School board evaluates funding, parents voice concerns on scheduling

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

Concerns over parental notification and student scheduling brought several parents to the Nevada R-5 Board of Education meeting at Benton Elementary Wednesday evening. The parents made it clear they weren't trying to confront the board but wished to resolve some issues.

Norlene Hillier brought a letter expressing the concerns of many parents who try to accommodate the varied schedules of their children only to find that the schedule is changed unexpectedly or the sponsor is unwilling to let the student miss a practice for another school activity.

Safety was another concern. Hillier pointed out the dangers of dismissing students before an activity is scheduled to finish. Hillier said some parents simply cannot leave work to pick up a student who is unexpectedly released from an activity.

"The coach or sponsor lets the practice out early, or even worse, cancels it altogether. The parent either arrives at the school to find a child sitting out on the sidewalk all alone, which could present a safety issue for the district, or is called by the student to come get him or her. The parent must leave work early, without any advance notice to their employer."

Hillier spoke about the lack of communication between the district and parents and suggested that the schedules be posted on the districts Web site at least one semester in advance so parents and students could plan activities. She also said the district was not providing enough notes to parents about their children's activities.

"By the time a student is in middle school, parents aren't getting as many notes and by high school there aren't any," Hillier said.

She said the group decided to come to the board because they had attempted to go through the "regular channels" and had not had success.

"We hope you understand that we did not come to the school board without going through the process," Hillier said. "The issues are not new but have become more dominant."

Other parents were present who concurred with Hillier and presented their own input on the issue. Chris Ellis, board president, said he faces the same predicament.

"Effective communication is the key to making these programs a success," Ellis said. "Communications between a parent and child is important also, sometimes you have to pry. As a parent I've had to ask what's going on myself."

Superintendent Ted Davis pointed out that the schedules were sometimes obsolete by the time they get posted to the Web site and sometimes other factors impacted whether a schedule was changed or not.

"Sometimes the sponsor waits to see which students are participating and customizes the schedule for those students," Davis said. "By the time the schedule is posted on the Web site there are changes. Sometimes they are because of us and sometimes they are imposed on us. It is our intention to adhere to the schedules as closely as possible but that isn't always possible."

The board viewed a demonstation on guided reading for students at Benton Elementary, then heard an update on the school funding lawsuit.

Davis told the board Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon had requested Judge Richard Callahan to place the lawsuit on hold until after the 2005 legislature had a chance to address the school foundation funding formula.

The Committee for Educational Equality, which brought the suit, said they wouldn't object if the court issued a preliminary ruling upholding their claim that the current formula violates state and federal constitutions.

Davis said the judge granted the stay, but Davis did not know if a ruling about the constitutionality of the current formula had been made.

"There is little chance for a quick solution," Davis said. "I don't think the legislature will enact a bill quickly."

In a related matter, the board discussed budget issues -- a source of concern for more than a year. The most recent problem to crop up is the negative adjustment the district was hit with because of a 3,000 student increase in statewide enrollment, that took $44,500 from the district.

The proration factor used by the state was also reduced.

"If we were to get the full amount we should under the foundation formula we would not be deficit spending, we would be able to fully fund every program and activity," Davis said.

In an ironic comment on the situation the district finds itself in Davis gave a good news, bad news comment.

"The good news is we know where we're going to come out with the budget at the end of the year," Davis said. "The bad news is we know where we're going to come out at the end of the year, we won't come out in the black."