School Reconfiguration Message: “We Don’t Want It”

When it rains, it pours even when it comes to conversations about reconfiguration among Vernon’s elementary schools.

Voices rose and tears fell as parents expressed frustration and concern about a potential reconfiguration plan presented by Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway Tuesday evening at Skinner Road School.

The focus group was the last of five held at each elementary school over the past week. About 100 participants came to Skinner Road School to listen or express their opinions and concerns with the potential reconfiguration.

Participants echoed similar issues previously brought at the other focus groups.

But it appeared emotions and tensions were at their peak. One parent raised her voice in frustration of the reconfiguration plan and school reform by saying, "Firing principals and teachers, that is the dumbest thing ever."

The meeting ended with a parent brought to tears over the frustration and impact the discussion is having on her son. She explained how her son’s teacher contacted her stating that her son was paranoid and scared about what was happening with reconfiguration because he loves his school and his friends.

"I didn’t want my kids to hear about this until there was a decision made. You are talking about things you don’t even have information or answers to," the parent said. "I don’t know what to say to my 8-year-old. We don’t want this. I’m furious about this. Don’t do it. You have no idea what this has done to my family."

At the beginning of the meeting, Conway went through her fifth spiel about statistics in the district with minority and poverty percentage that explain the discrepancy across the district where some schools have higher pockets with these characteristics than others. Conway stated that redistricting might have to happen because of the "pockets of minority and poverty" in certain areas if reconfiguration is not approved by the board. She explained the two reconfiguration options the board requested more information.

"You couldn’t go to any one school and see a microcosm of Vernon," Conway said.

Conway assured the crowd in the library at SRS that school reform is already taking place in Vernon schools. She stated that the cons of school reconfiguration can have great impact on a school particularly with the neighborhood school model currently in Vernon with families being able to walk. Conway announced that Skinner Road School has secured a $500,000 grant that benefits walkers in a school community.

Parents questioned reconfiguration. They wanted data or studies that show reconfiguration will have an impact. Conway could not guarantee that.

"There is no data that shows any configuration of grades reforms any school. It is what happens inside," Conway said.

Parents questioned what why the district is not concentrating on getting curriculum in place. Conway has explained at all the focus groups that Vernon’s current curriculum is out of date and sits on a shelf. Curriculum is being developed that fits with Common Core Standards, she said.

Busing costs and how long students would sit on the bus were concerns as well as working parents and their ability to afford and drop off and pick up their children were also issues raised.

"I’m not poverty level, but I’m certainly not affluent," one parent said. “Park and Rec care can cost $100 per week. Day cares don’t go to every school. I can’t afford that.”

One parent was surprised by the level of poverty in Vernon. He questioned how parents would pick up and drop off three children to three different schools if Option B were approved. He also expressed concern over transportation costs.

Conway explained that there could be an increase in transportation costs. The bus company was working on a plan for the April 30 board of education meeting. She explained that there could be a cost savings as well in Option B because there would be less buses dealing with kindergarten students if all those students were in the same building.

Parents are not buying into the reconfiguration, it appears, because no guarantees can be made that such a plan with the disruption that comes along with it will produce higher achievement or higher mastery on standardized tests.

"This whole model is not guaranteed to work," one participant said. “It’s just something we throwing out there.”

“Couldn’t we do this without such extremes?” another participant questioned.

One parent who works in another district that has reconfigured numerous times worried about the impact the proposal will have.

"This is going to put a lot of pressure on parents," she said.

Several parents questioned what was happening at Lake Street School that is not happening at the other schools.

"What are the other schools missing? Can we mimic what Lake Street School is doing?"

Conway said, "If you went to Lake Street School you wouldn’t see that much different than what teachers are doing at Skinner Road School."

"If we are going to move the kids around we need to come up with reasons why they are not achieving," one participant added.

One parent questioned what impact reconfiguration would have on involvement from both parents and students.

"No ownership. That is what you get when you are bounced around town," The resident said.

The school board has a special meeting planned for Monday, April 30 at 6 pm at the Vernon Center Middle School where public comment will be taken on the issue for one hour. At 7 pm the board of education will conduct its regular meeting at VCMS where reconfiguration is expected to be on the agenda.

A survey - http://www.vernonschools.com/ - can be taken until Thursday, April 26, according to Conway. Letters are also encouraged, Conway said.