[TheVillageChicken]

There will be 140 less students at the Charter School next school year.

[jflynn1]

Is this supposed to be a good thing ?

[TheVillageChicken]

Originally Posted by jflynn1

Is this supposed to be a good thing ?

I am pretty sure that would depend upon whom you ask. If you are asking me, I have no dog in the fight....just reporting on something that might be of interest to others.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by jflynn1

Is this supposed to be a good thing ?

It could be. I don't know what the chicken meant yet. Why are they getting the boot, chicken? I have no school age children but think The Charter Schools have been an excellent thing for the children whose parents work for The Villages.

[graciegirl]

There is an article in The Daily Commercial, but you have to read it carefully.

The gist of it is that the state will enforce class size.

And my guess? The school will probably not be expanded...as the developer appears to be phasing down in building.

The article focuses on the fact that the Charter School only takes kids whose parents are employed by The Villages. Not just employed IN The Villages. I find the title inflammatory. But that is me.

This is quoted from the article.

"It’s a wonderful testimony to our teachers and faculty that so many folks want to send their kids to our school,” Principal Randy McDaniel wrote in an email. “However, just like other Florida schools we are restricted by the law limiting class sizes and our facilities have reached that capacity.”

I think the rest of that article is hype, but that is my opinion.

I don't get The Daily Commercial, because I am satisfied with The Sun and the online news. Some people get the Orlando Sentinel or the Commercial perhaps in part because the editorial page of the Sun bothers them.

Disclaimer. I don't work in any way for The Villages or anybody. I love it here. I think it wise that we all try to quell rumors, and correct misinformation for no other reason but to protect our investment. But I sincerely love this place, JUST THE WAY IT IS.

[TheVillageChicken]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

It could be. I don't know what the chicken meant yet. Why are they getting the boot, chicken? I have no school age children but think The Charter Schools have been an excellent thing for the children whose parents work for The Villages.

They are getting the boot because their parents do not work for an employer who leases space directly from The Villages, but rather are sub-letting the property. The subject evokes no emotion from me...I just thought it was interesting.

[Laurie2]

Thread title spin......

Aw, c'mon. Of course they will cut teaching jobs, too.

Am I correct in assuming that just like other charter schools, they can run like a business but still get a chunk of the taxpayers' money that comes at the expense of local public school funding? If like other places, it is by head-count or ADM. If so, that will go back to the local schools. But, hey, I bet collecting rent is a lot more profitable.

If education were the true priority, an addition could be built and more teachers hired.

This is one aspect of TV that has always bothered me. The control the charter school wields over families' lives makes me sad. The kids are at the mercy of business decisions. Sacrificial lambs.

And now I must get out of here and refuse to engage with those who will come after me and try to make me dance in a conga line around the developer. I tried to keep my mouth shut. But education of our young people is close to my heart.

You-Will-Never-Guess-What-I-Did Laurie

PS: I like many things about how TV runs -- but this......at what point........

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Laurie2

Thread title spin......

Aw, c'mon. Of course they will cut teaching jobs, too.

Am I correct in assuming that just like other charter schools, they can run like a business but still get a chunk of the taxpayers' money that comes at the expense of local public school funding? If so, that will go back to the local schools. But, hey, I bet collecting rent is a lot more profitable.

If education were the true priority, an addition could be built and more teachers hired.

This is one aspect of TV that has always bothered me. The control the charter school wields over families' lives makes me sad. The kids are at the mercy of business decisions. Sacrificial lambs.

And now I must get out of here and refuse to engage with those who will come after me and try to make me dance in a conga line around the developer. I tried to keep my mouth shut. But education of our young people is close to my heart.

You-Will-Never-Guess-What-I-Did Laurie

PS: I like many things about how TV runs -- but this......at what point........

Sometimes money walks and money talks. In this case the Charter school is better, for whatever reason. Florida schools aren't as good as the ones I am used to for sure. . But no matter the reason, this Charter School is doing a good job. But I doubt for long at the same size. When construction stops, many students will have to leave.

Many villagers volunteer at the local schools and support the backpack programs and do what can be done to help public education, and I think it really helps...

Education is near and dear to my heart to. I try to look at it with an open mind.

[redwitch]

They've been downsizing students for a couple of years now, starting with the high school. It really is a shame for those kids who have attended for years and now have to go to a new school, make new friends, etc. One summer's notice to the parents is awfully hard on them, as well. For some, it will mean changing companies. For others, moving. I'm sure more than parent will be moving and changing jobs to get their kids into a desirable school. It really stinks for these parents and kids.

I can understand wanting to keep classroom size down, but I can't quite understand not adding new classrooms and teachers. I know many schools have satellite classrooms that are trailers and pre-fabs. I find it hard to believe that these level four businesses do not somehow aid the infra-structure of TV. I really do believe there should be a way to accommodate these children.

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by TheVillageChicken

They are getting the boot because their parents do not work for an employer who leases space directly from The Villages, but rather are sub-letting the property. The subject evokes no emotion from me...I just thought it was interesting.

This change doesn't bode well for attracting young professionals with young families to this area to work, such as doctors, dentists, lawyers, etc. Why would any young family take a look at the local schools and decide to relocate to this area?

[dbussone]

I am perplexed regarding the issue here. I certainly can feel for the affected parents and students. However, in FL it is the responsibility of the counties to provide public education. Think of the children who received superior educations in the past because the developer cared enough to build these facilities. He wasn't obligated to then, nor is he obligated to add space now. And still a significant number of students will benefit from his largess in the future. If i were the parent of a child in the Charter school I would be sending letters of thanks. The attitude of "I'm owed something" is one I've never understood.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by dbussone

I am perplexed regarding the issue here. I certainly can feel for the affected parents and students. However, in FL it is the responsibility of the counties to provide public education. Think of the children who received superior educations in the past because the developer cared enough to build these facilities. He wasn't obligated to then, nor is he obligated to add space now. And still a significant number of students will benefit from his largess in the future. If i were the parent of a child in the Charter school I would be sending letters of thanks. The attitude of "I'm owed something" is one I've never understood.

I get what you're saying.....but, how hard for kids who have attended the school for say 5/6 years and now they are told they can no longer stay there? They are leaving their friends, everything they've known, etc. Shouldnt the kids be grandfathered in?

[sunnyatlast]

Originally Posted by Laurie2

Thread title spin......

Aw, c'mon. Of course they will cut teaching jobs, too.

Am I correct in assuming that just like other charter schools, they can run like a business but still get a chunk of the taxpayers' money that comes at the expense of local public school funding? If like other places, it is by head-count or ADM. If so, that will go back to the local schools. But, hey, I bet collecting rent is a lot more profitable.

If education were the true priority, an addition could be built and more teachers hired.

This is one aspect of TV that has always bothered me. The control the charter school wields over families' lives makes me sad. The kids are at the mercy of business decisions. Sacrificial lambs.

And now I must get out of here and refuse to engage with those who will come after me and try to make me dance in a conga line around the developer. I tried to keep my mouth shut. But education of our young people is close to my heart.

You-Will-Never-Guess-What-I-Did Laurie

PS: I like many things about how TV runs -- but this......at what point........

It takes reading more than one article over time to know that the charter schools expanded hugely to accommodate the growth, by building and opening the huge Middle School campus whose length faces highway 466. At that time I remember reading they were building to accommodate 6 or 8 sections of each grade, compared to previously having 3-4, and the new campus included facilities for performing arts, music, etc.

I've read articles in the last couple of years stating that the growth was skyrocketing even with that expansion, and therefore the qualifying rules would start to rule out employees' children where the parent is working for (for example) an employer who is not leasing from or subcontracting for The Villages.

And about the too simplistic statement, "If education were the true priority, an addition could be built and more teachers hired"……

….If one looks at the Job Opportunities online for the charter schools, you now see this list of job openings due to the growth, and up until 2 weeks ago, this page had DOUBLE the number of new teacher and paraprofessional staff openings. Obviously they have hired for some of those positions, and these still remain.

Not everything can be summarized and accused by one article in the Leesburg paper, which has its own readers' bias, too.

The Villages Charter Schools - Central Office

[xNYer]

Originally Posted by dbussone

I am perplexed regarding the issue here. I certainly can feel for the affected parents and students. However, in FL it is the responsibility of the counties to provide public education. Think of the children who received superior educations in the past because the developer cared enough to build these facilities. He wasn't obligated to then, nor is he obligated to add space now. And still a significant number of students will benefit from his largess in the future. If i were the parent of a child in the Charter school I would be sending letters of thanks. The attitude of "I'm owed something" is one I've never understood.

The building of the Charter School enables the developer to more easily recruit and retain workers. It is an added benefit to those employed here, and can be a source of control of the workforce, including wages and working conditions. If one leaves the workforce, they have to withdraw their children from the school.
There are two employment organized charter schools in Florida, they had to be legislatively approved.
It certainly was a business decision and not purely done for the benefit of those who attend the school.

[sunnyatlast]

**ALSO SEE the history of the charter schools' growth in this history that shows enrollment growth reaching 3,000 after the opening of the new middle school campus/expansion in 2013:

The Villages Charter Schools - Central Office

Recent growth:

2012-2013

VCS sets record opening day enrollment of 2,459 students in K-12 and 232 in PK-3 & PK-4 to start the 2012-2013 school year.
VCS was awarded full district accreditation (K-12) from the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS)
VCS begins construction of the latest expansion (Phase VII).
The Villages High School is awarded "Early College" site status by SACS and partners with Lake-Sumter State College to offer a full Associates of Arts (AA) degree.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________

2013-2014

VCS completes construction of the latest expansion (Phase VII) with a ribbon cutting & open house on July 25, 2013.
VCS sets record opening day enrollment of 2,660 students in K-12 and 243 in PK-3 & PK-4 to start the 2013-2014 school year.
VHS Class of 2014 sets record of 143 graduates.
VCS earns our 12th "A" in a row!
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________

2014-2015

VCS sets record opening day enrollment of 2,962 students in K-12 and 258 in PK-3 & PK-4 to start the 2014-2015 school year.

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