a waste of money! Small schools not only promote higher achievement, they give students a sense of belonging, of community. They have less violence and students, teachers and staff know each other on a personal level. We should not be closing schools. We have the largest elementary schools in the county. Alvarado raised its test scores through team effort and without a strategic plan. That their principal is a former reading specialist is no coincidence. When left to their own talents, the teachers in our neighborhood schools know how to teach their students, and making our schools larger is an obstacle to student achievement. And the "small learning communities" at Logan? They only work when they are completely autonomous. Otherwise they do not have the benefits of a small school. I've done my homework. This information is available on the internet. Don't let our school district close our schools. Let's find a way to keep our schools open. It makes no sense that our neighborhood schools should have to suffer these ridiculous ratios due to "declining enrollment" but the district office does not. They are hiring administrators like there's no tomorrow! Why don't they have to have ratios??? And where are they getting the money to pay these people? Our district is obviously not in a financial crunch. We need to study our finances and take some time to truly evaluate the alternatives to closing schools. Financial cuts should be made at the district office before any cuts are made at the schools. Students are more than just test scores. When a school district states that increasing test scores is its top priority, it's time for a change. Especially when that district decides that the only way it can finance the programs needed to increase test scores is to close schools. The one sure thing that children need if they are having difficulty learning is intense one-on-one or small-group intervention. Not a large school atmosphere. |
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ca/alm Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 18, 2006 11:18
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