Parkview board looks at balancing class sizes
Podcast Episode
Some Parkview School District families are being asked to voluntarily change schools to help balance class sizes. The Parkview School Board may have to consider shifting boundaries if more families won't voluntarily send students to Newark Elementary School. Kyle Geissler reports. You can read more in Tuesday's Janesville Gazette.
ORFORDVILLE — Parkview school administrators will seek volunteers among Orfordville Elementary third-grade parents who might be willing to send their kids to Newark Elementary to balance class sizes next year.
A discussion at Monday night’s school board meeting about how to solve the imbalance brought parent concerns about the future of Newark school, leading board President John King to comment.
“Eventually we’re going to have to do something—to close a school, consolidate them,” he said. “We just cannot afford to keep all these schools open, and it’s going to be tough decisions, and nobody’s going to like them … whether it’s Newark or Footville, we don’t know yet. We’re in the beginning stages of looking at all this stuff.”
Now the district has three third-grade classes at Orfordville and one at Newark, Superintendent Steve Lutzke said. But projected enrollment next year shows class sizes at Orfordville could be 22 to 23 students while the Newark class would be 16, he said.
That seven-student difference is a concern, said Lutzke, who also has a son in third grade at Orfordville.
Possible options discussed would be to move all Newark fourth-grade students next year to Orfordville and balance the class sizes, ask for volunteers or change boundary lines.
Residents who spoke at the meeting requested the district ask for volunteers from Orfordville first. The district will see what the results are from a letter seeking volunteers.
Parent Kate Brown wondered why the district would bus 16 Newark students to Orfordville when it could just bus a handful of Orfordville kids to Newark.
“I also have a huge concern that if we lose the fourth grade at Newark, if we’re ever going to get it back,” she said.
Newark resident and parent Marissa Neal said she was there to protest moving any classes out of Newark because she’s watched the school be put on the chopping block over the years.
“I feel this a huge mistake,” she said, “because what is being overlooked is Newark is an asset—no—Newark is a shining star in our district.”
Other business
On Monday, the Orfordville Parkview School Board:
-- Heard an update on a possible merger of show choirs with Brodhead. Superintendent Steve Lutzke clarified the issue by saying Brodhead had first approached Parkview about the idea, not the other way around as was stated at a Brodhead School Board meeting last week. Both schools are in preliminary discussions to determine whether it’s a good idea, officials said. Parkview will be posting the open position of Pizazz Show Choir Program director outside the district.
Resident Tom Torkelson questioned the costs and other details of the possible merger during the public comment period.
-- Approved applying for a zero-percent interest loan to put a new roof on the junior/senior high school. The board’s action was needed to meet the April 30 application deadline, but a decision on going forward with the project will be made in the coming months.
May 2, 2010 at 2:46 p.m.
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In response to posterguy...Recently I was in line to register my children for summer school in the Parkview School District. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the line that headed out the door and saw that our superintendent, Steve Lutzke, was standing at the back of the line, waiting to register his own child for classes. He could have chosen to walk to the front of the line or even just hand in his child's registration...but no...he waited in line like the rest of us. My wife asked Mr. Lutzke's wife about which teacher they requested for their child. She shared that they choose to let the professionals at their child's school choose what situation is best for ALL students at that grade level. You stated in a previous posting that you aren't a resident living in the Parkview District. I'd suggest that you do your homework before slamming a person of integrity. The people living in the Parkview District deserve the best...and they have the right guy in place. Steve Lutzke, as a district administrator, earns an A in my book. Posterguy earns a D-. When asking who's number one in the Parkview District, Mr. Lutzke's actions speak louder than words...the Parkview students are ALL number 1!
Apr 21, 2010 at 12:02 p.m.
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"camper61" - If you look at the financials according to the referendum it looks like Footville needs $523,825 worth of repairs and Newark needs $177,020 - However the 2 little bathrooms at Newark do not need $78,000 worth of improvements. I'm not sure where they came up with that number, try maybe $10,000 which would bring the figures down to $108,420. That is a $420,000 difference. Even stating those numbers I am not suggesting we close Footville either. You will still need to maintain any school that you close and not have enough room to house all the students. Try cramming them into 2 schools the students will really be cramped then! That still will equal more money!
Apr 21, 2010 at 10:58 a.m.
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think_it_through...I couldn't have said it better myself. Over the last 5 or so years, there have been larger class sizes at Newark than Orfordville at times, but nobody raised a concern then. Now that the District Administrator has a child who would be in a larger class, he's trying to find a way to even out class sizes. Sounds like 'looking out for #1' to me.
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Until the Parkview School District gets some new views in the School Board and the Administration, the district will not improve. The majority of the leadership in the district is a disgrace, unwilling to address internal problems and unwilling to support its teachers and students. A serious change is needed before things can get better. It's too bad Patrick Kennedy was only willing to work as the Administrator for 2 years max. With Steve "Reineck, Jr." Lutzke running the show, the district will suffer.
Apr 21, 2010 at 10:22 a.m.
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Good luck getting volunteers. If someone has a kid that can walk to school why would they stick them on a bus for 15 min/ 10 miles each way to school every day? All of the Newark kids have to be bused to school anyway, just extend their ride a bit and is done with it. People that live in the country understand that their kids are going to ride a bus. The clock is ticking on Newark if people like it or not. Just look to some of the larger cities that are closing large numbers of schools because they can’t afford to run them.
Apr 21, 2010 at 9:16 a.m.
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This leaves me wondering why when the class sizes have been larger at Newark "action" was not needed? You didn't hear any complaining from Newark.
Also, the 22 student class size is taking into consideration that the students using School Choice will come to Parkview. Some people had to get their School choice paperwork in as a "just in case". 22 students is still considered to be a small class size compared with other schools. I think we need to stop worrying about why somebody else "gets a bigger apple than mine" and just work together to support the entire school district.
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