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MEC
Citizen
Username: Mec
Post Number: 40
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 11:25 am: |     |
We are fairly new to Maplewood and new to the public schools in NJ. We have young children who will be starting K in the next year(s). Is there a way or has anyone been able to start their child in a different elementary school than they are districted to attend. We know several families that have expressed displeasure in the one that our children should attend and we are starting to explore our alternatives. Our children's education is very important and we do not want to risk a bad start and have to make up for it later. |
jab
Citizen
Username: Jab
Post Number: 169
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 11:58 am: | |
Families may opt to send their children to Seth Boyden if otherwise slated to send their children to a different elementary school, though I have heard that there may be a waiting list. I am kind of curious why your children's education should be considered paramount to that of other children who are districted to attend the school in question. Have you considered somehow contributing your effort to improving whatever the shortfall that you cite is? |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 676
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 1:12 pm: | |
Great post Jab.
MEC - it's been my experience that for every unhappy parent there are several very happy parents. I also find that the unhappy parents seek out other unhappy people and sit around and kvetch together. I also don't tend see those people helping out in the school or with events. Draw your own conclusions obviously but I hope you have visited the school, sat in on classes and met other parents before asking this question.
I am also curious about people who would make the largest financial investment of their lives and then negate it by not working towards improving their neighborhood school. |
jfburch
Citizen
Username: Jfburch
Post Number: 1263
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 2:31 pm: | |
MEC, as folks have noted above, you would do well to extend your research about your zoned school before coming to conclusions about how it will suit your child--talk to the PTA, take a tour, talk to some families who are happier there.
That said, it is possible, but very rare to get a transfer. You need a pretty good reason and regardless, such a request will only be approved if there is space, and if it will help, not hurt, the gender and racial balance of a classroom/grade. Classroom assignments and sizes are already pretty dynamic and sometimes difficult to balance and this makes it hard to consider elective changes.
(I know someone who explored such transfer last year and in the end was denied because there simply was not enough room at the preferred school.)
Finally, jab is correct that any family can apply to go to Seth Boyden, but demand does exceed capacity so it's not automatic, though you might want to look into it if you are zoned for somewhere else. |
bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 461
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 3:16 pm: | |
Does demand really exceed capacity at Seth Boyden at the kindergarten level?
I hear this every year but I have never heard of anyone applying to kindergarten from a different districted school area who has been denied admission. |
jfburch
Citizen
Username: Jfburch
Post Number: 1264
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 3:19 pm: | |
Hmmm. Maybe not, but I believe there is/was a waiting list--or maybe that has changed.
Anyone from S-B know? |
bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 462
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 3:28 pm: | |
I do know people who tried to transfer in older kids but were unable to, although some people were able to transfer older kids in at the very beginning of the demonstration school program.
Again, I do not know of a single family from out of the Seth Boyden catchment district who were denied places for kindergarten (and I know a lot of kids there). If enough places exist, why the brouhaha about getting on the waiting list..it feels artificially manufactured. Most people I know are fairly happy there..I think it can stand on its own merits without artificial hype. |
MEC
Citizen
Username: Mec
Post Number: 41
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 3:28 pm: | |
JAB - My mind set is that even when you have nothing, an education is something that no one can take away. So, if I feel my children will not be getting what is best for them then it is my responsibility to find the best for them and their future. I don't consider my child's education to be anymore important than another child in Maplewood, but I want to know ALL of my options before I place my children in a school that may or may not meet their needs. The Maplewood school system, the people of Maplewood and the BOE seems to be filled with disagreement and arguing rather than trying to meet all the needs of the students.
Joining the PTA has crossed my mind but I find that change in Maplewood is slow at best ... on the last election and the BOE election it looked like less than half of the town voted.
ELIZ - "I am also curious about people who would make the largest financial investment of their lives and then negate it by not working towards improving their neighborhood school."
We invested in a house that will sell easily and that is not out of the question. The sellers raved about the school in question and we are slowing learning that some neighbors feel much differently. Also, it's quite bold you you to assume that we aren't trying to works towards improvements in the school in question.
This was simply a thread to find information that could help us. Thanks for some of the information. |
bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 463
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 3:29 pm: | |
MEC, which school are you districted to attend?
You probably should talk to more parents who are strong advocates for that particular school and active participants in the school life. No school is perfect. |
jfburch
Citizen
Username: Jfburch
Post Number: 1265
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 3:51 pm: | |
(Bookgal, it's not necessarily hype--at the very least we need to find out what the current situation is vis a vis demand and wait lists. For my part, it's what I've understood from various sources over a few years--but it may not be up-to-date if demand has levelled off now that the program is not brandnew. In which case it's mistaken or outdated info--not manufactured brouhaha. And I agree, the school is impressive and can stand on its merits.) |
J. Crohn
Citizen
Username: Jcrohn
Post Number: 848
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 4:08 pm: | |
"...any family can apply to go to Seth Boyden, but demand does exceed capacity..."
?
As of about a week and a half ago, Seth Boyden surely was not rejecting applications from other district zones, but was actively soliciting them. Marilyn Davenport herself was on hand during one of Clinton's registration days, attempting to interest potential attendees. She had help from a woman I didn't know, who was handing out SB brochures and asking, "Have you considered Seth Boyden?" |
jfburch
Citizen
Username: Jfburch
Post Number: 1266
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 5:01 pm: | |
Good point, J. Crohn; we were just discussing it above.
I too was "recruited" at the Dan Kindlon talk the other night by some enthusiastic SB parents. In fact every SB parent I know is proud of the school and encourages folks to check it out.
That still doesn't answer the question bookgal originally raised about demand at the kindergarten level vs. older kids. Certainly there will be more open spaces in kindergarten than later years.
I'll call some SB folks and see what I can find out. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 462
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 6:21 pm: | |
One point you might want to consider is that if you send your child to a school other than the one you are zoned for, he or she won't be going to school with friends on the block, walking to school with them or coming home with friends.
Some parents don't mind this, others do - just passing it along for your consideration. Also, I think that if you request a placement outside your normal school that you have to get the child to and from school on your own. I don't think the District buses, except possibly to Seth Boyden. Perhaps someone else has more hands-on experience here.
I have a child in Columbia. Some parents hate the school and seem to love to point out every negative; my kid has had a very good experience so far, both from my perspective and from his.
A parent's opinion of any school is very subjective. I agree with the suggestion to visit, talk to other parents and PTA members so you can form your own opinion about what will be best for your child. Good luck, and welcome to Maplewood! |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 887
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 7:08 pm: | |
The district buses between Marshall and Jefferson zones, since those schools are paired, in addition to busing children to SB if they are zoned to other schools and live more than a mile from the school. There are also a few students who are bused to their zoned schools due to particular situations in their zones, I believe. Also, many special ed and ESL students are bused to the schools where their programs are held. I'm not aware of any elementary students who live more than 2 miles from their zoned school, but if there are any, state law provides for them to be bused. (I believe there are some secondary students who are bused via that regulation, although at the high school level, I believe that the cutoff is 2.5 miles, so it isn't very many ... maybe just up at the top of the hill in South Orange.)
Re not attending the same school as others in the neighborhood, our neighborhood has about as many kids attending Seth Boyden (where my children have gone) as Tuscan (our zoned school), and my children have had friends at both schools as a result. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 888
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 7:17 pm: | |
Also, if you do choose to apply to Seth Boyden at the kindergarten level, and you get your application in prior to the deadline, I would be extremely surprised if you did not get in. That deadline is typically sometime in May, but I don't know for sure ... check with the registrar. Most of the people that I've heard of on the waiting lists either applied later in the year or perhaps were trying to enter at one of the higher grade levels that had classes at capacity. Also, once you have a child at SB, I'm pretty sure that younger siblings are guaranteed admission, since it is recognized that families should be able to have all of their children attend the same school if they wish. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 463
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 8:10 pm: | |
But if the parent chooses to attend a school not their home school (except for Seth Boyden), the district does not have to provide transportation, as the child lives within walking distance of a district school.
Marshall/Jefferson is an entirely different situation, going back about 20 years, when the schools were paired for racial balance. Busing has always been provided for children in those schools who are outside of walking distance. In that case, the parents did not make a choice, it was district policy.
If, for example, a Clinton parent were to decide that they would like their child to attend South Mountain and the District OK'ed it, the district would not have to bus the child from home to South Mountain.
I cannot speak for Seth Boyden, as I am not certain if children who opt to go there are bused or not. I thought the original premise of the demonstration school was that they would be, but I do not know if that became the practice.
Special Ed. children who do not attend their home school are bused by the District, as not all schools offer the same Special Ed. programs for the same age ranges. Again, as the District decrees where the child will attend school, the District provides the transportation.
In the instance discussed in this thread, the parent is asking about choosing to send the child to a school other than the one to which they are districted; Special Ed. does not seem to be part of the situation, so I do not believe the District would be obligated to provide transportation.
Hope that clarifies the issue. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 385
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2004 - 10:39 pm: | |
Don't worry, MEC, you made a good choice in coming here.
On the whole, Maplewood parents tend to be well educated and involved in their children's education. They have also consistently supported the tax increases needed to maintain quality programs, so it's not just idle talk.
The District Administation is top heavy and not very responsive, and the Board has a few ideological elements that sometimes outweigh the more practical voices, but elections are coming soon and this may change. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 891
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 12:07 pm: | |
Yes, if they live more than one mile away from the school, children who are "opted in" to Seth Boyden (i.e. zoned elsewhere) are bused. That is district policy (similar to the busing for Marshall-Jeff)
As mentioned in an earlier post, I believe that there are isolated other pockets of courtesy busing, where children who live less than 2 miles from their zoned schools do receive transportation services. I don't know all the specifics, but I seem to recall some publicity a couple of years ago when those services were proposed to be cut and then were later restored (at least in part) after the concerns were publicized. These were specific zones or neighborhoods that were/are affected. It's not something that can be obtained based on an individual request. |
millie
Citizen
Username: Millie
Post Number: 84
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 2:51 pm: | |
After completing kindergarten at our districted school, I asked that one of our children be placed in another school. You simply have to write a letter asking for the change and submit it by a particular date. I don't recall what that date is, but you haven't missed it. Call the BoE office and they'll tell you to whom to write the letter and the date needed.
That said, my opinion is that you should try your kid at the school in your district. I'm sure there are many, many competent teachers at your districted school. Get a feel for the school, the administration, whether you can work with them, and whether your kid's learning style is a good "fit". I wouldn't use what you hear "through the grapevine" as the biggest factor in seeking a transfer. Even in the unlikely event your kid's teacher turns out to be Attilla the Hun, kindergarten is only a half day. How bad can it be? In fact, some kids do better with Attilla the Hun, or that particular teacher may take a shine to your kid, and s/he'd have a wonderful experience. After you decide, make an appointment with the principal and discuss your child's needs and the traits you're looking for in his/her teacher. That's the best way to get the right fit.
Keep in mind, whatever your decision, even a "sure thing", isn't. For example, a principal could leave and be replaced with an interim, or your child's teacher may need to leave due to pregnancy, or to tend to a sick family member.
And yes, you will be responsible for transporting your child to and from school every day. |
xavier67
Citizen
Username: Xavier67
Post Number: 332
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 3:47 pm: | |
Quality of teachers isn't the only reason why parents grumble about their schools, and may not be the only (or even the main reason) why MEC is reluctant to send her/his kids to the districted school. |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 684
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 3:55 pm: | |
What do you mean? |
millie
Citizen
Username: Millie
Post Number: 85
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 5:25 pm: | |
I realize that there are many issues to confront when choosing a school. Whatever MEC's reasons are, my opinion is still the same: I don't think a half-day kindergarten will make or break a child's academic career, ergo, sending his/her kid to the districted school will give him/her information and credibilty s/he needs to request a transfer for first grade, should s/he so choose. |
xavier67
Citizen
Username: Xavier67
Post Number: 333
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 6:14 pm: | |
"I don't think a half-day kindergarten will make or break a child's academic career."
I agree 100%. But MEC (I believe) is thinking about the whole elementary school experience, not just kindergarten (because presumably he/she isn't only thinking of K but the subsequent years at the districted school).
eliz: Beyond quality of teachers, I've heard many parents grumble about 1) the administrators; 2) academic rigor; 3) the makeup of the student body (e.g., too many disruptive students, too many rich snobby students and their pushy parents, etc.); 4) and most frequently, how the strength of the school doesn't converge on their children's points of need.
MEC, welcome to Maplewood...and to MOL.
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knak
Citizen
Username: Knak
Post Number: 44
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 12:43 am: | |
One way to get a feeling for the school in your neighborhood, or Seth Boyden, is to go to a school event. The school/PTA websites usually list activities, or you can call the school and ask about the calendar. The websites are linked on http://maplewoodonline.com under "local links" (on the top of the page).
We went to cultural and social events at Clinton (our zoned school), Tuscan, and Seth Boyden before deciding to send our daughter to Seth Boyden. Of course, a fair or performance has a different feeling than everyday school, but we did get to walk around and talk with actively participating families, and to get a look at the classrooms and watch/listen to the interactions.
Tomorrow night - unless snowed out - Seth Boyden has a special event (which is traveling to all the schools, I believe). Like most of the school events, it is free and welcoming to visitors.
In Our Family Photo Exhibit & Family Dessert Night
On Tuesday, January 27 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. bring your family's favorite homemade or store-bought dessert to the Seth Boyden cafeteria.
Share dessert and see the "In Our Family Photo Exhibit" featuring photos and text of diverse families. The exhibit will be on display in the library January 26 through February 13.
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sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 896
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 8:57 am: | |
That event at Seth Boyden - "Our Family Photo Exhibit & Family Dessert Night " has been rescheduled to next Tuesday, February 3rd, due to the weather. |
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