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Post by linnea on Jul 19, 2008 19:59:55 GMT -5
forthekids, are you sure that the school board decided *after* the flood to move more OE kids to North Cedar? At least some of the people whose kids are being moved were notified before the flood. And nobody knows for sure how many kids North Cedar may be losing as a result of the flood.
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Post by forthekids on Jul 19, 2008 20:20:55 GMT -5
cfschools,
You are so right about where the anger should be directed. This is not a parent vs. parent problem or a neighborhood vs. neighborhood problem. We are all Cedar Falls people or open enrollees to the district. You are also correct about the board wanting to remove other choices for people. Dave Stoakes and Cindi McDonald were telling the committee to take its time until the March 1 open enrollment deadline passed and then they directed them to bring their work to a close. I do question why the committee did not pay attention to that deadline in all due respect to the people involved. I think they also did the people they were representing a disservice there.
You know, perhaps if the school board had been putting money into NC all along, the facility would be acceptable to new parents, test scores might be higher as the Dept of Ed info suggests, and perhaps enrollment decline would not have occurred to the extent it has. The district and boundary committee said they couldn't find a reason for the declining enrollment. I never thought about it this way, but perhaps not keeping the facility up to date all along has a lot to do with it in many ways.
It was probably not the original intent of the school board to have it end up this way, but one poor decision after another adds up.
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Post by forthekids on Jul 19, 2008 20:22:49 GMT -5
Yes, I know for a fact that some OE students got letters stating they were being moved AFTER the flood.
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Post by linnea on Jul 19, 2008 20:27:07 GMT -5
But is that because of fewer students at NC, or because of more resident students at the school they'd applied to go to? Honestly, so many NC families are in makeshift, temporary housing right now, I don't see how they can know how many kids the school has lost.
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Post by guest696969 on Jul 19, 2008 22:21:27 GMT -5
what upgrades, does north cedar need.
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Post by maney44 on Jul 19, 2008 22:23:43 GMT -5
I think the school board knew in advance of the flood and planned the entire thing.
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Post by forthekids on Jul 24, 2008 16:15:34 GMT -5
Did anyone attend the school board meeting and hear the update on North Cedar that was on their agenda? Or has anyone heard what they said? Hopefully they have a plan for all the floodwater trapped behind the school. I am getting worried about that.
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Post by abcs on Jul 25, 2008 11:28:46 GMT -5
for the kids,
they havent posted the minutes from the july 21 meeting, but looking at the agenda was interesting.
i see they held the meeting at north cedar. on the agenda were plans for improvements to peet, holmes, southdale and lincoln. and a tour of north cedar.
getting a little late in the year to be looking at any improvements to north cedar, at least this year. by the time they decide what, if anything, needs to be done, let bids and make a decision on the bids and start the work, may be a while.
too bad.
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Post by abcs on Aug 4, 2008 17:12:31 GMT -5
well, the deadline for filing papers for the school board election has come and gone.
has anyone heard of anyone filing?
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Post by abcs on Aug 4, 2008 19:57:45 GMT -5
the minutes from the july 21 school board meeting have been posted.
just too fascinating to go into everything here, but one issue is their answer to the standing water at north cedar.
and because of a change in state law, there is only one school board position open this year and for only a one year term....
the school board had the option of shortening or lengthening the present members terms. of course they chose to lengthen them. this means next year there will be two openings and then no more until 2011.
gotta love it.
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Post by linnea on Aug 7, 2008 13:38:34 GMT -5
abcs, I think those minutes are misleading. They aren't extending the terms that were due to expire in 2008; there will still be an election this year, and whoever's elected will be in office until 2011.
This is how the Courier explains the change:
Under the plan adopted Monday night, board members whose terms were originally set to expire in 2010 were adjusted to accommodate the new plan.
Susan Lantz would see her current term reduced by one year, putting her up for re-election in 2009.
Board member Richard Vande Kieft's term was then extended by one year to 2011.
"I hadn't planned on running again when my term was up, so I asked Susan if she would go and run again in 2009, which would take me to 2011, which is only one more year," Vande Kieft said.
"Her second term would be up in 2013, which is the same as if she would have run again under the current system."
Board members who are elected in September will serve three years, with their re-election coming in 2011. Joyce Coil, Duane Hamilton and James Kenyon are currently up for re-election.
Lantz, Deon Senchina and a yet-to-be-elected member who will fill the spot left vacant by Dan Battcher will all up for re-election in 2009 and will by vying for the first set of four-year terms.
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Post by Former CF on Aug 7, 2008 13:59:17 GMT -5
They should all go - start from scratch, with members committed to Cedar Falls youngest citizens...
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Post by NC Parent on Aug 21, 2008 11:14:58 GMT -5
I have been reading the blogs and I just can't help but respond a little. For those of you who know nothing about North Cedar (and probably never cared to), before all of the changes, NC was schedule for a large edition and upgrades. Once the board decided to look at boundaries, that construction was put on hold- which was the most sensible thing to do. They haven't forgotten about us and I know will do the best for everyone involved. NC is a great school and is lacking nothing. There are always improvements that could be made, but nothing that has or will affect my childs wonderful education. It is interesting to me how this group wants the board to put the Cedar Falls Children First. Don't get me wrong, I agree, but how is it any different if your child moves or if mine does. Heck as far as economics, it will change my "house value" as well if things change because the advantage I have is "a top notch school in walking distance from my home". Either way, there is NO WAY the board can please everyone. I went into this over a year ago well aware that NC could close and from day one the one thing that was and remains the most important is the attitude my child has. Change isn't bad and can be very exciting if we have a good attitude. If new members get in and make changes and NC kids have to move, that will be a change I guess my family will have to deal with. I only hope there isn't change just for spite. PLEASE make sure you are doing your full research-not just hearsay and do what is best for all and understand that no matter what SOMEONE will need to adjust so let's all do it with grace and respect!
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Post by linnea on Aug 22, 2008 10:04:15 GMT -5
Amen, NC parent.
I can't help but think that calling the organization "Cedar Falls Kids First" is misleading. It should really be called "My Child First - Let Somebody Else's Child Change Schools, But Not Mine". That, as far as I can see, if the real motivation behind it.
As a NC parent, I'm thrilled that this year's class sizes at North Cedar are even smaller than before (since there are now two sections of grades that previously had only one section). I know that wasn't the intent of the changes, but it means that each child gets more of the teacher's attention. There's a lot of research that says that small class sizes make for better outcomes. (I wonder which makes more difference - class size or a brand-new building?)
Some of the parents who voted with their feet instead of letting their kid get switched to North Cedar are missing out on a good thing, in my opinion.
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Post by NC Parent on Aug 22, 2008 13:12:46 GMT -5
LOVE IT! My child has 4 new kids in the class and loves it. Loves meeting new people and is on the way to making new friends this year. Someday NC may close and if so then I guess we'll have to deal with it-whatever is best for the district. As I have posted before, it is not as simple as moving OE kids. There is so much more to it and unfortunately, some of that is money. If the new candidates want people to vote and bring them in, what is their plan? I would like to see more communiction about a better, short term and long term plan. If it is best for the district and me as a taxpayer, I will support them 100%. If they feel the current members are donig such a disservice to our schools, I would love to see more detailed information about some positive change in the system.
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