All posts in the topic Saint Paul Public Schools (Short link)

From: Chris Rybisky Date: Jun 06 18:27 UTC Short link

I guess I misread the Pioneer Press article, but I was under the impression
that the schools were getting rid of waiting lists (with the exception of
Capitol Hill). Yet, here we are on a waiting list (#11).

We visited Open School, had our son shadow a student, talked to the staff and
decided that it would be a great fit for him. He loved the school, the staff
and the kids. We, as parents, loved it.

When we talked to the staff, we got the impression that Open was looking for
students and that there would be no problem as far as getting into the school.
The biggest problem was if he was going to like it and if it would suit his
needs.

We got a call earlier this week saying we had been accepted to another school.
I asked about Open and they said that we would be placed on a waiting list.
Upon taking to Open's office, they said they were not yet closed for his grade.

I talked to Student Placement and they said Open was indeed closed for his
grade. AAAAHHHH!!!!

It'd be cool if everyone was on the same page.

I put a call into Open's Guidance office and she said they were excited to have
to deal with a waiting list (great for the school-not so great for us) and if I
had any questions to contact the principal. I put in a call to the him, but
have yet to hear back.

So, we go from REALLY excited about entering SPPS and Open to DEEP anxiety. At
least we have the wonderful weather to cheer us up! (That's not sarcasm - we
really like storms!)

YIKES.

Chris Rybisky
Cathedral Hill
    

From: Anne Carroll Date: Jun 06 19:10 UTC Short link

The short explanation is that we are no longer keeping waiting lists in
place at schools for months into the school year basically because 1) once
students settle into their new school they rarely change even if a slot
becomes available where they were waiting; and 2) it bolixes up the
placement process for kids who move into the district after the beginning of
the school year. Concurrently, the district decided to keep a few slots open
at schools from the beginning of the year to account for both natural
movement and in-migration, rather than having some overfull and others
under.

That does not mean that there are not still sometimes grade-level capacity
issues at particular schools, however, which is what the poster experienced.
In many cases those get sorted out by the beginning of the school year; the
Placement Center and school principal are the best sources of information
and guidance for individual families.
    

-- Anne Carroll, SP Bd of Ed

__________________________________________________
Anne R. Carroll
Carroll, Franck & Associates
Strategic planning, public involvement, and communications
1357 Highland Parkway
St. Paul, MN 55116 USA
Phone: 651-690-9162
Email: <email obscured>
Skype: annepublicpartic
(School Board: 651-690-9156 or www.annecarroll.org)


"The arc of history is long but it bends toward justice." -- Martin Luther
King, Jr., adapted from Rev. Theodore Parker, 1859

"All too often, men and women in public life worry too much about the next
election. A true states[wo]man, however, worries about the next generation
and children yet unborn." -- Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, 2003