[ena-announce] Declining Enrollment at Madison Elementary School
0 views
Skip to first unread message
Elaine Nelson
May 5, 2010, 12:50:42 AM5/5/10
to ena-an...@googlegroups.com, wendy....@gmail.com
This message came to us from Madison parent Wendy Endress -- if you
are concerned about this issue and would like to offer your support,
please contact her (email at the bottom) or attend the Olympia School
District meeting next Monday, May 10 at 6:30 pm in the Knox Center at
1113 Legion Way SE.
Elaine Nelson, Secretary
Eastside Neighborhood Association
http://eastside-olympia.org/
------------------------------------------------
Succeed with Pride
You Need to Know
Madison Elementary’s enrollment has declined by 29% in the last six
years while neighboring schools’ enrollment has increased. The
current enrollment is 149 students (K-5) and is projected to continue
to decline. Madison now has the smallest enrollment in the Olympia
School District. Declining enrollment is apparently due to population
shifts in the neighborhood, not to inter-district transfers.
Why Does this Matter?
The situation is urgent. This issue is bigger than we at Madison can
solve on our own. This is an issue that the School District itself
must work on. The school district must begin the process now. What
will be the best way to add more students to the Madison community for
the long term? We need to restore the size of Madison’s student body
to improve the quality of the education our students receive.
• Funding and staffing is linked to enrollment. Lower enrollment
means fewer resources for our children. Madison currently has a
part-time principal, counselor, and librarian and one teacher per
grade level except for first grade. The small staff is spread very
thin to cover district and school responsibilities. Each year the
school’s budget for educational materials has decreased while costs
have not gone down.
• Fewer staff results in one teacher per grade level which means
limited options for matching students with teachers.
• Smaller enrollment means fewer families with the energy and
resources to support the school and provide enriching opportunities
for our children.
• Smaller enrollment means less diversity and less opportunity for
children to build friendships and relationships.
What Is Being Done?
The staff at Madison has discussed the declining enrollment and
associated issues with Kevin Evoy, Assistant Superintendent, and Frank
Wilson, District 1 School Board Member; Bonnie Guyer Graham, Madison
Parent, has spoken to these individuals and raised these concerns at
an April School Board meeting; and over 30 parents, volunteers, and
staff at the recent Madison All-School Dinner focused on this issue.
What is Being Done? (continued)
Kevin Evoy has indicated that the District is not interested in
closing the school and District staff has discussed possible solutions
to the issue. An immediate response has ensured that Madison will be
able to keep all of our current teachers, although the projected drop
in student enrollment would normally cause us to lose a teacher for
the coming school year.
While these actions are promising, it is very important that the
District take action in the short-term and commit to a long-term
solution to ensure that Madison’s enrollment grows to at least 220 to
ensure a sustainable future.
What Can You Do?
Madison is valued for its small size, its strong instructional
program—especially Walk to Read, community connection, newer facility,
innovative technology, our new garden, and highly dedicated and
talented staff. Help ensure that the school has a sustainable future!
• Attend the Olympia School Board meeting on Monday, May 10th at 6:30
pm in the Knox Center at 1113 Legion Way SE to show your support for
Madison.
• Make a brief statement at the Board meeting encouraging the members
to require the District administrators to develop a plan to address
this issue by May 2011. Community comment is held at the beginning of
the Board meeting, and each speaker is welcome to speak for two to
three minutes.
What you might want to share with the School Board:
o A couple of things you value most about Madison.
o Start the process now –- creatively decide the best way of
including more students in the Madison school community.
o Suggestions you have for increasing student enrollment at Madison!
• Send an email to School Board members or to the District
Superintendent requesting prompt attention in addressing this issue.
Carolyn Barclift cbar...@osd.wednet.edu
Mark Campeau mcam...@osd.wednet.edu
Allen Miller ami...@osd.wednet.edu
Eileen Thompson etho...@osd.wednet.edu
Vamsi Chunduru, Student vchun...@gmail.com
Frank Wilson, President fwi...@osd.wednet.edu
William Lahmann, Superintendent lah...@osd.wednet.edu
• Stay informed and active in seeking action on this issue.
For more information:
Bonnie Gruyer Graham, Madison Parent, at grah...@earthlink.net
Wendy Endress, Madison Parent, at wendy....@gmail.com
Elaine Nelson
http://elainenelson.org/
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Eastside Neighborhood Association Announcements" group.
If you would like to have information posted to this group contact the ENA president at pres...@eastside-neighborhood.org
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ena-announce...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/ena-announce
are concerned about this issue and would like to offer your support,
please contact her (email at the bottom) or attend the Olympia School
District meeting next Monday, May 10 at 6:30 pm in the Knox Center at
1113 Legion Way SE.
Elaine Nelson, Secretary
Eastside Neighborhood Association
http://eastside-olympia.org/
------------------------------------------------
Succeed with Pride
You Need to Know
Madison Elementary’s enrollment has declined by 29% in the last six
years while neighboring schools’ enrollment has increased. The
current enrollment is 149 students (K-5) and is projected to continue
to decline. Madison now has the smallest enrollment in the Olympia
School District. Declining enrollment is apparently due to population
shifts in the neighborhood, not to inter-district transfers.
Why Does this Matter?
The situation is urgent. This issue is bigger than we at Madison can
solve on our own. This is an issue that the School District itself
must work on. The school district must begin the process now. What
will be the best way to add more students to the Madison community for
the long term? We need to restore the size of Madison’s student body
to improve the quality of the education our students receive.
• Funding and staffing is linked to enrollment. Lower enrollment
means fewer resources for our children. Madison currently has a
part-time principal, counselor, and librarian and one teacher per
grade level except for first grade. The small staff is spread very
thin to cover district and school responsibilities. Each year the
school’s budget for educational materials has decreased while costs
have not gone down.
• Fewer staff results in one teacher per grade level which means
limited options for matching students with teachers.
• Smaller enrollment means fewer families with the energy and
resources to support the school and provide enriching opportunities
for our children.
• Smaller enrollment means less diversity and less opportunity for
children to build friendships and relationships.
What Is Being Done?
The staff at Madison has discussed the declining enrollment and
associated issues with Kevin Evoy, Assistant Superintendent, and Frank
Wilson, District 1 School Board Member; Bonnie Guyer Graham, Madison
Parent, has spoken to these individuals and raised these concerns at
an April School Board meeting; and over 30 parents, volunteers, and
staff at the recent Madison All-School Dinner focused on this issue.
What is Being Done? (continued)
Kevin Evoy has indicated that the District is not interested in
closing the school and District staff has discussed possible solutions
to the issue. An immediate response has ensured that Madison will be
able to keep all of our current teachers, although the projected drop
in student enrollment would normally cause us to lose a teacher for
the coming school year.
While these actions are promising, it is very important that the
District take action in the short-term and commit to a long-term
solution to ensure that Madison’s enrollment grows to at least 220 to
ensure a sustainable future.
What Can You Do?
Madison is valued for its small size, its strong instructional
program—especially Walk to Read, community connection, newer facility,
innovative technology, our new garden, and highly dedicated and
talented staff. Help ensure that the school has a sustainable future!
• Attend the Olympia School Board meeting on Monday, May 10th at 6:30
pm in the Knox Center at 1113 Legion Way SE to show your support for
Madison.
• Make a brief statement at the Board meeting encouraging the members
to require the District administrators to develop a plan to address
this issue by May 2011. Community comment is held at the beginning of
the Board meeting, and each speaker is welcome to speak for two to
three minutes.
What you might want to share with the School Board:
o A couple of things you value most about Madison.
o Start the process now –- creatively decide the best way of
including more students in the Madison school community.
o Suggestions you have for increasing student enrollment at Madison!
• Send an email to School Board members or to the District
Superintendent requesting prompt attention in addressing this issue.
Carolyn Barclift cbar...@osd.wednet.edu
Mark Campeau mcam...@osd.wednet.edu
Allen Miller ami...@osd.wednet.edu
Eileen Thompson etho...@osd.wednet.edu
Vamsi Chunduru, Student vchun...@gmail.com
Frank Wilson, President fwi...@osd.wednet.edu
William Lahmann, Superintendent lah...@osd.wednet.edu
• Stay informed and active in seeking action on this issue.
For more information:
Bonnie Gruyer Graham, Madison Parent, at grah...@earthlink.net
Wendy Endress, Madison Parent, at wendy....@gmail.com
Elaine Nelson
http://elainenelson.org/
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Eastside Neighborhood Association Announcements" group.
If you would like to have information posted to this group contact the ENA president at pres...@eastside-neighborhood.org
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ena-announce...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/ena-announce
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages