A Look At How Janesville School District Makes Decisions

Looking at our neighboring city, Janesville, we see that they too are struggling with school budgets. Janesville's new school buildings and swimming pools have not furthered the local economy or increased the city's population. There has been a decline in their elementary school enrollment over the past few years.  Last year, the Janesville school board studied the idea of closing one elementary school to save costs.

The most interesting part of this for us in Beloit is the process we see with the Janesville school board as compared to the process we see here in Beloit. This is how Janesville proceeded with the idea of closing one elementary school:

• A committee of community members began looking at the issue, examining the potential need to close a school
• In April 2011 the board discussed whether or not to proceed and developed a timeline for the process
• The community committee was scheduled to meet weekly and present a preliminary evaluation to the board in July
• The committee's evaluations were to be based on a long list of criteria including costs for maintenance and transportation, the schools’ capacities, suitability for reuse, the number of students who walk to school and the effect on the neighborhood
• The committee and board would gather community opinions in July. The committee, by Aug. 15, would recommend up to three schools for analysis of how the students would be distributed to other schools
• The committee was scheduled to hold public hearings in September and make a final recommendation to the board in October

Remember, this was a plan to close one school -- not several schools. It was not a plan to ask for 70 million dollars from the Janesville taxpayers. It was not a plan to restructure the entire education system in Janesville. It was a plan to close one school and the Janesville School Board, involving the entire community, committed close to one year to the research and planning of this decision. Beloit parents and taxpayers certainly deserve the same careful, diligent, inclusive planning for such an incredibly important decision as has been proposed in this referendum. We are being asked to vote for a referendum that is not even completely planned and certainly presents issues which have not been properly vetted -- a referendum that will completely change our school district and our neighborhoods. A decision of such magnitude is worthy of the most deliberate research and planning. Beloit deserves at least that.
Janesville's Plan to Close a School -- The Janesville Gazzette

About the Reconfiguration...Worth Repeating

By focusing on grade configuration rather than teachers, curriculum, and programs, Beloit is simply financing problems. Issues unique to Beloit and those common to every middle school were not sufficiently examined and may present challenges in the future that the board never considered.

Beloit has a very transient population. With more than half of Beloit's residents renting, children move frequently and change schools frequently. Having two middle schools on each side of town will cause more children to change schools when they move.

Another consideration; by having fewer 6-8 graders in each school, it may be more difficult to provide differentiation, extracurricular activities, elective courses, theater productions, bands and orchestras, football teams, etc. for these students.

 An excerpt from the July 2008 issue of the National Forum To Accelerate Middle Grades Reform:

"The National Forum recommends that policy makers do the following:

• Focus energy and target resources on improving those schools that are already serving young adolescents regardless of grade configuration;

• Review and apply current research that suggests that simply shifting students from one type of school building to another may do little to improve student academic performance; and

• Take steps to comprehensively address and incorporate proven strategies for school improvement, including setting high standards for all students, creating a personalized and caring learning environment, and providing students with the academic, social-emotional, health, and other services they need to succeed."

Here is an interesting link to a podcast of a radio program regarding middle school education. The take-home message is, grade configuration is not what makes a difference; what is happening inside the schools with our adolescent students is what is important:

http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2009-12-10/rethinking-middle-school-education

The Devil is in the Details

Link: Superintendent's presentation that included all schools

Have a look at the above document. This is what was presented to the board and the public the night of the vote to go to referendum. The wording of the referendum was not there. So board members did not know what they were voting on exactly. The video tape of the board meeting clearly shows board members believed they were voting on the amount only, with the decisions of what to do with the money to follow at a later meeting. The public was also not privy to the document showing the wording of the referendum. So, the public had no opportunity to discuss the referendum wording with the board. The referendum wording was hidden from the public under a "separate cover" in a packet of legal documents. Also notice the plan was supposed to include "all buildings, sites, and infrastructure". Of course, now we know that the plan leaves out several buildings and programs with many dire needs.

Nothing Sexy About This Referendum

The Beloit School District formed a sex ed committee in the summer of 2010.  More than a year and a half later, the committee is still at work, carefully researching, discussing, and designing a curriculum. Parents and citizens have received and completed surveys and have had opportunities to offer input and attend meetings. The board receives regular updates and the committee, wanting to make the right decisions, is in no rush.

Now, let's compare that to how the school district decided on a 70 million dollar referendum -- an opportunity that comes along once every 20 years:

• No citizen committee to assess and study the needs of the district
• No surveys for parents, teachers, or citizens
• No research supporting the plan for school district reconfiguration
• No definite plans for a location of the new East side intermediate school
• No joint planning with city council or city officials
• No citizen input regarding plans for school renovation or relocation
• No citizen input in the decisions as to which schools will close or if we should close schools
• No notification sent to citizens, parents, or students, that passing this referendum means closing their neighborhood school. 
• No meetings focused solely on which schools to close
• No input from our educators
• No updates to the public when major changes to the "plan" are made
• No meetings for citizen or board input regarding the extremely important referendum wording

Now, we're not saying sex ed is not important, but this referendum is the single most important thing that has come before the school board in the past 20 years. To pass a poorly planned referendum is worse than passing no referendum. The mistakes will not be reversible and will be with us for generations. Beloit cannot afford to do this wrong. A defeated referendum will send a strong message to the board -- Beloit deserves better!  It may take a year or more, but if we get it right, it will be worth waiting for.

MORE CONFUSION...

Visiting the "Imagine Beloit" website can leave a person more confused that ever. Obviously the designers of the website are getting their information, or misinformation, from Mr. McNeal. We can't fault them. After all, they can only work with what is available, and unfortunately, what is available is all very confusing and inconsistent -- definitely not what we would expect to see just 6 weeks before election day.

Regarding the site of the new intermediate school on "Imagine Beloit" website, we read the following conflicting posts, and we're not sure what to believe:

"Where will the schools be?
Only one school will be in a different site and that is the new Southeast Intermediate School. We have land options and should have this secured soon. Our hope is that it is on Hwy 81 near the current site of Morgan that we will showcase a new school for the community, attracting those traveling into our city."

           But then we read this ....
 
"Are Morgan and Cunningham definitely the schools targeted for new buildings, 
 and Burdge and McLenegan for closing
 Nothing is set in stone quite yet, but these schools make the most sense. Morgan and Cunningham have the most green space to expand into an intermediate school (and would be rebuilt as new buildings per architect recommendations)...." 

So, one is left confused, wondering where in the world the new school is going to be located -- the current Morgan site, or a new location.  And if that isn't confusing enough, Have a look at these two conflicting posts: 

 "Why are you aiming for 440 students per primary school?
This is based on research (see research sources below) that gives a range of 300 to 500 students as appropriate for school groupings. Our proposal of 440 would keep our learning communities together at grade levels, and also be large enough to allow us flexibility with our staff in order to save money."

         versus....

"The new school will house grades 4 – 8 and will have around 660 students."

What are we to believe? Why is everything so confusing and ambiguous? Beloit, we are talking about 70 million dollars here. Let's get it right!

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HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The Inception
From September 17, 2011 Beloit Daily News:
"The Beloit School District is considering a possible referendum to raise funds for buildings and grounds improvements.  McNeal said the Board of Education and administration will be looking only at absolute needs. 'We have some dire situations,' he said. 'There are roofing problems, infrastructure problems, parking lot situations and more.'"

Most referenda take a year or two to develop, from inception to the time the board votes. Beloit's school board only began talks on this in mid September.  Light speed development ensued and within 3 months from the first mention of referendum, a vote was taken by the board. That is simply unheard of.  The reason behind the rush was to get it on the April ballot because more affluent people vote in April and more of the general population votes in November. The board believes that the fewer people who get out to vote, the more likely it will pass. Unfortunately, the result of this rush is a poorly planned referendum that may not work -- one we will be stuck with for 20 or maybe 40 years, regardless of the results.

You might notice that McNeal only wanted to discuss "dire needs" in September -- things like roofs and infrastructure. Even 2 weeks before the final board vote, these dire needs were on the plan for the referendum. Then, without any board discussion to change the plan, it changed. Dire needs were removed form the plan, and the vote was taken before the board even knew what they were voting on. Certainly the public did not know. 

During his "referendum update" on February 14, Steve McNeal explained that we will be saving money by having elementary schools close. He said that with the savings, the board can decide whether it wants to avoid budget cuts or use the money for the needs of the schools and programs that were left off of the referendum. So, in other words, the board will have to chose whether to keep teachers or fix roofs. That will be a tough decision. It would have made sense to keep these "dire needs" in the referendum assuring the needs for each school and each student are met.

A Violation of Public Trust

This referendum began with good intentions. Yet, without any explanation, it quickly evolved into something entirely different.

A new pool became the top priority and now includes a new fitness center and tennis courts, both of which the school already has. The jazz band featured on the first page of the presentation is indeed one of the finest programs in the district. Theater and choir are also some of the best you'll find anywhere. But all of these programs have been left out of the referendum. Although it made for a great bullet point of the first page of the referendum presentation, not a penny will go to fine arts at the high school.

The "most urgent" needs for roofing at Aldrich and Beloit Memorial High School, have been downgraded and are suddenly less important than the fitness center, the $400,000 elementary school kitchens, new office furniture for the administrators, etc.  How can something as basic and essential as roofing needs not be addressed in this 70 million dollar referendum? 

Have a look at this initial presentation -- the one the superintendent claims he presented 40 times to the public -- and ask yourself how it could have changed so drastically over just a couple of weeks without school board discussion and approval. It is bewildering at best. To repeat over and over, that listening sessions were provided 40 times and then propose a completely different plan is dishonest, and we believe, a violation of public trust. Beloit deserves better!

The school district's presentation to the public

What Exactly Were We "Listening" to at Those Sessions?

We would like to highlight a  comment posted from "Beloiter" because it sums up the unbelievably rapid evolution of this referendum from the eyes of someone who was obviously a keen observer of the entire mysterious process -- one that has left our heads spinning.

Beloiter wrote:
"Rushed, heck, this referendum was pushed from zero up to seventy million dollars at "light speed". It went from some discussions of "school building repairs" at the first "informational meeting" to tearing down schools and building new schools in just a few weeks. I didn't hear one person at the "informational meetings" request anything like the school superintendent is now pushing.

Even the repairs that were first brought up, would not have added up to the dollars that they were asking for at that time. Surveys had not been done on roof repairs, and quotes had not been sought. There were no hard numbers, only inadequate generalities with almost no specifics.

This whole thing is fishy, and needs to be voted down."

We would like to make note also of the fact that the power point presentations at the "informational meetings" and "listening sessions"  did not present anything close to what has actually come to the public for a vote. The initial presentations addressed needs at every school, including Aldrich and McNeel. On the first page of the power point was a photograph of the BMHS Jazz Band, a very worthy program which, along with theater, orchestra, and choir, is a part of the fine arts department at the high school.  Deeper in the power point presentation was a mention of directing referendum funds to fine arts. Well, that was the presentation, but it was not the reality. Aldrich Middle School strangely disappeared from the list of "most needy" facilities and was removed from the referendum along with McNeel Middle School and the fine arts department at BMHS.  We will never know why because there was never a vote by the board to remove these items from the list of referendum beneficiaries. It appears to have been decided by one person -- Superintendent Steve McNeal. Once again, we want to make it perfectly clear, if it is not listed on the referendum, it cannot be funded by the referendum. If this passes, it will be another 20 years before these buildings and programs get what they need. With budget cuts and decreases in state aid ahead of us, it is critical that any referendum that passes include all of the needs of our students and all of the schools.

Beloit Daily News article on referendum sites February 11, 2012

IMAGINE A BETTER REFERENDUM

When will we hear the final plan for Morgan school? "Imagine Beloit" tells us that "Morgan and Cunningham have the most green space to expand into an intermediate school (and would be rebuilt as new buildings per architect recommendations)."  

Didn't the board vote, or at least decide, not to build on the Morgan site? Last we heard, the new school would be located on Milwaukee Road. It appears that either the plan has shifted, once again, or the "Imagine" team is not even clear as to what the plan really is. Perhaps there is no plan. Either way, it must be upsetting for Morgan neighbors to see  things change so often. And it should give us all pause, and make us wonder if we are truly ready for this referendum.

As we discussed in an earlier post, a referendum requires much more planning than this one has had. Some districts take years studying the needs and possibilities. And when they vote to put the question on the ballot, everything has been properly vetted with the district and citizens clearly understanding the plans and the reasons behind them. 

A referendum is a form of direct democracy. It is OUR way of deciding what goes on with our schools and our taxes. The lack of planning and transparency, and the confusion that surrounds this referendum has made this anything but a form of democracy.  The school district is asking for 70 million dollars from us, the taxpayers, without presenting a plan.  As taxpayers we would be wise to tell the district to take it back to the drawing board. We can "imagine" a better referendum for Beloit.

MORE ON RECONFIGURATION

Visiting the "Imagine Beloit" website earlier today, it was disappointing to read the claim that there are studies showing that a grades 4 - 8 configuration is more successful than what we currently have. In their words, "Research points to the success of 4-8 schools". Their site claimed that sources showing this were listed at the bottom of their page -- but there were none. This is quite likely because the research showing this will work for Beloit simply does not exist.

We discussed this very topic in an earlier post. Grade configuration is not what makes a school successful. What goes on in the school is what makes the school successful. We see this reconfiguration as a 70 million dollar experiment. It may work, it may not, but it is an experiment we cannot afford.

Keep in mind, with 4 middle schools rather than 2, we will have half as many upper grade students in each building. That means less opportunities for differentiated instruction, fewer elective classes such as foreign language, fewer students for theater, orchestra, band, and even sports. It is quite likely that these things which engage our students and give them a sense of belonging and control in their education may become quite a challenge to offer. With less state funding and future budget cuts being the only things we can count on, we can be sure that any increase in funding that these programs may require will only result in the cutting of the programs. In the case of theater, jazz band, etc, there simply will not be enough students at one school to offer the programs. 

As we have stated before, this referendum did not get the input, planning, and consideration it deserved. And what ever flaws or deficiencies there are will not be easily reversed. It will be another 20 years before we can do it again. Beloit deserves better.

The Research Does NOT Support Beloit's Proposed Reconfiguration

By focusing on grade configuration rather than teachers, curriculum, and programs, Beloit is simply financing problems. Issues unique to Beloit and those common to every middle school were not sufficiently examined and may present challenges in the future that the board never considered.

Beloit has a very transient population. With more than half of Beloit's residents renting, children move frequently and change schools frequently. Having two middle schools on each side of town will cause more children to change schools when they move.

Another consideration; by having fewer 6-8 graders in each school, it may be more difficult to provide differentiation, extracurricular activities, elective courses, theater productions, bands and orchestras, football teams, etc. for these students.

 An excerpt from the July 2008 issue of the National Forum To Accelerate Middle Grades Reform:

"The National Forum recommends that policy makers do the following:

• Focus energy and target resources on improving those schools that are already serving young adolescents regardless of grade configuration;

• Review and apply current research that suggests that simply shifting students from one type of school building to another may do little to improve student academic performance; and

• Take steps to comprehensively address and incorporate proven strategies for school improvement, including setting high standards for all students, creating a personalized and caring learning environment, and providing students with the academic, social-emotional, health, and other services they need to succeed."

Here is an interesting link to a podcast of a radio program regarding middle school education. The take-home message is, grade configuration is not what makes a difference; what is happening inside the schools with our adolescent students is what is important:

http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2009-12-10/rethinking-middle-school-education

The Elements of a Successful Referendum

 http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/dyer/lake-central-school-referendum-passes/article_b78695c4-de2d-510f-b0e7-36c4864e78d1.html

Lake Central Schools in Indiana needed two attempts at their referendum to get it passed. But after the first one failed, they learned a lesson:

"In a special June 2009 election, residents rejected a $95 million referendum proposal to renovate and expand the high school. The plan was shot down by a 59-41 percent margin.
In the aftermath of the defeat, the school district developed a districtwide master plan that included the needs of all facilities. School officials went through a lengthy planning process that included input from the community at large."

This is the problem with Beloit's referendum; the district did not include the needs of all facilities and did not seek input from the community at large. There was no planning.  In just 8 weeks we go to the polls, and district officials are still in the planning stages. If the referendum fails, we have a second chance to get it right -- include our middle schools and our high school. Fund programs that have gone so long without support. Form a community group to study the needs of the district. Plan the referendum carefully and make Beloit Schools Better for every student.

Let's Have a Look at Others.....

http://www2.dpi.state.wi.us/sfsref/ref_Home.aspx

Several other districts have proposed referenda this year -- but none even come close to the amount Beloit is requesting. Even more interesting is the way the others have proceeded.

If you visit the link above, you will see that 2 districts, Hudson and Ripon, are purchasing land for a new school before they propose a referendum for building a new school. That makes sense! Tell the people where you want to build and how much the land will cost. If they approve that, then proceed with another proposal to build the school.

Bloomer and Oshkosh districts are planning to build a new school. Both make it very clear where the new schools will be located. Bloomer also makes clear what will happen to the old school site.

Now look at Beloit's proposal. There is nothing that says where the new school will be located -- just that we will be "acquiring land and constructing a new intermediate school". School locations are important. Access, safety, and transportation costs are just a few things that deserve careful consideration, studying, and community input. If Beloit passes this referendum, taxpayers and parents will have absolutely no say in the location of the new school or the plans for the sites of the schools that will close. We will essentially be writing a blank check and agreeing to whatever plan the board develops after they borrow the 70 million dollars.

With so many in poverty, is this the right time to go 70 million dollars in debt?

It's hard to imagine how one administrator is so in tune to the fact that poverty has increased by so much for so many of Beloit's students, and at the same time, the superintendent is asking Beloit taxpayers to vote for a tax increase. It might be better to ask for enough to take care of the necessary building improvements now, and save the wish list items (pool, tennis courts, fitness center) for a time when people are in better shape financially.

Last year 73.3% of our kids needed free or reduced lunch. That means almost 3/4 of Beloit's kids need help buying lunch. Children living in poverty increased 63.7% since 2003. More than 30% of Beloit's kids now live in poverty! The statewide average is 17%.

The last thing these people need right now is higher taxes.

facebook.com/statelinenews

Wisconsin Department of Instruction poverty statistics

http://www.server-jbmultimedia.net/CSI-StatelineNewsSunday/sitebase/data/editions/203118/img/large/2648473.htm

A Rushed Referendum Is Not Best for Beloit

Our school district only began discussing the possibility of a referendum last fall. A well-planned, successful referendum takes years, not a couple of months. At the root of the rush to go to referendum is the fact that our property taxes are scheduled to go down next year when the high school debt is paid off. The school district believes we will be more likely to vote for a referendum now than we would be after seeing some relief on our property tax bill next year. So, we have a poorly planned referendum that leaves too many questions unanswered as we consider how to vote -- the most important being the question of the location of the new school.

RECONFIGURATION

Beloit School District did not take the appropriate time to study these issues, especially the ones in bold print. This reconfiguration is not something we can reverse. It may work and increase student achievement, but if it fails, we cannot return to our neighborhood schools. The question of where the new school on the east side will be built still remains. Busing and transportation issues cannot be addressed before that is resolved. Parental involvement may decrease with schools no longer being just down the street. How will behavior issues so typical at Aldrich and McNeel Middle Schools affect younger 4th grade students when they share one building?

These are issues typically studied by community groups long before a referendum is voted on. We had no such groups and many parents to this day are still unaware that, if this referendum passes, they will be losing their neighborhood school.

a resource from the school district website:

GRADE-SPAN CONSIDERATIONS
http://educationnorthwest.org/webfm_send/464

"Some factors to weigh and think about, many of them inter- related, include the following:
1. Will the configuration increase or decrease transportation costs? How far will students have to travel? This may be a more important issue in a community with a very dispersed population.
2. Will the configuration likely increase or decrease parent involvement? The proximity and size of the school may be factors, as well as the motivation and interest level of the parents.
3. How many students will be enrolled at each grade level and what implications does this have for course offerings and instructional grouping?
4. Are any data available that suggest whether the configuration might boost achievement scores for a significant portion of the community’s students or depress the performance of others? For instance, some studies suggest that some middle-level students—low socioeconomic background sixth-graders in Pennsylvania, and eighth-graders in Maine, a predominantly rural state—benefit significantly from an elementary rather than middle school setting (Becker, 1987; Wihry, Coladarci, & Meadow, 1992).
5. Will the configuration lead to the loss of a neighborhood school or the closing of other schools in the system?
6. How many points of transition and articulation will occur in the K-12 system? How will these be addressed? What mechanisms or channels of communication will be used to ensure that students move smoothly through the system, in terms of both academics and social and emotional adjustment?
7. Does the configuration allow for interaction between a range of age levels and a variety of grouping options? A school with more than one or two grade levels has the opportunity to increase the self-esteem and responsibility of older students by using them as tutors or mentors for younger students.
8. How will the presence or absence of older students affect younger students in a particular school? A school with few grade levels may benefit because older students are not present to model negative behaviors associated with their age group; on the other hand it may suffer from the lack of older role models for academic excellence and leadership.
9. Is the design of the school building(s) suited to managing students in the selected grade span? For instance, does it have several wings, useful for dividing a large middle school into “houses” or for keeping younger students in self-contained classrooms?

CONCLUSION
No particular sequence of grade spans is perfect or in itself guarantees student achievement and social adjustment. With thought and effort effective practices can be implemented in a variety of grade configurations. What is important—as seen in the following “Northwest Sampler”—is to be aware of the potential benefits and difficulties of different configurations and to make each configuration, whether it comes about from choice or necessity, work as well as possible for all students."

On April 3rd, Beloit taxpayers, parents, and citizens will be asked to vote "yes" or "no" on a 70 million dollar referendum. The 70 million dollars, plus interest, will be paid by the Beloit taxpayers through increased property taxes over 20 years. Only certain schools will benefit from this referendum, if passed. Some schools get nothing. Others will be closed down permanently. The properties will eventually be sold. Neighborhood schools, for many, will become a thing of the past. Vacant buildings may linger for years.

There are many uncertainties. What school will our children attend? Where will the new school on the east side be built? What will become of the schools that close? Will the new configuration of grades 4-8 together in one school promote student achievement? What do we do if it doesn't work? How will our children get to school? How long will they be on buses each day?

Unfortunately, the referendum was rushed through so quickly that these questions will likely remain unanswered even as we go to the polls. Whatever needs are left out of this referendum will go unmet for another 20 years. It is critical to get it right and not rush into something not properly studied or planned.

Parents and students of Beloit want good schools. But good schools require careful planning. Good schools meet the needs of every student. The proposed referendum abandons some of our most needy buildings and programs. Each student deserves a good school. We deserve a better referendum!