In any case, here are the educational advantages that I believe Scenario 7 can address. Is it the best way to improve educational outcomes? This is a difficult question to answer. The best scenario would be one that addresses all issues evenly, would satisfy all segments of the community, and require no additional spending or revenue generation, especially in the form of a referendum. Unfortunately, we have seen, through months of scenario/model development, that such a scenario is not likely to be formulated. If only we lived in that perfect world of which I spoke earlier...
Scenario 7 enables the district to:
- Spread the SAGE program, with its smaller classroom sizes, to more schools.
- More evenly distribute special education programs.
- Provide opportunities for more teacher collaboration involving children (as opposed to the kind of collaboration teachers are able to do now on early release days) in elementary classes.
- Provide more opportunities for elementary students to be matched with a teacher who is more in tune with their needs.
- Lessen the need for specialists (art, music, physical education teachers) to be on the road, but rather to spend their time in buildings with children.
- Provide all elementary schools with separate facilities for art, music, physical education, rather than requiring set-up and tear-down for these classes that now occurs at some schools; this gives students more time to engaged in these learning activities.
- Concentrate on technology in fewer buildings.
- Releases/provides more revenue, assuming that a referendum can be passed.
As someone who has supported neighborhood schools in their present form for many years, it has been difficult for me to come the realization of these educational advantages. However, the need to move on to a style of education that is more in tune with today's needs has convinced me that bold moves need to be taken by this district. Scenario 7 provides us with this prospect.
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