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School districts want residents to learn about deactivation to make informed vote
by diane vance/gate city staff writer
A parent attending the community meeting Wednesday to learn more about Warsaw Junior High School's and Nauvoo-Colusa High School's deactivation plans thanked the two school boards near the end of the meeting.
“I commend the boards for putting this together,” he said. “You've answered a lot of questions. I came here a doubter and leave here a supporter. How do you plan to get the word out to the rest of the community before the Feb. 5 vote?”
Board members and administrators asked those present to spread the word, and an audience member encouraged Warsaw parents to attend the next community meeting in Nauvoo, Ill., (at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the junior high/high school. An open house especially for Warsaw parents and students precedes the meeting at 6 p.m.).
“We'd welcome any ideas to get the word out,” said Warsaw Superintendent Kim Schilson. “We are having a brochure made to mail out in the district.”
It was suggested to get more media to attend to broadcast the information.
Warsaw will host another community presentation about deactivation at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16. It also is preceded by a high school open house especially for Nauvoo-Colusa parents and students.
Deactivation will send Warsaw's seventh and eighth grade students to Nauvoo-Colusa's junior high and Nauvoo-Colusa's high school students to Warsaw next year if the Feb. 5 referendum is approved in both districts. The benefits include having a larger pool of students at each school.
Warsaw's seventh and eighth grades (in 2008-2009) have 61 students, Nauvoo-Colusa has 55; combined it will make a junior high of 116 students.
Additional curriculum
Warsaw's junior high curriculum includes five core classes all students take: English, math, history, science and physical education, plus current electives of reading or chorus, citizenship or band, and semester classes of keyboarding and art.
The proposed expanded junior high curriculum at Nauvoo-Colusa would keep the five core classes and offer nearly 20 more electives as well as keeping chorus, band, art and keyboarding.
“We offer a good education at our junior high and Nauvoo-Colusa offers a good education,” said Warsaw board member Steve Lucie, co-presenting a PowerPoint Wednesday. “In fact, Nauvoo-Colusa just won a state award for its junior high. With more students, more options can be offered.”
Nauvoo-Colusa Junior High School and Warsaw Elementary School each earned the Academic Improvement Award and were named 2006 Illinois Honor Schools.
The proposed list of additional junior high classes includes ecology and conservation, basic forest science, health, Life Skills based on the book “7 Habits for Highly Effect Teens,” home ec, introduction to crop and livestock management, introduction to agricultural occupations, seventh grade and eighth grade pre-algebra, math lab (tutorial services), geography, current events, government, short stories and novels, creative writing, speech/drama, foreign language, desktop publishing and jazz band.
“It depends on how many students sign up for a class whether it can be offered,” said Schilson. “And some of these are semester or quarter classes.”
Warsaw parent: Eight-block should be part of contract
The proposed additional curriculum also is based on having the eight-block class system at junior high. Warsaw High School has operated on the eight-block system for several years and Warsaw Junior High used to have eight block until budget cuts a few years ago. Nauvoo-Colusa has not used the eight-block system before.
“At Warsaw High School, Mondays and Wednesday are always A-days, Tuesdays and Thursdays are always B-days and Fridays rotate between A-and B-days,” said Warsaw guidance counselor Paul O'Day. “Students have four classes on A-days and a different set of four classes on B-days. Periods are 85 to 90 minutes long, giving teachers more time to instruct, have hands-on projects and labs, plus time to let students work on assignments. Students can begin their homework while still in class. If they have a question, who better to ask than the teacher?”
Warsaw Principal Tom Bertucci said eight-block was developed as a middle school concept and WHS adapted it.
“Before we had eight-block at our junior high, our failure rate, students earning an F in class, was 17 to 18 percent,” he said. “The eight-block reduced our failure rate to 3 percent. We had to change back to daily classes because of budget cuts.
“Eight-block classes include 15 to 20 minutes of guided practice. Students can ask their teacher about homework if they don't understand something. That leads to more homework being completed and turned in.
“Eight-block is great for athletes,” said Bertucci. “Students have that extra day to get assignments done. It also teaches students to prioritize and organize.”
Eight-block also works well for students, enabling them to take band, chorus, vo-tech and dual credit classes and not have to eliminate one choice for another.
Warsaw teachers have met with Nauvoo-Colusa teachers to explain about eight-block, but it is not a guaranteed part of the deactivation contract between the two districts.
“We're big fans of eight-block,” said Nauvoo-Colusa School Board member Lane Sinele.
A parent said it would be a deal-breaker to send his junior high student to Nauvoo-Colusa and not have the eight-block classes.
“I agree and we trust it will happen,” said Lucie.
“The thing about these two boards and administrations is there is a lot of trust,” said Schilson. “The teachers respect one another. The two boards have the same philosophy of teaching kids.”
“I will certainly recommend eight-block,” said Nauvoo-Colusa Superintendent Kent Young. “But it is a board decision.”
The residents of Nauvoo-Colusa School District are talking and concerned about the same things as Warsaw residents, said Sinele.
“The eight-block system is appealing. It gets our parents excited,” he said.
The audience member insisted it should be a part of the contract between the districts.
“I think all of this should be set in stone,” he said.
Nauvoo-Colusa School Board President Terry Knoke said his board next meets on Monday.
“We'll vote on it Monday so you will know before the Feb. 5 vote,” said Knoke.
Lucie pointed out Warsaw Junior High currently doesn't have eight block.
“I know Nauvoo-Colusa is making it a high priority,' said Lucie.
“The boards and administrators have trust with one another,” said Schilson. “We need to build that trust with the communities. Both sides want this to be successful and good for students. We'll offer what we say.”
Another parent asked what Nauvoo-Colusa's financial picture would look like if deactivation does not happen.
“This is not a financial decision,” said Knoke. “Deactivation rarely saves any money. This is a decision to have a better curriculum. If this doesn't pass, it won't change much for us. We finished last year in the black.”
The two districts' administrators and school boards started out to figure the best way to provide the best possible education, said Lucie.
More about the deactivation meeting regarding transportation, the high school curriculum, finances and teachers will be published next week in the Daily Gate City.
“I commend the boards for putting this together,” he said. “You've answered a lot of questions. I came here a doubter and leave here a supporter. How do you plan to get the word out to the rest of the community before the Feb. 5 vote?”
Board members and administrators asked those present to spread the word, and an audience member encouraged Warsaw parents to attend the next community meeting in Nauvoo, Ill., (at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the junior high/high school. An open house especially for Warsaw parents and students precedes the meeting at 6 p.m.).
“We'd welcome any ideas to get the word out,” said Warsaw Superintendent Kim Schilson. “We are having a brochure made to mail out in the district.”
It was suggested to get more media to attend to broadcast the information.
Warsaw will host another community presentation about deactivation at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16. It also is preceded by a high school open house especially for Nauvoo-Colusa parents and students.
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Warsaw's seventh and eighth grades (in 2008-2009) have 61 students, Nauvoo-Colusa has 55; combined it will make a junior high of 116 students.
Additional curriculum
Warsaw's junior high curriculum includes five core classes all students take: English, math, history, science and physical education, plus current electives of reading or chorus, citizenship or band, and semester classes of keyboarding and art.
The proposed expanded junior high curriculum at Nauvoo-Colusa would keep the five core classes and offer nearly 20 more electives as well as keeping chorus, band, art and keyboarding.
“We offer a good education at our junior high and Nauvoo-Colusa offers a good education,” said Warsaw board member Steve Lucie, co-presenting a PowerPoint Wednesday. “In fact, Nauvoo-Colusa just won a state award for its junior high. With more students, more options can be offered.”
Nauvoo-Colusa Junior High School and Warsaw Elementary School each earned the Academic Improvement Award and were named 2006 Illinois Honor Schools.
The proposed list of additional junior high classes includes ecology and conservation, basic forest science, health, Life Skills based on the book “7 Habits for Highly Effect Teens,” home ec, introduction to crop and livestock management, introduction to agricultural occupations, seventh grade and eighth grade pre-algebra, math lab (tutorial services), geography, current events, government, short stories and novels, creative writing, speech/drama, foreign language, desktop publishing and jazz band.
“It depends on how many students sign up for a class whether it can be offered,” said Schilson. “And some of these are semester or quarter classes.”
Warsaw parent: Eight-block should be part of contract
The proposed additional curriculum also is based on having the eight-block class system at junior high. Warsaw High School has operated on the eight-block system for several years and Warsaw Junior High used to have eight block until budget cuts a few years ago. Nauvoo-Colusa has not used the eight-block system before.
“At Warsaw High School, Mondays and Wednesday are always A-days, Tuesdays and Thursdays are always B-days and Fridays rotate between A-and B-days,” said Warsaw guidance counselor Paul O'Day. “Students have four classes on A-days and a different set of four classes on B-days. Periods are 85 to 90 minutes long, giving teachers more time to instruct, have hands-on projects and labs, plus time to let students work on assignments. Students can begin their homework while still in class. If they have a question, who better to ask than the teacher?”
Warsaw Principal Tom Bertucci said eight-block was developed as a middle school concept and WHS adapted it.
“Before we had eight-block at our junior high, our failure rate, students earning an F in class, was 17 to 18 percent,” he said. “The eight-block reduced our failure rate to 3 percent. We had to change back to daily classes because of budget cuts.
“Eight-block classes include 15 to 20 minutes of guided practice. Students can ask their teacher about homework if they don't understand something. That leads to more homework being completed and turned in.
“Eight-block is great for athletes,” said Bertucci. “Students have that extra day to get assignments done. It also teaches students to prioritize and organize.”
Eight-block also works well for students, enabling them to take band, chorus, vo-tech and dual credit classes and not have to eliminate one choice for another.
Warsaw teachers have met with Nauvoo-Colusa teachers to explain about eight-block, but it is not a guaranteed part of the deactivation contract between the two districts.
“We're big fans of eight-block,” said Nauvoo-Colusa School Board member Lane Sinele.
A parent said it would be a deal-breaker to send his junior high student to Nauvoo-Colusa and not have the eight-block classes.
“I agree and we trust it will happen,” said Lucie.
“The thing about these two boards and administrations is there is a lot of trust,” said Schilson. “The teachers respect one another. The two boards have the same philosophy of teaching kids.”
“I will certainly recommend eight-block,” said Nauvoo-Colusa Superintendent Kent Young. “But it is a board decision.”
The residents of Nauvoo-Colusa School District are talking and concerned about the same things as Warsaw residents, said Sinele.
“The eight-block system is appealing. It gets our parents excited,” he said.
The audience member insisted it should be a part of the contract between the districts.
“I think all of this should be set in stone,” he said.
Nauvoo-Colusa School Board President Terry Knoke said his board next meets on Monday.
“We'll vote on it Monday so you will know before the Feb. 5 vote,” said Knoke.
Lucie pointed out Warsaw Junior High currently doesn't have eight block.
“I know Nauvoo-Colusa is making it a high priority,' said Lucie.
“The boards and administrators have trust with one another,” said Schilson. “We need to build that trust with the communities. Both sides want this to be successful and good for students. We'll offer what we say.”
Another parent asked what Nauvoo-Colusa's financial picture would look like if deactivation does not happen.
“This is not a financial decision,” said Knoke. “Deactivation rarely saves any money. This is a decision to have a better curriculum. If this doesn't pass, it won't change much for us. We finished last year in the black.”
The two districts' administrators and school boards started out to figure the best way to provide the best possible education, said Lucie.
More about the deactivation meeting regarding transportation, the high school curriculum, finances and teachers will be published next week in the Daily Gate City.
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