Bigger schools are not always better or the answer.
As for the agents. They do play a role but as time goes by they play less and less of a role.
School size.
- Thread starter kingcy
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Bigger schools are not always better or the answer.
As for the agents. They do play a role but as time goes by they play less and less of a role.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
You're correct, bigger schools are not always better. Theres a balance. However, you cannot tell me that the schools that have 5 people in a senior class are able to provide the educational opportunities for all the diverse educational needs -from special education to gifted\talented to AP classes to vocational skills, or even electives like music and art that even more medium or large sized schools are. I'm definitely not advocating all schools be valley-sized (i came from waukee, back when the graduating class was about 160) but there comes a point where the school sizes are too small to justify the resources.
You're correct, bigger schools are not always better. Theres a balance. However, you cannot tell me that the schools that have 5 people in a senior class are able to provide the educational opportunities for all the diverse educational needs -from special education to gifted\talented to AP classes to vocational skills, or even electives like music and art that even more medium or large sized schools are. I'm definitely not advocating all schools be valley-sized (i came from waukee, back when the graduating class was about 160) but there comes a point where the school sizes are too small to justify the resources.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
I'm not suggesting bigger schools at all. What I do find wasterfull is a seperate superintendent for each school. You could easily have one superintendent for each county(okay perhaps more then that in Metro counties.
I'm not suggesting bigger schools at all. What I do find wasterfull is a seperate superintendent for each school. You could easily have one superintendent for each county(okay perhaps more then that in Metro counties.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
There are some super small schools yes, but if it works for them, they should leave good enough alone. My wife had a friend that had 6 people in her class and she has done very well for herself. What happens in HS doenst always translate to how you do in college.
Schools need their own superintendent, but there is no reason he cannot do more that just be a superintendent, teach a class or 2 or something else. If we go to the county idea, you know as well as I they will have to have people under them for diffent schools or areas and once you do that you are back to where you started.
There are some super small schools yes, but if it works for them, they should leave good enough alone. My wife had a friend that had 6 people in her class and she has done very well for herself. What happens in HS doenst always translate to how you do in college.
Schools need their own superintendent, but there is no reason he cannot do more that just be a superintendent, teach a class or 2 or something else. If we go to the county idea, you know as well as I they will have to have people under them for diffent schools or areas and once you do that you are back to where you started.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
If the Cedar Rapids community school district which includes 3 4-A schools (Washington, Jefferson, Kennedy) can get by with 1 superindendent, I think a single superintendent can handle a half dozen smaller schools. Maybe each individual school could have an associate superintendent that also teaches stuff, but I don't think each school needs a full time superintendent.
If the Cedar Rapids community school district which includes 3 4-A schools (Washington, Jefferson, Kennedy) can get by with 1 superindendent, I think a single superintendent can handle a half dozen smaller schools. Maybe each individual school could have an associate superintendent that also teaches stuff, but I don't think each school needs a full time superintendent.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
Exactly. You need a principal at each school of course.
Exactly. You need a principal at each school of course.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
Yep, I agree completely. I graduated from a school that has 750 students K-12, so it isn't super small by Iowa standards, but they have 3 full time principals (that don't teach) and 1 super. Completely unncessary.
Yep, I agree completely. I graduated from a school that has 750 students K-12, so it isn't super small by Iowa standards, but they have 3 full time principals (that don't teach) and 1 super. Completely unncessary.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
Each school district has a monthly board meeting. If 6 districts share a sup, that one person would have 6 board meeting to prepare for each month. The hours needed would be ridiculous.
The sup. is the final say of all problems in a small district. In larger schools the sup. might not even hear of smaller issues.
Each school district has a monthly board meeting. If 6 districts share a sup, that one person would have 6 board meeting to prepare for each month. The hours needed would be ridiculous.
The sup. is the final say of all problems in a small district. In larger schools the sup. might not even hear of smaller issues.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
If the funding is the same per student, let the district decide if they need to consolidate.
If the funding is the same per student, let the district decide if they need to consolidate.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
Local management that will never work. Bigger is always better in government.
If a school cannot make it and no one wants to consolidate with them divide it up among the neighboring districts and save a pile of BS.
Local management that will never work. Bigger is always better in government.
If a school cannot make it and no one wants to consolidate with them divide it up among the neighboring districts and save a pile of BS.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
Here is what it boils down to, if the state, (ie the non residents of the district are the only ones making a district viable, then they have an equal or greater say than the local).
For the record, I favor smaller schools, and local control. Many studies have shown schools can be to large, and to small.
Bottom line if you use non-local funding those making the funding will expect input mechanism.
Here is what it boils down to, if the state, (ie the non residents of the district are the only ones making a district viable, then they have an equal or greater say than the local).
For the record, I favor smaller schools, and local control. Many studies have shown schools can be to large, and to small.
Bottom line if you use non-local funding those making the funding will expect input mechanism.
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut
This is way past the original post, but why does the state have control of local school districts? (Money) I will state again, if the state payes the same per student to school districts, why do they want to make schools bigger?
This is way past the original post, but why does the state have control of local school districts? (Money) I will state again, if the state payes the same per student to school districts, why do they want to make schools bigger?
Re: ISU Extension Service faces Cuts
The state has a responsibility in setting minimum educational and curriculum requirements for the state.
The question is by changing size, and structures, can they lower the fee/student over time (or being more realistic slowing the rate of growth).
The state has a responsibility in setting minimum educational and curriculum requirements for the state.
The question is by changing size, and structures, can they lower the fee/student over time (or being more realistic slowing the rate of growth).
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Re: ISU Extension Service faces Cuts
Would most consider Ballard a smaller school and Des Moines a big school? They currently have the same expense per day.
Would most consider Ballard a smaller school and Des Moines a big school? They currently have the same expense per day.
Re: ISU Extension Service faces Cuts
Balance that with what the cirriculum offerings are and if they meet the standards, great, if not, then there is something to be considered.
Iowa has a good educational system, but not as good as we think.
We are the best at being average
Balance that with what the cirriculum offerings are and if they meet the standards, great, if not, then there is something to be considered.
Iowa has a good educational system, but not as good as we think.
We are the best at being average
Some of these small schools may be able to 'get by' with that money, but much less effectively. Schools that are at a more proper size (not too large or too small) can offer a much wider range of opportunities, from vocational to arts to special education to advanced classes that will better prepare students for college. When medium sized schools can do that for 6-7k but smaller schools cannot for the same amount, it becomes about what return on investment we can get for our state dollar.
Small schools also offer benefits that bigger schools don't. Lessons in extra-curricular activities. There are many students in a small school that get the chance to compete that the bigger schools can't offer. (Sports, music, etc.)
well, that depends what you call small, and what you call large.Some from the rural schools would consider a school like waukee a large school, where i would say its more medium. By small i mean those schools with 25 or less in a graduating class.
With that few, you simply cant provide the same types of things a medium-large school can, in terms of range of subjects taught, extracurricular activities, electives, advanced courses, etc. Once you get above a certain point, you start seeing it go the other way since there are too many people wanting to get into those opportunities, but thats a whole different topic altogether, as nobody is wanting to combine these small schools into mega schools, just into something more realistic (total high school size of about 4-500 would be good)
With that few, you simply cant provide the same types of things a medium-large school can, in terms of range of subjects taught, extracurricular activities, electives, advanced courses, etc. Once you get above a certain point, you start seeing it go the other way since there are too many people wanting to get into those opportunities, but thats a whole different topic altogether, as nobody is wanting to combine these small schools into mega schools, just into something more realistic (total high school size of about 4-500 would be good)
I came from a small school, 33 in my graduating class. I still the believe that the benefits of playing football, basketball, golf etc. was just as important to me as being in a larger school with more educational classes.
I hire people each year, I would rather they have a background in doing the extra aspects of school than just a high GPA. (High School and College)