Comments on: School’s Out

By: Every Day I Write the Book « Stop, Drop and Roll

Every Day I Write the Book « Stop, Drop and Roll — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:28:51 +0000

[...] Edison Kindergarten Registration Sleepover [...]

By: The yellow copy is for you, the pink copy goes to accouting, the blue copy is for our files, the grey copy…. « Stop, Drop and Roll

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:16:19 +0000

[...] 25th, 2007 On January 28th, 60-plus parents spent the night at Edison School, hoping to be some of the 60 out of 90 expected [...]

By: John Piziali

John Piziali — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 01:34:51 +0000

in reference to comment # 2 by Ben Kruger. We can talk forever about school funding and many other issue’s. But I have never heard a more profound and truer statement. Yes you get out what you put into your childerns schooling, I don’t care what end of town you live in or wether it is private or public. Put the time in and you will see results. John P.

By: Barbara Kahn

Barbara Kahn — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:22:32 +0000

In short, the property tax which was set by the school board at that time, was lower than in many districts. The impact aid from the Federal government was substantial, and dumped into the general fund, used for schools across Alameda, not just in the west end schools that were impacted by the military presence here. Then, as now, the west end schools where the majority of the low income housing was located, were not funded proportion to need.

By: Mike McMahon

Mike McMahon — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 20:31:45 +0000

Dave:

Here is a link comparing Alameda county school districts:

http://mikemcmahon.info/finbaseada.htm

Primary reason for funding levels difference go back to the 70s after Prop 13 passed. The state legislature became responsible for funding local school and they need to establish a funding mechanism. They established something called Base Revenue Limit. It was generated by examining the funding revenue levels of the school district in the 70s. For Alameda, the revenues from the Federal government for Navy personnel was excluded. As a result, our base was lower than other districts.

The intent of the Base Revenue Limit was to “equalize” those districts that were below the average. However, equalization monies only gets approved when there are excess state revenues. (last year AUSD received a $40+ bump from equalization).

The challenge to legislatevly addresses this problem lies in zero sum nature of school funding. Prop 98 establishes the size of the pie and then any increases to underfunded school districts would mean reductions to school districts over the average. Much like the House of Representatives where representation is based on population, those school districts above the average have larger number of representative in the Assembly and block any attempts to level the playing field.

By: dave

dave — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:30:33 +0000

I have heard more than once that Alameda receives less funding per student than other districts.

can anyone show a link that proves this? I’m not doubting the claim, just wish to learn more.

And if so, WHY? What is the justification for this?

By: laurendo

laurendo — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:23:57 +0000

I think it’s sad that parents have to camp out like it’s opening day for a Star Wars film in order to get their child a slot in Kindergarten. I think what is more sad is that parents whose children don’t get into their school of choice would rather send their kid to private school than another Alameda school that may seem less “desirable.”

The school district, the state, the federal government can test the kids until they are blanketed in No.2 pencil lead, but a bunch of numbers doesn’t substitute for getting out to a school and talking to the teachers and possibly realizing that those less “desirable” schools may have really desirable teachers, staff, and programs.

By: Ben Kruger

Ben Kruger — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:51:33 +0000

Private/public school, East/West End, you get out of school what you put into school. The recipe for success is parental involvement and work at any level.

By: Neal_J

Neal_J — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:13:45 +0000

Great analysis, John. A couple of supplemental observations from one of the line-sitters:

It was disheartening that NO consideration was given to younger siblings of Edison attendees. It seems inexplicable to split out kids of the same family.

Many parents arrived by 10:00pm because of the hot East End phone network as you noted. Those outside that communications loop, like new residents to the area, were hosed.

Many parents followed the counsel provided by the school itself at the recent Kindergarten Info Night and arrived between 3:00-7:00am – only to be stunned to learn that the 60th, and final, spot was taken at 2:10am (a slight correction from above).

In total, over 80 kids were represented by parents last night &/or this morning. I don’t doubt that many will investigate private schools like Phillip Neri. A very sad, and in my view completely avoidable, situation.

Neal