The buses hadn't yet pulled up outside Coleman Elementary School Wednesday morning, but Molly Pierce was already scurrying about the office, trying to work out transfers and other first-day-of-school problems.
Redistricting helped solve some of the principal's problems with overcrowding last year. But with three schools failing the MAP (Missouri Assessment Program) test scores this year, which allowed students at those schools to transfer to Coleman and three other eligible schools, the overcrowding is back.
And a sign sat on an office file cabinet that read: "Thou shall not whine."
"I'm still placing children," Dr. Pierce said. "I don't know who is coming this morning."
Constance Wright came, hoping to transfer her two children, Dezvian Griswold and Anaiya Brown, from Noyes to Coleman. Former Kansas City school district residents, they were used to overcrowding, she said.
Noyes was still a good school, but ...
"A friend of mine's child goes (to Coleman), and they were telling me how the school is, how their child is having good grades and everything," Ms. Wright said.
Wednesday was the first day of school for the St. Joseph School District - a rainy morning that came one week earlier this year.
The day found the district still trying to recover from a failed levy and bond issue in April. It's still weathering the storm of public discontent from recent school closings and redistricting. Teachers are dealing with salary and career step freezes. And everyone waits anxiously to see if another try at the levy passes in November.
But red lights from school buses still flashed in the early morning rain, like every other first-day morning. Kids stil showed up in shiny new shoes and just-unwrapped clothes, carrying backpacks with fresh school supplies. Buses, vans, cars and trucks slowed traffic throughout the city. Patrol boys and girls stood on corners again. Fathers and mothers held cameras and camcorders capturing future memories. And teachers stood in doorways, ready to teach.
School still goes on.
Dr. Pierce said Coleman had 40 transfers by Wednesday. Average class sizes will increase from what would have been 22 students per classroom to 25 now. Ideal would be about 20 students, she said.
"We may not have the correct number of desks or books or whatever, but we will be able to accommodate that in time," she said.
What was Webster Elementary School last year began new life as the Learning Center. Hallways were crowded with youths and adults from the former Ruth Huston Learning Center, coming to work on school diplomas or English as second-language skills.
Preschool starts next week. The gifted program begins Sept. 8 here.
"It's been a morning of moving and getting ready," said Betty Kimberling, Learning Center administrator. "We're really excited to be here."
Doors stood solemnly closed at Neely Elementary. There was no childhood laughter, no first-day backed-up traffic. The only sounds were a chorus of crickets chirping from damp grass and the roar of cars and trucks speeding down the U.S. Highway 36 overpass.
A forgotten Safe Spot sign still hung in one window. A lone school district panel truck sat in the parking lot in front of a sign marked "Teacher of the Week." The paint had already begun to peel.
Alonzo Weston can be reached at alonzow@npgco.com.
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mm1967 says...
Dr Pierce,
Said we may not have the right amount of desk and books and over time we will.
What would that time line be? Did the district not have desk and books at the schools that were closed?
Or is schools like Neely and Webster using different books?
I thought the elementary schools taught the same ciriculums.
The district knew last week this was going to happen desks and books should have been moved to these 4 schools where they knew they were going to have transfers to.I would rather have to many desks and books than not enough.
Here is another "Failed to plan" moument for the district.
Who suffers in this the children do.How does the district think these children feel going to a new school and not even having a desk or books?This is a very nice video of the teacher welcoming her new students and she is a very nice teacher it seams like.But the district has made her job harder for her. The district said teachers pay is frozen, well when is the administration going to cut the fat in their offices?It about saving money to them is it not? So Mrs Smith take a pay cut along with the people who work for you help the teachers and students out.
On another note I would think after all of the board failures and to see the mess they have created they would resign.But these folks seem to think they are doing a good job.If these board member think so much about the district then resign and let people in there that would have the people trust for these issue the district faces are repaired and the schools can move forward.
Teacher in the district do a great job under the current situation. Thank you.I know I am going to get called a hater again but this is not hate it is legitame question for the district and concern for what is happening to our schools and children with these folks in charge.It is one hug mess at this point.
August 20, 2009 at 6:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Candi says...
After the NCLB transfers Coleman has 25 per class? My kids go to Parkway and they have 27 and 28 in their classes. What is wrong with this picture?
August 20, 2009 at 7:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yougottabekiddingme says...
Candi, I am fairly sure that number has been underreported. I have heard entirely different stories from parents whose children go there.
August 20, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gopguy says...
It's not just transfers due to NCLB...There are transfers at Coleman that just begged enough. So much for the policy of 'No Transfers'.
August 20, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
falcon says...
Apple, are you referring to Molly Pierce? I don't know the answer to your question, but I suspect you typed the wrong name.
August 20, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bytheway says...
it is Dr. Pierce.
August 20, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yougottabekiddingme says...
Apple, I am not sure why someone gave you a thumbs down for that post. I am going to give you a thumbs up for admitting that you could be wrong. ; )
August 20, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
localgirl says...
apple -
FYI: Melody Smith and Molly Pierce were in the PhD program at MU at the same time. She is by far one of the best and brightest minds in the district as well as in the community. Take a walk at MWSU today and visit the fountain and statue that donated by her family.
August 20, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheShadow says...
I am just amazed at the amount and tenacity of the attacks on anyone in the school district. While many of you may have valid concerns, you must be sitting at your computer, just waiting for the next article to come out so you can pounce on whatever subject comes up.
So, in the last few days the district announced that people could transfer due to NCLB and people are taking advantage of it, even many who did not change schools due to redistricting. Read the article and you will find that parents are just showing up with their children on the first day of school instead of going through the proper channels. And then you wonder why they don't have supplies for everyone on the first day?
The District and the Board are far from perfect, but this is getting ridiculous. Your constant rants are beginning to marginalize the arguments that actually have merit. I think it's time to relax.
August 20, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dillygent1 says...
Shadow, you spoke of ranting. I have heard no negative rants about principals, teachers, or staff. The only rantings I have heard have been directed toward one place...10th and Felix. The message that I think ought to be taken from this, was one that a commenter posted previously--get more involved in the selection of the school board, because it is they who hire the administration, who will move the school district forward. My immediate cheap reply the the comment about rantings is: Remember the saying, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." If you don't think they hear you the first time--keep squeeking until they do hear you. As far as the reactions to the articles in this section...if I were of the main office personnel, I would want all the vitriol to be aired now, in the hope that the steam runs down, come November.
August 20, 2009 at 1:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheShadow says...
I didn't say anyone had a negative rant towards principals, teachers or staff.
Should concerns be aired? Definitely
Should people have the right to be heard? Of course.
People that get on this site and turn every single item into a federal case or conspiracy are watering down the message. By constantly complaining about each and every little thing they can come up with, they risk being considered people you just can't please. Sticking with the real issues and not throwing out wild accusations would help the board hear what is really important.
August 20, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dillygent1 says...
Sounds to me like there are basically 2 issues: Communication and Trust. That's about as basic as you can get. I don't consider either one of those to be petty. All of these comments can be categorized into one of those 2 issues. I do have a question that has not come up. How can a school maintain adequate contact with parents and students when the household may be in an entirely different section of town from the school? Apple always lets us know that these after school sports programs are not school sponsored, so my question is this: If my child lives closer to Skaith and is going to school at either Pickett or Mark Twain (take your pick), can that child participate at Skaith? If the parents are working, are they going to have to drive that child from the Skaith neighborhood to the school their child attends for these after school activities? Are the walkers going to have the help of school patrols? What about the child, whose parents can't provide transportation? Still another question...for sports, or music programs or PTA or for other student performances...will there be problems getting the children to the performances so that they can participate or does the school district provide the transportation? The answer is in...COMMUNICATION. Just curious.
August 20, 2009 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
Apple,
have you not listened or read anything, the majority of the transfers were from Webster students that were sent to Edison. If you were going to be displaced anyway why would these parents not want to transfer to a school which had met standard as thier school had.
Apple what is the east side to you because I think Pickett and Skaith are on the east side of town.Oh I get it you live on the northeast side of town and you are mad your side of town has no school.
If this is the truth things about you and your support of the board and district maybe coming to light.Yo must be part of the task force and you will be pushing for a school on your side of the town.You know what apple the rest of the town will be out in November in full force because of all of the issues since May and vote this levy down and will continue to till there is a new board and Administration is replaced.If I were a betting man I would tell you to save your money and the task force money because it will be good money spent unwisely.
August 20, 2009 at 10:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
Oh Apple,
I understand alot like the mess our schools are in because of a few people sitting behind a desk making very bad decisions.I do not know what elese I need to know. I know our schools need money but these people I speak of obove are the reason this will not happen.School will continue to suffer till a new board and new admin is in place.
There are people who will vote no because of the issues the above people created and there will be people vote no because they want no more taxes and then there will be people like you that will vote no because they do not believe the issue with the sunset claus on it is right. So let see the schools will continue to suffer.
August 20, 2009 at 10:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
insideout says...
mm1967 - Your are correct! The schools will continue to suffer until the community can come together on this issue and the crystal ball shows that it doesn't look good.
Everyone keeps pointing their finger at the SJSB/administration and there is definitely an issue there to be solved. However, with a quick glance over the months of blogs on this issue it becomes very obvious that the community shares the blame. Look around, there are at least two groups out there and neither of them can generate even a simple majority of support because the community is divided in so many different ways. When a person or group of individuals can get the community to unite, then real changes will begin to occur on this issue.
August 21, 2009 at 12:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dillygent1 says...
Since this town has been growing, maybe we need to rethink where our locations actually are. Maybe they have changed, since determined so many years ago. As I brainstorm, maybe Southside could be considered as 4 schools--Hyde, Hosea, Benton, Spring Garden. West end could be 4 --Lindbergh,Lake Contrary, Humboldt,Lafayette. The north side could be 2-- Pershing and Roubidoux. Midtown could be 9--Field, Coleman, Edison, Hall, Twain, Parkway,Central, Bode, Truman. Eastside could be 3--Skaith, Pickett, Ellison. When you look at it this way, the majority of schools, and the majority of school population, probably falls into the midtown area. I'm not saying I'm right and I'm sure there would be those who would argue this concept and/or my breakdown of it, but I still think it's worth consideration. That said, I am not saying that the northeast doesn't need a school. Maybe they do. I would also like to know if Ellison is full and if so, what parts of town do those students live in. It seems they have almost been forgotten in all this talk about school buildings/boundaries.
August 21, 2009 at 12:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shopgirl says...
I want to thank localgirl for the information regarding Dr. Pierce. I took the opportunity to read Dr. Pierce's dissertation (at http://edt.missouri.edu/Fall2007/Diss...). I was impressed. It sharply contrasts with that of the current superintendent in substance and style. In my opinion, Coleman's principal is an asset and someone this community should be tapping for leadership in the school district as a whole. This is reflected not only in her academic writing but in the accomplishments at Coleman.
August 23, 2009 at 10:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )