Post by title1parent on Jul 21, 2009 6:00:27 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1675890,Magnet-school-attract-bad-vibes_au072109.article
Aurora magnet school attracting bad vibes
July 21, 2009 Beacon
By ERIKA WURST ewurst@scn1.com
With the school year creeping upon them, members of the East Aurora School Board still are struggling to decide whether the district will keep students enrolled in its elementary and middle school magnet academy programs.
The decision, which is expected to be made Aug. 3, will affect roughly 100 parents of student enrolled in the program, identified as "a school within a school," committed to the enhancement of math, science and technology.
Though in its infant stages, several board members are not convinced of the academy's success.
"I don't see anything that's offered (at the magnet academy) that can't be offered in the student's school of origin," Rayanne Carlson said during discussion Monday evening. Carlson said she'd rather see a city-wide magnet academy initiative that would include East and West side students. This way, she noted, funding sources would be better available.
But with students already signed up to take part in next year's program, Board President Dee Weaver said a decision must be made, and soon.
"We've been asking for data all year," she said. "It's now July.
"This puts the board in a sticky situation. Either we continue the program though we're not sure of its success, or we wait for more data and upset parents. There lies the quandary. We can't keep supporting a program if we don't know it works."
However, board member Stella Gonzalez, the board's only educator, said more time is needed to tell.
"The first time anything is done, there are going to be some cracks," she said. "We need to at least give these students a chance. We don't have any data yet (to support the fact that the program isn't working)."
Several members had taken strong stances against the idea of a magnet academy since its conception. The lack of data, along with the additional funds being requested by the program have left them even more weary of the academy's cause. They say hard facts on attendance, financial and academic records must be reviewed before a decision is made. The voices of the children, however, are hard to ignore.
"I have loved being here in the magnet program, and I really did learn a lot," program participant Vanessa Martinez wrote to Superintendent Jerome Roberts. "I've learned that I am only as smart as I push myself ... I changed in many ways this year, mainly I think I matured because I take things more seriously than I did (before).
" ... I am looking forward to next year because I want to have this experience again."
Aurora magnet school attracting bad vibes
July 21, 2009 Beacon
By ERIKA WURST ewurst@scn1.com
With the school year creeping upon them, members of the East Aurora School Board still are struggling to decide whether the district will keep students enrolled in its elementary and middle school magnet academy programs.
The decision, which is expected to be made Aug. 3, will affect roughly 100 parents of student enrolled in the program, identified as "a school within a school," committed to the enhancement of math, science and technology.
Though in its infant stages, several board members are not convinced of the academy's success.
"I don't see anything that's offered (at the magnet academy) that can't be offered in the student's school of origin," Rayanne Carlson said during discussion Monday evening. Carlson said she'd rather see a city-wide magnet academy initiative that would include East and West side students. This way, she noted, funding sources would be better available.
But with students already signed up to take part in next year's program, Board President Dee Weaver said a decision must be made, and soon.
"We've been asking for data all year," she said. "It's now July.
"This puts the board in a sticky situation. Either we continue the program though we're not sure of its success, or we wait for more data and upset parents. There lies the quandary. We can't keep supporting a program if we don't know it works."
However, board member Stella Gonzalez, the board's only educator, said more time is needed to tell.
"The first time anything is done, there are going to be some cracks," she said. "We need to at least give these students a chance. We don't have any data yet (to support the fact that the program isn't working)."
Several members had taken strong stances against the idea of a magnet academy since its conception. The lack of data, along with the additional funds being requested by the program have left them even more weary of the academy's cause. They say hard facts on attendance, financial and academic records must be reviewed before a decision is made. The voices of the children, however, are hard to ignore.
"I have loved being here in the magnet program, and I really did learn a lot," program participant Vanessa Martinez wrote to Superintendent Jerome Roberts. "I've learned that I am only as smart as I push myself ... I changed in many ways this year, mainly I think I matured because I take things more seriously than I did (before).
" ... I am looking forward to next year because I want to have this experience again."
