Redistricting Committee Meeting Update

I attended the Redistricting Committee Meeting today at Red Clay’s District Office located in Baltz Elementary School. Below are a few comments about the meeting. Minutes of the previous meetings can be found here.

• Red Clay School Board will be holding a Special Board Meeting on November 2, 2015 starting at 5:30 at Red Clay’s District Office. The board may be taking action with regards to WEIC.
• Next Redistricting Meeting will be on November 4, 2015 from 4:00 to 6:00 at Red Clay’s District Office.
• The interim reports on the redistricting and funding plans will be released to the public after the November 17, 2015 Commission Meeting. The public will be able to comment on the report.
• Final report due to the State Board of Education on December 17, 2015. The public will be able to comment on the report.
• Colonial School District want to keep their students. Colonial’s data show students are performing well and are equal or above state scores.
  • Dan Rich made a comment back to Colonial School District that WEIC recommendations were not based on test scores.
• Brandywine School District would like to maintain the current school boundaries.
  • Brandywine School Board will bring forward a board resolution at their next school board meeting with regards to WEIC.
• DSEA is very concerned about teachers losing their job because of this plan; district lines being redrawn.
• Dr. Daugherty replied back to DSEA and said Red Clay is not going to guarantee that Red Clay will hire everyone from the Christina schools. Christina schools will become a part of the Red Clay School District.
• All students who wish to remain in current schools will be able to stay and transportation will be provided.
• Timeline for implementation of plan has been moved back a year.
• A comment was made, if the plan is just to move district lines and rename schools and not provide any resources or funding; don’t bother moving any further with this plan.

Red Clay School Board Special Public Session – November 2nd

Special Public Session of the Red Clay Board on Monday, November 2, 2015.  The meeting will begin at 5:30 at District Office in the First Floor Conference Room.  Main focus of the meeting will be discussion of the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission (WEIC).

WEIC Update

I attended the Red Clay School Board meeting last night and WEIC updated the board. I don’t have much to report back, they are still working on the plan. Here is the presentation that was presented last night. The commission is suppose to be releasing the draft report sometime next month and the State Board will vote on it in January.

• One recommendation that is being made by the WEIC Commission is to delay implementation until fall 2018.
• State needs to commit to addressing poverty in our schools whether or not this plan goes through.
• School resources must be made available.
• Not enough time is available to construct this plan properly.
• Board members are very concerned about the financial burden this may place on Red Clay and the residents.
• They are also concerned about the state approving a plan and then not properly funding the plan. Example: state promised a certain amount of funds for the three priority schools and then that amount changed when it was time to implement the plan.
• A comment was made by one member of the WEIC group basically saying to the state don’t move forward with any plan unless you are going to get the plan right.

Reminder: Red Clay School Board Meeting – October 21st – 7:00 – Conrad

Red Clay School Board Meeting – October 21 7:00  at Conrad Schools of Science.

• There will be a presentation on WEIC.
• Finalizing Mascot Committee, click here for more information.
• Delaware College Prep and DMA charter renewals are up and they are both requesting charter modifications.
  • DMA is requesting an increase in enrollment to 715 cadets by the year 2021. This would begin in 2017-2018 and would amount to 36 cadets
  • DCP is requesting a decrease in their enrollment 300 to 255
    • Increase the number of K-2 classrooms
    • Adjust the attrition rate from 7% to 15%
    • Enroll scholars in Grades 3-5
    • Clarify DCPA’s two-teacher model (one teacher, one para)
    • Align DCPA’s school year with local districts
    • Allow for a model of co-leadership at DCPA
  • Policy Opt-Out 7015 – Click here to view policy.

Click here to view complete agenda.

Red Clay School Board Meeting – October 21st – 7:00 – Conrad

Red Clay School Board Meeting – October 21 7:00  at Conrad Schools of Science.

• There will be a presentation on WEIC.
• Finalizing Mascot Committee, click here for more information.
• Delaware College Prep and DMA charter renewals are up and they are both requesting charter modifications.
  • DMA is requesting an increase in enrollment to 715 cadets by the year 2021. This would begin in 2017-2018 and would amount to 36 cadets
  • DCP is requesting a decrease in their enrollment 300 to 255
    • Increase the number of K-2 classrooms
    • Adjust the attrition rate from 7% to 15%
    • Enroll scholars in Grades 3-5
    • Clarify DCPA’s two-teacher model (one teacher, one para)
    • Align DCPA’s school year with local districts
    • Allow for a model of co-leadership at DCPA
  • Policy Opt-Out 7015 – Click here to view policy.

Click here to view complete agenda.

Funding Student Success Working Group Meeting – Update

A Washington Post story reported in January the following:

• For the first time in at least 50 years, a majority of U.S. public school students come from low-income families, according to a new analysis of 2013 federal data, a statistic that has profound implications for the nation.

The article goes on to say:

• It also means that education policy, funding decisions and classroom instruction must adapt to the needy children who arrive at school each day.

Today was the Funding Student Success Working Group meeting at Baltz Elementary School.There were 13 committee members present and 2 members of the public.

Most think that Delaware’s Unit funding system is functional but lacks the necessary funding for Spec. Ed Basic Students kindergarten through 3rd grades, funding for English Language Learners (ELL) and students of poverty. Our system is primarily based on a unit system with some weighted funding for Special Education students, Basic 4th – 12th grades, Intensive K – 12th grades and Complex K – 12th grades, see § 1703 Unit of pupils.

The committee handed out an Analysis of Funding for Poverty Units which provided 10% to 15% of additional units based on a weighted % of poverty in a Red Clay. The group discussed adding bands to the analysis. For example: if a school had 60% of low income students they would receive a higher weighted percentage than a school that had 20% of low income students. They are looking at whether to focus on grade level poverty or focus on schools that have a higher concentration of low income students.

• They are going to put together an additional analysis for Christina School District.
• Connect with the other WEIC sub-committees and coordinate to see what other state agencies could provide to schools with high numbers of low income students.
• Have IPA look at best practices of weighted funding formulas for ELL and low income students.