Yes, thank you for being our eyes, ears, and critical thinking! Yeah, there were no hints re: the larger issue re: Roosevelt School in the other coverage, except for maybe the hint suggested by the coverage of Batteries Unlimited vs. parents pickup lineup.
I always love your newsletters, Aislinn – so informative! Thank you. Superintendent Allen’s explanation highlights how the 10/1/24 snapshot undercounted Worcester’s real enrollment. On 10/1/24 the district reported 24,778 students, but from then until the end of the school year Worcester grew by a net four students for EACH school day.
Using the state’s 180-day school year, that daily gain works out to the equivalent of 362 additional students as of 10/24, about 1.46% more than the 10/1 snapshot. With roughly $350 million in state aid, that translates to about $5.1 million in underfunding. That’s a lot for our Worcester schools -- it's many positions cut when we need them more!
Has there been any discussion with Senator Kennedy or the state about revising the state funding practice to reconcile funding in the following year so that districts are credited for undercounts (or debited for overcounts)? As long as we rely on a single day’s headcount, Worcester and districts like us will carry more students than the state recognizes/funds and so we'll be underfunded for doing so and likely feel forced to fire teachers. Why not adjust next year’s funding to make it fair, one way or the other?
Walking is taboo these days! I walk my kindergartner to school while carrying my toddler on my back and towing my infant in a wagon, and we get so many LOOKS. I've heard that maybe there aren't sidewalks in that area of Worcester.. a few sidewalks would probably cost less than $2 million. Think of the collective hours each day that would be saved and years added to lifetimes by walking or biking instead!
What gets under my skin is how many cars (and school busses) sit parked, but still on and running, outside of the schools (and at bus stops) for long periods of time, even when the weather is beautiful. Not sure most people are making the connection between their idling vehicles and the poor air quality/climate collapse that impacts our kids profoundly.
And just a side note, not defending anyone, but I think when our elected officials demonstrate the ability to change their minds and positions rather than dig in their heels and refuse to stand corrected, it's a good thing for us constituents. Otherwise there's no hope. I hope our school committee members are able have open minds and be willing to change their position on more policies that have a positive impact on our students moving forward (thinking about outdoor recess, screens and AI bots usurping human connections, and phones in schools).
Yes, thank you for being our eyes, ears, and critical thinking! Yeah, there were no hints re: the larger issue re: Roosevelt School in the other coverage, except for maybe the hint suggested by the coverage of Batteries Unlimited vs. parents pickup lineup.
yes! and they still didn't even ask the question...
thank you for reading!
I always love your newsletters, Aislinn – so informative! Thank you. Superintendent Allen’s explanation highlights how the 10/1/24 snapshot undercounted Worcester’s real enrollment. On 10/1/24 the district reported 24,778 students, but from then until the end of the school year Worcester grew by a net four students for EACH school day.
Using the state’s 180-day school year, that daily gain works out to the equivalent of 362 additional students as of 10/24, about 1.46% more than the 10/1 snapshot. With roughly $350 million in state aid, that translates to about $5.1 million in underfunding. That’s a lot for our Worcester schools -- it's many positions cut when we need them more!
Has there been any discussion with Senator Kennedy or the state about revising the state funding practice to reconcile funding in the following year so that districts are credited for undercounts (or debited for overcounts)? As long as we rely on a single day’s headcount, Worcester and districts like us will carry more students than the state recognizes/funds and so we'll be underfunded for doing so and likely feel forced to fire teachers. Why not adjust next year’s funding to make it fair, one way or the other?
Walking is taboo these days! I walk my kindergartner to school while carrying my toddler on my back and towing my infant in a wagon, and we get so many LOOKS. I've heard that maybe there aren't sidewalks in that area of Worcester.. a few sidewalks would probably cost less than $2 million. Think of the collective hours each day that would be saved and years added to lifetimes by walking or biking instead!
What gets under my skin is how many cars (and school busses) sit parked, but still on and running, outside of the schools (and at bus stops) for long periods of time, even when the weather is beautiful. Not sure most people are making the connection between their idling vehicles and the poor air quality/climate collapse that impacts our kids profoundly.
And just a side note, not defending anyone, but I think when our elected officials demonstrate the ability to change their minds and positions rather than dig in their heels and refuse to stand corrected, it's a good thing for us constituents. Otherwise there's no hope. I hope our school committee members are able have open minds and be willing to change their position on more policies that have a positive impact on our students moving forward (thinking about outdoor recess, screens and AI bots usurping human connections, and phones in schools).