Pinellas politicians: We want more fundamental high schools

Say this for the fundamental school crowd: They're well connected.

St. Petersburg Mayor Elect Bill Foster (above left), Pinellas County Commissioners Ken Welch (above right) and Nancy Bostock, Dunedin Mayor Dave Eggers, Tarpon Springs Mayor Beverley Billiris and St. Petersburg City Councilmember Wengay Newton are all featured on a new handout that members of the Fundamental Schools Advocacy Network passed out at this morning's school board meeting - and all of them are saying they want more fundamental high schools in Pinellas.

"Additional fundamental high school programs will increase access, raise student achievement and give exciting choices to families," Foster is quoted as saying.

"Osceola (Fundamental High) had double the number of applications than openings and students from both northen and southern parts of the county would benefit from a fundamental school close to home," Eggers says.

About 20 FAN members attended the meeting, and several speakers urged the board to move now so additional fundamental high school seats can be in place by fall 2010.

The board will discuss the issue in more detail at next Tuesday's workshop. But this recent email from deputy superintendent Jim Madden to some fundamental supporters suggests timing is not on their side.

"When adding new programs at the high school level, all schools are impacted if the programs are to be open to all students in the county," Madden writes. "It would necessitate a total rezoning of all high school zones as we know them today. Rezoning is a process that needs extensive prior planning as program locations are determined over a longer period of time."

UPDATE: This presentation lays out FAN's case.

Comments

[Concerned Mom]

Karen,

It will be a wonderful day when the traditional schools can put the fundamental schools out of business (by that I mean all schools operating with high standards) but until the district can make that happen (I'm not holding my breath,) it will be a fundamental school for my child. It's not that I want less for all children, but it is my responsbility to give my child the best education possible. Until the district is serious about rigorous academics at all schools and enforcing discipline at all schools-- we will need additional fundamental schools. My child can't wait for possible future reforms. Nor should he have to.

Concerned Mom

[Elizabeth]

"Instead of creating another fundamental high school, why not give more options to administrators in all schools on how to deal with discipline issues."

We can and should do both! Creating another fundamental school does not relieve the district from the responsiblity to improve all schools!

[Nice Power Point (not)]

Glad the person who made the Power Point is not homeschooling. That was so awful I could not get past the first half a dozen slides.

We need professionals making curriculum decisions, not a mob of holier than thou helicopter parents.

[More Concerned Parent]

Concerned Parent @ 6:29: It's a fine view for private and public schools. Simple math works in both.

[Pam]

Here's the bottom line and why fundamentals succeed... we can't raise academic standards without raising behavior standards.

Fundamentals can kick students out and the rest of the schools can't. Parents, when you hear stories of the kid in your child's class who bullies and destroys the classroom every week, throw a fit with the admin. The teacher will thank you because they've been told to "document" the chaos and evacuate the class, and that "There's nothing we can do". Put pressure on the principals and the school district to get those violent kids into settings where they can get help and not hurt themselves or others. This includes elementary students.... Just because they're physically not as "good at" hurting people yet doesn't mean they should be able to be violent and rob others of their right to an education.

[Karen]

Instead of creating another fundamental high school, why not give more options to administrators in all schools on how to deal with discipline issues. If kids that are extremely disruptive to where it interferes with teaching, the administrators should be able to send those kids to an alternative school. The main difference is that a fundamental school can kick out kids that have discipline issues or where parents are not involved.
If there are more options for administrators to deal with discipline issues, then we will not need fundamental schools.

[Palinesque Promises from Bostock]

Bostock giving out parenting advice is a lot like Bristol & Sarah Palin advocating for abstinence only sex education.

Bostock does not speak for fundamental parents. We actually parent our children.

[Elizabeth]

How condesending! Why do fundamental school opponents think that parents of lesser financial means cannot do the basic things required in the fundamental program? Active, concerned, great parents can be found in ALL socio-economic levels. Some fundamental schools have 30% + of their students recieving free or reduced lunch. Kudos to all parents-- in fundamental schools and others, rich and poor (and all of us in the middle!) who make the extra effor for their kids!!!

Let's quit hiding behind SES arguements-- either you support (all) parents who want more for their kids and are willing to work for it or you don't! We can't hold some kids back b/c their parents won't make the effort-- just like we can't hold kids back b/c the school district won't enforce the rules at all schools.

[InIt4theKids]

I appreciate Mr. Madden's and the Board's desire to create a plan for the future of the school district. That being said, they missed the opportunity last year to adequately plan for the high school level when they wisely expanded the Fundamental program at the middle school level. Had they thought ahead, we would not be in the current debacle.

I truly hope the Board will open their eyes to this rare opportunity and create more Fundamental HS openings NOW. It's their chance to be child advocates and expand a program that has proven to be successful.

[Bostock on accountability]

Bostock on holding parents accountable-

If all parents just handed unruly children over to the state we would have astronomical tax bills. Wait. We already do thanks to people who do not pay their fair share or take care of their own bills.

Thank rouge Republican Bostock for an increase in your tax bill.

Bostock needs to mind her own business. Worry about raising your own children before you preach to us about raising ours.

Focus on personal accountability Bostock.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1370389941.html?dids=1370389941:1370389941&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+23%2C+2007&author=REBECCA+CATALANELLO&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.A&desc=TO+AID+HER+SON%2C+BOARD+MEMBER+SAYS+SHE+HAS+TO+GIVE+HIM+UP

[parent]

Clearwater would be great!

[Concerned Parent]

More Concerned Parent, you have a simple, capitalistic view of the availability of K12 educational programs to our students. It's a fine view--for private school.

[Skeptic]

Fine print reader has it right. What kind of message does a high school admin. send when students are allowed 35 tardies every six weeks? Or when the school allows them to use their electronic devices in the hallways? Or when students are allowed to gamble during passing and break times? Or when dress code violations are ignored? Or when students don't even recognize their own principal when he/she stops them in the hall? High schools need to get on the Gibbs bandwagon and send a message to students that their school is serious about educating them.

[Fine print reader]

Why aren't these politicians pushing for more discipline, more accountability, more parental involvement, and less nonsense in all schools? That's what separates a fundamental from the rest, right? Have they just become aware that schools that are following those simple precepts are the ones that reach students? We shouldn't need to petition the school board to open special schools (fundamental)in order to let the teachers teach. Open some special schools for those who can't/won't follow rules, and let the rest of the county get an education.

[Disappointed parent]

It is always dissapointing to see those like 6:47 so filled with hate for others. We should keep these type of people away from our children.

[More Concerned Parent]

Concerned Parent I have one question. Because some families may not be able to take advantage of a Fundamental High School we should prevent the rest from doing so? Just imagine if we applied that argument to everying in life. None one would be able to have anything because someone else might not be able to have it.

Think about this. Since Fundamental schools are less costly it leaves more resources for the non-fundamental schools. So, all students benefit from fundamental schools whether they attend one or not!

[Concerned Parent]

Fundamental school seems like such a nifty idea for all those children with parents who can afford to transport them to and from school and be there to live up to the parent contract. Heck, it's like a free private school within a public school setting. But what about those kids who, through no fault of their own, and despite their academic ability, can't attend fundamental school because they don't have parents to transport them--kids who may not even have parents for that matter? What kind of system of education are we creating? Is it a system that is fair and equitable?

[BBMOM]

We need more Fundamental High Schools to support the families who want and believe in the Fundamenatl System. And there are a lot of them. The board knows this and hopefully will make it happen, starting next year.

[Tell Bostock kids need homes]

When Bostock figures out how to raise her own kids she can tell the rest of us how to raise ours.

Bostock and her failed family unit are not role models.

[Elizabeth]

PJ's Mom-- there are many options for implementing a fundamental program and no one is asking the board to move ahead without careful consideration and a plan. Actually, that's exactly what we're asking for-- a plan-- a plan to address the growing number of fundamental 8th graders and the growing number of new to fundmental students. I think new construction is probably the most unlikely scenario-- but I hope the Board will consider all practical options at the next workshop.

More fundamental schools or more schools that act like fundamentals... it is ALL good! Let's just give the kids best education possible!

[PJ's Mom]

Elizabeth - How does one expand fundamentals without rezoning? Fundamentals don't follow the "school within a school" model like the magnets do, so the students at an existing school would either have to buy in or move out. Thus causing rezoning.

Unless of course you are proposing new construction. I can't think that would be popular given the current economic circumstances.

I'm not a fan of the administration, but I don't think Mr. Madden's saying it's too much work. Just that you can't just leap in without weighing the effect on the system as a whole. You have no way of knowing what plans may already be in the works that would be impacted (other magnet programs, expansion or removal of current magnet programs - you get the idea). I would imagine that Mr. Madden has a pretty good idea of what's in the works. (and no, I don't work for him or the district, though I have met him several times)

It's not that I object to another fundamental high school or two (three, four...). I'm just a little nervous about hasty actions. I would hope that the district and Board would weigh the options and give an honest assessment and timeframe for changes.

Add as many fundamental programs as you like, though like John M I would prefer to have most schools act like fundamentals. To me the fundamental concept is just the basic schooling I grew up under. Kids and parents who can't follow the rules should go to special schools that meet their needs - they are the ones in the minority anyway. (I told the principal that at the school my kids were at last year and he almost had a heart attack!)

[Elizabeth]

Don't think any of these folks are actively campaigning for anything right now! Anyway, doing good things for kids is always appropriate! And, fundamental schools cost us LESS than the traditional schools. No one has to "pay for the new version of the wheel" at all. Fundamental supporters do honor "the old system"-- they want schools that hold students accountable for decent behavior and turning in their work and parents who support their kids and a decent dress code. John M-- it doesn't seem like you know much about fundamental schools. But you can learn more at www.fundamentalschools.org.

[JohnM]

I wonder how many of the politicians who want "fundamental schools" themselves went to "fundamental schools?" Is this just another example of "windmill tilting" or "crisis du jour" that has been concocted for political campaigns and will just go away when the politicians ask the voters/taxpayers to pay for the new version of the wheel? Why can't we honor the old system that got us to the moon, invented the computer and gave us the form of government that is slowly being taken away from us?

[Elizabeth]

Total rezoning is only one option but isn't necessary for a modest expansion of fundamental schools. I think the school district administrators should stop telling us why it's too much work for them to do what's best for students. You can find a way to make it work if you want to see students succeed. Fundamental is a proven model for success!