Open Enrollment Coming to Duval Schools?

[TheCat]

From www.News4Jax.com

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -
The Duval County school board is set to meet Thursday to discuss Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti's proposal of open enrollment, which would allow families to choose any school in the district they would like to send their children to.

Vitti said right now, if people don't like their neighborhood school they can send their children to a magnet school, but that only benefits academically or athletically gifted kids. An open enrollment policy would open school selection to everyone else.

Vitti's proposal could dramatically impact thousands of families that are not happy with their neighborhood schools.

"If boundary students are not satisfied with schools, they're going to charter schools," Vitti said. "I'd much rather say to that parent, 'You might not be interested in going to boundary school, why not check out this other school that may meet your needs?'"

http://www.news4jax.com/news/open-enrollment-may-be-coming-to-duval-schools/-/475880/24947710/-/2wuqi2/-/index.html

[JayBird]

Seems reasonable, as long as those who choose to go out of their boundary have to get their own transportation. I do wonder if this would overcrowd schools such as Wolfson and leave Terry Parker with empty classrooms.

[GoldenEst82]

Yes, please!
I have my kids on school choice vouchers- and I have been stressing getting them into the better funded schools in the district, as they have gotten older.

I currently drive my boys 30min one way (2hrs driving daily) to a school that I feel, is better (has more resources) than the ones surrounding the areas we can afford to live in.

I would elaborate further on the reasons for this- if anyone would like to hear my perspective- but I'll end this post as I started it; Yes, Please!

[John P]

If you read through it I don't know how much an impact this would make. Magnet schools would still function the same way. Residents of the neighborhoods zoned for schools would still be first admission. It seems to me that this would only help children in bad schools go to schools that are midrange rated and have room. I mean that's better than nothing certainly but the parents would also have to provide their own transportation.

[mtraininjax]

This is going to be interesting as now any kid can choose their high school based on sports programs too. WOW! The poorer areas are really going to get crushed, we may see schools close as a result. Which I think is the main goal here, justification of closing schools.

[GoldenEst82]

Perhaps if the school board had been using title 1 monies for TITLE 1 SCHOOLS such unbounded choice,would not be needed.

Here's the truth of it.
When you are a single mother with a HS education and no support (maybe because your family is just as poor as you are) you do not have a lot of choice on where you live.
There are only certain areas of town where 8-10 an hour can pay rent. Those schools are going to be filled with other poor people, who work their asses off to try to get ahead- and as such their kids are being raised by cheap daycare or given the latch-key.
Because they do not have another parent to assist in rearing, these kids are being reared by daycare workers (also paid minimum wage) and/or unsupervised TV and/or internet access.

We wonder "whats wrong with these kids", yet we call their "never present/ever working" parent "lazy" in the media for being poor- glamorizing-by-proxy the "easy money" of criminal behavior.

Its easy to have a failing school when teachers are so overwhelmed with the "need" around them, from children who come without supplies, or whole clothing, that they often transfer mid- year. The services in those schools are so underfunded that children with behavioral issues go untreated- and their behavior issues escalate to suspensions. Yet, there are not enough "monitors" in the lunch room to help open ketchup packets, let alone prevent/detour bullying.

I am living this. I have lived this
I have made hard choices, and it is at great cost that I have put their avenue out (education) above living in a better house/safer neighborhood, (safer does not mean the schools are better!) and other material things.
Such is the nature of being a parent.

[Overstreet]

Might be better than my cousin's solution. She moved to get her kid into the school she wanted.

[BridgeTroll]

Perhaps if the school board had been using title 1 monies for TITLE 1 SCHOOLS such unbounded choice,would not be needed.

Here's the truth of it.
When you are a single mother with a HS education and no support (maybe because your family is just as poor as you are) you do not have a lot of choice on where you live.
There are only certain areas of town where 8-10 an hour can pay rent. Those schools are going to be filled with other poor people, who work their asses off to try to get ahead- and as such their kids are being raised by cheap daycare or given the latch-key.
Because they do not have another parent to assist in rearing, these kids are being reared by daycare workers (also paid minimum wage) and/or unsupervised TV and/or internet access.

We wonder "whats wrong with these kids", yet we call their "never present/ever working" parent "lazy" in the media for being poor- glamorizing-by-proxy the "easy money" of criminal behavior.

Its easy to have a failing school when teachers are so overwhelmed with the "need" around them, from children who come without supplies, or whole clothing, that they often transfer mid- year. The services in those schools are so underfunded that children with behavioral issues go untreated- and their behavior issues escalate to suspensions. Yet, there are not enough "monitors" in the lunch room to help open ketchup packets, let alone prevent/detour bullying.

I am living this. I have lived this
I have made hard choices, and it is at great cost that I have put their avenue out (education) above living in a better house/safer neighborhood, (safer does not mean the schools are better!) and other material things.
Such is the nature of being a parent.

Thanks for posting.  The root cause for this condition is in your very first sentence.  Lack of education and bad choice in picking a mate certainly excaberates and prolongs the problem.  Our local drop out rate... while getting better is still way to high.  Children born out of wedlock or children of divorce face more difficult obstacles than others... unfortunately this condition seems to get worse rather than better.

I hope your hard choices work out for you and your children... sounds like you are doing the right things.

[GoldenEst82]

While you are correct about the statistics- I would like to offer a slant.

If we wanted to make those statistics untrue- we could make it so that childcare from birth to age three is affordable/available for every mother/father as long as they are enrolled in an institution of higher learning.
That ONE thing would cut poverty rates, as your income is directly tied to education.

[BridgeTroll]

While you are correct about the statistics- I would like to offer a slant.

If we wanted to make those statistics untrue- we could make it so that childcare from birth to age three is affordable/available for every mother/father as long as they are enrolled in an institution higher of higher learning learning.
That ONE thing would cut poverty rates, as your income is directly tied to education.

An interesting proposal.  Let me make sure I understand... Daycare is provided to single parents of 0-3 year olds while they are attending an institution of higher learning.  I certainly could support something like this.

[GoldenEst82]

Having a newborn (6wks) in daycare costs between 180-200 a week.
It is almost impossible, to work enough to house/feed yourself on a low wage (less that 12-14 p/h) paying those kind of costs in child care. Not to mention, attending and passing classes.

[BridgeTroll]

Having a newborn (6wks) in daycare costs between 180-200 a week.
It is almost impossible, to work enough to house/feed yourself on a low wage (less that 12-14 p/h) paying those kind of costs in child care. Not to mention, attending and passing classes.

I agree... it must seem impossible at times.  I commend you for the effort you are making... I am sure it will pay off for you in the end... and will make you a stronger person later in life.

But for the sake of discussion... I want to ask... in a non judgemental way and without getting too personal...

What could you have changed earlier in life for your current circumstance to be less likely?  I ask because I am a parent also and these are important things that must be taught and more importantly... heeded... by our children.

[BridgeTroll]

Having a newborn (6wks) in daycare costs between 180-200 a week.
It is almost impossible, to work enough to house/feed yourself on a low wage (less that 12-14 p/h) paying those kind of costs in child care. Not to mention, attending and passing classes.

I agree... it must seem impossible at times.  I commend you for the effort you are making... I am sure it will pay off for you in the end... and will make you a stronger person later in life.

But for the sake of discussion... I want to ask... in a non judgemental way and without getting too personal...

What could you have changed earlier in life for your current circumstance to be less likely?  I ask because I am a parent also and these are important things that must be taught and more importantly... heeded... by our children.

wow.  really?  How do you ask that in a 'non judgemental' way?

I guess she could have smothered the babies in their crib and run away to angola.

We were having a conversation Stephen... please allow us to do so without throwing bombs.

[BridgeTroll]

Having a newborn (6wks) in daycare costs between 180-200 a week.
It is almost impossible, to work enough to house/feed yourself on a low wage (less that 12-14 p/h) paying those kind of costs in child care. Not to mention, attending and passing classes.

I agree... it must seem impossible at times.  I commend you for the effort you are making... I am sure it will pay off for you in the end... and will make you a stronger person later in life.

But for the sake of discussion... I want to ask... in a non judgemental way and without getting too personal...

What could you have changed earlier in life for your current circumstance to be less likely?  I ask because I am a parent also and these are important things that must be taught and more importantly... heeded... by our children.

wow.  really?  How do you ask that in a 'non judgemental' way?

I guess she could have smothered the babies in their crib and run away to angola.

We were having a conversation Stephen... please allow us to do so without throwing bombs.

being a judgemental ass over someone else's circumstances isnt a 'conversation', BT.....  Seriously?  Where does anyone get off with that kind of question?

What in your life could you have done differently to prevent asking questions like that in the future?  It had to be something, and just so that our children can learn from your mistake, why dont you share that with us.

You know...in a spirit of 'conversation'?

Had she asked... I would have given an example... since it is you... well being an ass... I decline.

[BridgeTroll]

Golden... if I offended you by my question... I apologize as it certainly was not my intent.  I hope things work out...