Ali Sweet, a parent at Laurelhurst Elementary School has asked us to post this information about the future of some classes and offerings at the school...
________
Laurelhurst Community Members,
As you may know, Open Enrollment for the 2010-2011 Seattle Public School year is taking place throughout March.
Below (in my letter) is just one example of what is happening in the Seattle Public School District as families struggle with the fallout from the New School Assignment Plan.
Will you be the champion that our children and families need now?
Please, sign the petition (pasted below) and email our school leaders.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Alli Sweet
adsweet@msn.com
Here is the letter:
Fellow Laurelhurst Elementary School Community Members,
I am emailing you as a concerned parent of a first grade student. As you may or may not know, I have taken the lead over the past year in a community effort to save the Half-Day Kindergarten/LASER Enrichment Programs at Laurelhurst. As a result of the New Student Assignment Plan, changes being implemented by the district, and decisions being made, this issue has grown into a situation that now affects the whole school and our future at Laurelhurst.
As I understand it, Prinicipal Jolly has received our projected Kindergarten enrollment numbers from the district. We are slated to have two Full-Day Pay-for-K classes (27/28 students), both of which are already filled by students within the boundary area. This is greatly concerning to me on many levels:
1. 46% of our current student population comes from outside our new boundary area. The new projections leave no room to accept siblings of currently enrolled students, or any other child outside of the boundary area that may wish to apply for an open seat.
2. If this comes to pass, we will lose significant resources for the entire school.
Namely:
- We will lose one teacher a year for the next five years.
- Our family base will decrease.
- Our PTA fundraising resources will be diminished.
- Our ability to provide programs, services, and the high level of education that we have worked so hard to build at Laurelhurst will be compromised for each and every student.
At the PTA meeting this past Tuesday night, I understand that Prinicipal Jolly made a commitment to lobby the district to grant us a third kindergarten class. I believe this is a key component to a viable future for all of us at Laurelhurst Elementary. If she is successful, we will be able to maintain the resources named above, as well as take steps towards keeping our family base cohesive. We can then re-visit the future of Kindergarten and LASER Kindergarten Enrichment at Laurelhurst as well.
Now is the time to make your voice heard. Parents, Teachers and all community stake-holders, I am urging you to speak up to all of the individuals listed below either by phone, email, or both with the following message (simply cut and paste):
"Save the integrity and future of Laurelhurst Elementary School. We need three kindergarten classes to maintain the level of excellence in education that we have worked so hard to build at Laurelhurst, and to support the families of the more than 46% of our currently enrolled students who reside outside of our newly designated boundaries.
To secure our future viability, we need to:
- Keep our teachers.
- Support our current family base.
- Maintain our PTA fundraising capabilities.
- Preserve these resources to provide programs, services, and the high level of education for all of our students.
Be the champions that our children and families deserve, want, and need in our journey to provide true excellence in education. Please, reconsider your current projected cap of two kindergarten classes for the 2010-2011 school year and grant us a third class."
Kathy Jolly
Laurelhurst Elementary, Principal
206.252.5400
kmjolly@seattleschools.org
Harrium Martin-Morris
School Board Representative, District III
206.252.0040
harium.martin-morris@seattleschools.org
Laurie Morrison
Kindergarten Programs, Seattle Public Schools
206.252.0773
lemorrison@seattleschools.org
Pat Sander
Elementary Education Director, Seattle Public Schools
206.252.0393
psander@seattleschools.org
Dr. Tracy Libros
Enrollment & Planning Manager, Seattle Public Schools
206.252.0762
trlibros@seattleschools.org
Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson
Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools
206.252.0167
superintendent@seattleschools.org
You may also sign the on-line petition that I have created here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/lespet10/petition.html
Please feel free forward this email to others who may be of interest, or to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Kind Regards,
Alli Sweet, Laurelhurst Parent
adsweet@msn.com
No comments:
Post a Comment