Small schools study report doesn't include school closures
By Brenda Rader Mross
North Forty News
No school closures were recommended by the committee assigned with studying
the viability of small schools in Poudre School District.
The 30-member small schools study committee turned in its final report
to PSD Superintendent Jerry Wilson on April 24.
Committee member and Poudre High School Principal Sandra Lundt said they
made no recommendations in terms of schools being closed and instead provided
Wilson and his seven-member cabinet with a listing of financial and programmatic
criteria with which to compare schools.
"We took a comprehensive look at small schools nationwide and across the
state," Lundt said. "We want the superintendent to be able to look beyond
the financial costs and assess the educational worth of having a building
in place."
While the committee determined it does indeed cost more to run a small
school, Lundt said, their conversations went further than costs, weighing
academic and achievement factors as well.
Those so-called programmatic measures "beyond the bottom line," according
to Lundt, include the following:
Identifying criteria related to student achievement "beyond CSAPs" and
other standardized tests
Addressing a school's ability to educate the whole child via unique programming
such as special needs, gifted and talented, and English Language Learners
(ELL)
Considering individual demographics and geographic locations
According to Lundt, the financial piece involved "quite an analysis" comparing
costs of small-sized schools in Colorado and other states and determining
essential programs. Cost implications regarding information on per pupil,
administrative, utility and cumulative expenditures have also been recommended
to the student-based budgeting committee for its continuing work on the
2008-09 budget.
Lundt said she was pleased with what she called the committee's "conversations
beyond costs."
"We've done good work," Lundt said. "I'm confident our report gives the
superintendent the opportunity to really look at small schools in the district."
Lundt admitted to having a "soft spot" for PSD's mountain schools, being
a product of them herself.
"I started out at Eggers, a one-room log school that was its own district,"
she said. "It became Poudre Canyon School after the PSD reorganization.
My folks operated Arrowhead Lodge before we moved to Fort Collins, where
I went to Remington, Dunn and Washington Elementary Schools."
Lundt attended the old Lincoln Junior High School and is a graduate of
Poudre High School, where she has been principal for 14 years.
"No," Lundt laughed, "being principal was never part of my plan. I tease
the kids that some of us never get to graduate."
While Lundt and the small schools study committee's work is done, a timeline
for the process of evaluating and applying the criteria is as yet undetermined,
according to committee co-chair and Assistant Superintendent Kevin Hahn.
More information is available online at www.psdschools.org.
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