A meager turnout at a community meeting to get feedback from Magnolian residents about Old Hay program options begs a few questions: Do parents not know what an option school is or are they so satisfied with existing schools they have no interest in an option school?
As the school district analyzes and revises school boundaries it continues to meet with community members until the final board vote Nov. 18. While that vote is at the forefront of that day's agenda, the board will also be voting to reopen Old Hay as an option school, which the district hopes will attract Magnolia and Queen Anne residents primarily to help ease current overcrowding.
Successful Schools in Action hosted the meeting, along with another meeting in Queen Anne, to give residents a chance to discuss Old Hay program options. Though about 30 Queen Anne residents attended the first meeting, just two Magnolia moms were present for the Oct. 29 meeting in Magnolia.
The point of the meetings, according to SSIA Executive Director Lisa Moore, was to find out how the district can make the option school appealing to Queen Anne and Magnolia parents. However, by definition option schools are open to anyone throughout the district, thus not guaranteeing a spot unless one lives in the small surrounding geographic "walk zone."
So what does an option school entail?
Currently, the district's proposal is to reopen Old Hay as a Montessori K-5, which will open in 2010 at Lincoln in Wallingford before moving into the Old Hay building in fall 2011.
Apart from easing overcrowding in neighborhood elementary schools, the district has a couple of other reasons for reopening Old Hay as an option school: there are no option schools in the Queen Anne and Magnolia clusters and Old Hay's proximity to John Hay would complicate drawing the boundary.
Because Montessori programs tend to be jam-packed and on high-demand across the city, a public Montessori K-5 appeals to families in the neighborhood who might want a different style of education for their children, and for those families waitlisted at other Montessori schools across the city.
Montessori education encourages self-directed learning by creating a 'prepared environment' designed to facilitate independent learning and exploration by the student.
While this type of program appeals to many parents, there are other types of option schools. But unless parents speak up, the district may move forward with the Montessori format.
The school could also focus on language immersion programs and become an International K-5, which would feed into an International Middle School.
Other components to consider would be an emphasis on world language and culture learning without immersion, arts integration or an emphasis on community service and experiential learning.
Furthermore, Old Hay could open as a dual program model - incorporating Montessori and conventional methods.
In the upcoming weeks Magnolia and Queen Anne residents can attend information meetings about the proposed boundaries, which will be voted on Nov. 18. But Magnolia and Queen Anne parents should also keep on their radar what kind of options they want to have for their child, whether they are currently in an area school, a Montessori program or they have yet to be enrolled. Otherwise, decisions might get formed by the district without significant feedback. Parents and residents with questions, ideas and concerns can send them to newassign@seattleschools.org.[[In-content Ad]]
