Submitted by guestilm (not verified) on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 8:26pm.
So, now that the middle schools are enrolled under the BOE's disjointed, politically-driven district map, it took a superintendant's report to note that: a) overcrowded schools remain overcrowded, b) several schools, including the newest middle school (Holly Shelter), are burdened with an unreasonably high free/reduced lunch rate (as well as being the most underenrolled), and c) the county can't afford to properly staff Holly Shelter middle school, a facility built using funds from the 2005 bond referendum. Class sizes average more than 40 children in this "brand new", "state-of-the-art" school. Who in this community is actually surprised?
Earlier this year, the BOE had a map (Map 3A), which had every middle school in the county under capacity without the use of trailers, and every middle school at a free/reduced rate of less than 50%, with the exception of DC Virgo, which had an improved rate. The BOE's rationale for not adopting this map was that it moved too many children around.
But, the BOE was ok with moving specific study areas of children significantly farther from home in order to appease even smaller pockets of neighborhoods.
I truly don't envy Dr. Markley in having to deal with the mess created by our current BOE.
Big surprise
So, now that the middle schools are enrolled under the BOE's disjointed, politically-driven district map, it took a superintendant's report to note that: a) overcrowded schools remain overcrowded, b) several schools, including the newest middle school (Holly Shelter), are burdened with an unreasonably high free/reduced lunch rate (as well as being the most underenrolled), and c) the county can't afford to properly staff Holly Shelter middle school, a facility built using funds from the 2005 bond referendum. Class sizes average more than 40 children in this "brand new", "state-of-the-art" school. Who in this community is actually surprised?
Earlier this year, the BOE had a map (Map 3A), which had every middle school in the county under capacity without the use of trailers, and every middle school at a free/reduced rate of less than 50%, with the exception of DC Virgo, which had an improved rate. The BOE's rationale for not adopting this map was that it moved too many children around.
But, the BOE was ok with moving specific study areas of children significantly farther from home in order to appease even smaller pockets of neighborhoods.
I truly don't envy Dr. Markley in having to deal with the mess created by our current BOE.