Teresa Thiel: Educational Outcomes

QUESTION: This week we'd like the candidates to talk about educational outcomes that could result from restructuring the Oshkosh school system, either as proposed in Scenario 7 or in some other way. Here's our question:
"If the restructuring were to proceed in the way that you think most appropriate, how would our schools be different? How would students benefit?"

In restructuring our school system our schools would be different under Scenario 7, obviously in the grades within our buildings. I am still not completely sold on the K-3, 4-8 configuration (as one student asked at the student forum tonight at North, who will be our role models in the K-3 configuration?). While I see a number of positive is this Scenario 7, I am curious as to how much of the efficiencies, and positives like increased number of students served by SAGE, Special Education students served closer to home, etc. could be realized by maintaining our K-5 configuration. The K-3, 4-8 configuration would definitely be different, would it be more beneficial than the K-5 or would it be neutral? I think the jury is still out on that one. I think that if our administrators thought this would have a negative impact on our students they would speak out against it.

The efficiencies realized in Scenario 7 would benefit students in many ways, some of which I've already mentioned, more students would be served by SAGE, in all the focus groups as well as the large group meetings, one of the issues that consistently was rated as highly valued was keeping class sizes small. Allowing more Special Education students to attend school closer to home is another plus, instead of moving those programs from school to school to make room for "regular" education students, these programs will have a more permanent place. The savings in operating costs of $1.5 million per year means $1.5 million more that can be spent on student programs, or $1.5 million less we need to cut from student programs. The maintenance and capital improvement savings on the buildings we close will also mean fewer or less deep cuts to student programs and money that can be spent on maintaining the remaining buildings.

Having schools with 3-4 classes per grade allows for more varied teacher collaboration on a regular basis, which research has shown improves student learning. With the district moving to a standards based teaching model this collaboration will be even more important.

All of the schools in this Scenario where children currently walk to one school, where one will close and the students will move to another school are located within 2 miles of each other. For example, if Smith were to close and the students go to Jefferson, the old and new schools are .6 miles apart, so some students will actually be closer to the new school, and of course some students will be farther away. So in the case of the K-3 schools I think it is fair to say, we will still have neighborhood schools. Again I have concerns about how much farther 4th and 5th graders will have to walk to school than they currently do. I know that data is coming soon and it will be helpful in looking at the distance issue. If children have to walk too far to school, it could impact their learning.

I believe we have to consolidate our schools, trying to repair, maintain and keep up with capital improvements at 16 elementary schools is not efficient, especially old buildings that do not have 20 years left in them. Closing only one or two schools in the budget climate we face for the foreseeable future will not get us where we need to be in terms of savings or equity. The results of both the focus groups and the large groups that discussed the Long Term Facilities Plan said equity among our building is important. The consolidation and construction allows our buildings to become as equitable as is reasonable. We will no longer be teaching children in musty smelling basements, or former janitors closets, that can only have a positive impact on our students and their learning.

While the K-3, 4-8 configuration is a huge philosophical shift, much of the rest of the plan is similar to the school closings mentioned in Scenario 1. I believe there is much in Scenario 7 that will positively impact student learning, the plan is not perfect, no plan will be. This Scenario meets a number of goals the community said they wanted to reach. Some changes will likely be needed once all the data is in but many aspects of the plan will result in positive educational outcomes for our students.