182 replies to this topic

[concerned citizen]

and leaders are do-ers
and concerned parents are doers, who are stepping up lead.

I am not yet endorsing anyone (I will), but sounds to me like you just made a case for Joanne.

You did not read me correctly.
I do not know MS. J R. I am definitely not endorsing her. This is too early to decide which is the right candidate.
For me, I am looking for a concerned, involved parent with coorect vision who has the leadership skills to carry out what he/she stands for.
I am not convinced Ms. J R fits that bill

[EDF]

Not only does the Board not listen to parents, apparently they're not too interested in what teachers think, either. Tonight at Back-to-School Night, my child's 3rd grade teacher said that all the teachers are upset that no one bothered to ask them what the effects would be of putting 32 students in 3rd grade.

She spent quite a bit of time telling us about all the great projects and activities that she does with her 3rd graders every year, that she probably will have to curtail this year.

Even though she is very discouraged about the prospects for this year, I came away extremely impressed with her experience and creativity. I just wish we were getting all of her expertise, instead of her basically having one hand tied behind her back.

I would like to challenge any Board member to spend an hour (let alone a day) with 32 seven year-olds. I fear our Board members are a little too far removed from the elementary years to remember the impulsivity, lack of self-direction, and general distractedness that characterizes that age group.

So this is what goes on in a "back to school night"...?

Politics...?

I remember being a nice young brat with at least 5 or 6 rows of brats with about 5 or 6 chairs in each row.... yee gads... that adds up to about 30 little stink wads in a class room....

I don't know what I missed...?

Some of you parents out there are just too much....

You know what... if you don't like what the School Board is doing.... go run for it yourself... listen to these "educrats" and their endless power point presentations... statistics... and the pressure groupls such as the teachers unions... and others just ruin our kids...

What we should really have is CHOICE AS TO WHICH SCHOOL WE SEND OUR LITTLE DARLINGS TO....

It's called School Choice/vouchers.. you know the same kind of "choice" that "liberals" want when they discuss "a woman's right to choose"....

Oh... I forgot... choice doesn't apply here....

[dlutz]

It's called School Choice/vouchers.. you know the same kind of "choice" that "liberals" want when they discuss "a woman's right to choose"...

Agreeing with you twice in one day?!?! I better lie down for a while.

[billsfan]

I think better transparency in regards to the choices regarding where the budget reductions could be applied may have helped understand the choices the school board was making. I'm sure there were other areas that were being considered for cuts instead of libraries and class size reduction that could have used more in-depth discussions. Maybe some of those could have been funded or sponsored by private contributions. I've seen that happen for school athletic fields, music program, etc... in other school districts. While I realize the obstacles in trying to split the district into 2, we should be able to find ways for Folsom and Rancho corporations and individuals to invest and contribute to their local schools.

Regarding leaders/citizens and if they choose to use their time to coaching sports, volunterring at schools, or particpating on boards; their all equal valuable to our comunicty in their own way. We all bring different strengths and skillset to what we contribute. As much as a don't mind a parent (a teacher or school board member) commenting on how our sports team is doing, they should welcome my opinion on school board issues....

[jen]

A board member once told me that they rarely are thanked or appreciated for what they do. Usually they are only contacted with complaints. Lots of members on this forum seem to want to do the same thing. Just criticize.

I think the board is doing a pretty good job and that's why most of us are happy with our schools. If we had a sucky district I would go with the Change thing.

Folsom's a great place to live. Folsom schools have a lot going for them. I don't have a third grader but I don't see why they would do any worse in a larger classroom than fourth graders do a year later. I see EDF's point about teachers politicizing at back to school night. Seems like a strange time to try to get sympathy for how hard your job is. Shouldn't they be reassuring parents that they can handle a full class of kids? Why can't your teacher get around to 20 kids individually each day? They might not hit each kid every day, but it at least every other day they could select 20 kids and give them the individual attention like they did last year. Sounds like a lot of poor me whining.

I heard about that guy who supposedly made an offer to help to fund teachers to keep CSR. I think what he said was that maybe if the district got a bunch of businesses together they could fund a furlough day for each teacher and save money that way. I don't think he was offering to fund $600,000 himself. I think there's an equality issue if you have one class that is funded by donations but another class can't be. This state is kind of heavy on the equality issue. You can't treat one kid any better than another unless they have a disability or language issue.

[bordercolliefan]

What is particularly absurd is the way class size seems to be only one extreme or the other.

Many people would say that a class size of 20, in second or third grade, is unnecessarily small. Kids would probably do equally well with 24 or 25 in the class.

Yet 32 is a ridiculously high number. Last night, the parents were chuckling and exclaiming about how hard it was to even get in the seats, the way the desks have to be jammed back to back. It's obvious the classrooms were never built in contemplation of 32 kids.

Some have tried to explain (in a way that makes little sense to me) why the class size "had" to go all the way from 20 to 32. Why not compromise on, say, 25 students, and make some other cuts elsewhere? It definitely smacks of just deciding to sacrifice 3rd grade.

[jen]

I think someone explained that. If a class size is reduced and let's say the district gets $500 extra for that kid to offset the cost. So then you go to 21 and lose the $500 becuase it's not reduced anymore but you still have almost the same higher costs. State law only allows CSR money if you have 20 or less. You can't get CSR funds if you have 21 or more in a class room.

[stacycam]

A board member once told me that they rarely are thanked or appreciated for what they do. Usually they are only contacted with complaints. Lots of members on this forum seem to want to do the same thing. Just criticize.

I think the board is doing a pretty good job and that's why most of us are happy with our schools. If we had a sucky district I would go with the Change thing.

I guess I need a reality check to find out what REALLY makes our district any good. The teachers are great (why I like the schools), but they are not all that satisfied. I see TONS of parent assistance to make up for many deficiencies. Why does San Juan have smaller Kindergarten and 3rd grade classrooms, and a music program, along with other advantages over FCUSD? Please, SOMEONE, tell me how FCUSD is better than any nearby districts. This is not a rhetorical question - I really want to hear. Maybe I'll feel better if someone spells it out.

Of course the kids will be okay in a 3rd grade classroom with 30-32 kids. But, my daughter is not getting the same education in 3rd grade that all the 4th and 5th graders got. To add to that, she can't even check out a book at the school library. No AR program, no computer time. PLEASE tell me WHY I should thank our board and WHY I should think that reserve fund should not be lowered.

[jen]

Is your son or daughter not doing well in our schools? San Juan made lots of cuts and has closed schools and doesn't have nearly the internationally reknowned music program our district does. Its API for the district was 767 compared to Folsom Cordova's of 805. Kids are graduating and going on to really good colleges and private universities. There are two national blue ribbon schools in Folsom and other California distinguished schools. They cut counselors and summer school enrichment classes. They cut janitors and vice principals. I don't think they've had busses for a long time. I can't find it but I thought they were near bankrupt because of contract agreements giving lifetime benefits (or maybe that was Elk Grove).

Anyway, do you love San Juan district more than Folsom? Some areas of Folsom have an automatic right to attend SJ schools. You could transfer. But you wohn't because you like FCUSD.

[stacycam]

My daughter is doing well, but that is mostly because she is smart. I have been extremely happy with all but one of her teachers, so I have to credit them as well. I was very happy with the AR program last year, since her area of weakness is comprehension.

We have summer school enrichment programs? I saw plenty through parks and rec, but only one extremely expensive one through the school. SJ cut VPs. Great - much better than libraries and 3rd grade teachers. I'm pretty sure the kids from Bella Vista are going to go colleges - same with Casa.

I am hoping someone else can tell me what is great about FCUSD. I'm not saying the district is bad, but I'm wondering why people think the district is so superior, and in turn the board. I just don't see it. I only use SJ because I know they have smaller class sizes and didn't cut many of the areas Folsom did. Also, SJ is nearby and BV is a great school. I am not trying to be a complainer, I am genuinely trying to understand. All these years I have just jumped on the bandwagon of "Folsom has great schools, we're the best in the area, etc, etc," but I never had any info to back that up. I guess now I just want to know why our district is BETTER - not counting test scores.

You are right, I won't transfer, and that's because I live .75 miles from my daughter's school, and probably eight miles from SJ school. Believe me, if I lived over the bridge, I'd be tempted.

[Revolutionist]

My daughter is doing well, but that is mostly because she is smart. I have been extremely happy with all but one of her teachers, so I have to credit them as well. I was very happy with the AR program last year, since her area of weakness is comprehension.

We have summer school enrichment programs? I saw plenty through parks and rec, but only one extremely expensive one through the school. SJ cut VPs. Great - much better than libraries and 3rd grade teachers. I'm pretty sure the kids from Bella Vista are going to go colleges - same with Casa.

I am hoping someone else can tell me what is great about FCUSD. I'm not saying the district is bad, but I'm wondering why people think the district is so superior, and in turn the board. I just don't see it. I only use SJ because I know they have smaller class sizes and didn't cut many of the areas Folsom did. Also, SJ is nearby and BV is a great school. I am not trying to be a complainer, I am genuinely trying to understand. All these years I have just jumped on the bandwagon of "Folsom has great schools, we're the best in the area, etc, etc," but I never had any info to back that up. I guess now I just want to know why our district is BETTER - not counting test scores.

You are right, I won't transfer, and that's because I live .75 miles from my daughter's school, and probably eight miles from SJ school. Believe me, if I lived over the bridge, I'd be tempted.

I can sum up why SJ has so much more money to spend on stuff than FCUSD in 2 words:

"Title One"

[stacycam]

Don't we have that, too? I once mentioned that maybe RC needed Folsom, but I was quickly told that RC has a lot of funding from Title One (I think). How does that differ?

[supermom]

Don't we have that, too? I once mentioned that maybe RC needed Folsom, but I was quickly told that RC has a lot of funding from Title One (I think). How does that differ?

'cause the money stays on that side of the river bend.

[bordercolliefan]

San Juan made lots of cuts and has closed schools and doesn't have nearly the internationally reknowned music program our district does. Its API for the district was 767 compared to Folsom Cordova's of 805. Kids are graduating and going on to really good colleges and private universities. There are two national blue ribbon schools in Folsom and other California distinguished schools. They cut counselors and summer school enrichment classes. They cut janitors and vice principals. I don't think they've had busses for a long time.

Ok, this is not making me feel any better.

First of all, I've been wondering why the elementary kids still have "General Music" -- or even instrumental music -- when we are sacrificing 3rd grade academics. Parents who value music can provide music outside of school -- as I do (I send my daughter to piano lessons). I'm not saying music is not a "nice to have" in our schools -- I would be sad about cutting it -- but it's hard to see how it trumps 3rd grade.

Same with summer school enrichment classes. This is a "nice to have," not a necessity. Most of the parents I know pay for their children to go to Parks & Rec day camps during the summer.

As for the CSR, I'm sorry to be dense, but that explanation still does not make sense to me. I'll accept that there are "CSR funds" that a school gets if they have 20 (though then one wonders why the school wouldn't keep the class size at 20 in order to keep those funds). So, then the school has a choice of going to, say, 25 kids or 32 kids. At our school, that amounts to one extra classroom. The school district could have elected to go to 25 (thereby keeping that one classroom) and made compensating cuts elsewhere to cover that teacher's salary. But they chose not to do that; they just let 3rd grade take the whole brunt.

I guess I'm supposed to be glad that while my 3rd grader may not be able to multiply and divide by the end of the year, at least my 4th grader will still be able to blast our ears out with the recorder.

[jen]

so you want to compare FHS and BV?

FHS has an internationally recognized music program. The year FHS took the AcaDeca title, they scored better at the State competition than BV ever has when they have gone.

"Folsom High School has been awarded a Silver Medal from U.S. News & World Report and is listed on the first annual list of America's Best High Schools. The Silver Medal is based upon standardized test performance, proficiency rates of all students and challenging college-ready curriculum. This status ranks FHS in the top 3% and among the top 500 high schools in the nation!"

Teachers at FHS such as Mr. Chayo have been nationally recognized.

FCUSD has more national board certified teachers pro rata than other districts in the state.

Folsom High School
Folsom Cordova Unified School District
Enrollment: 2,867
2007 API Base score: 844
Statewide rank: 10
2006–2007 SAT averages: 539 Critical
Reading, 559 Math, 533 Writing
Graduation rate: 99 percent


Bella Vista High School
San Juan Unified School District
Enrollment: 1,839
2007 API Base score: 807
Statewide rank: 9
2006–2007 SAT averages: 537 Critical
Reading, 548 Math, 534 Writing
Graduation rate: 98 percent