DaybyDay
Posts:314
 | | 09/29/2008 8:37 AM |
 Alert | I am interested to see how others have interpreted the new letter sent home to Legacy parents on Friday regarding the status of the school project. Here are some of the highlights: 1) An alternative plan to discuss the double sessions approach (so, has the time run out on how long students can attend 3 hour school sessions? I am curious as to what this plan could be. There isn't a whole lot of extra, empty space suitable for a school of more than (what?) 400 kids.) 2) No student will be asked to leave (I am sure this is a relief to some parents; although I didn't realize it was in question). 3) A plan is being implemented to get all the students back into full day status (I am curious as to what happened to the status of the portables. Didn't we just receive a notice saying that they were "on track" and that some trenchers or something was due any day to start work on them?) 4) Outside professionals have been retained to guide through these issues (could it be time to cut loose the Utah people and find AZ people who are here and can get the job done NOW)? The letter also states that we will have more information by Friday and that they will try to be better about keeping eveyone in "the loop" about what is going on. How long has school been in session? 6 weeks (this week). So it sounds like whatever plans were made, as carefully laid as they were, will not be fulfilled in the 8 weeks we were given at the back to school park day. I think we need to find out about a school board and see what can be done about electing people onto it. While, I kind of like the 3 hour school day schedule, this uncertainity and over planning needs to be addressed by more than just two people in an office. | | | |
|
|
DaybyDay
Posts:314
| | 09/29/2008 12:06 PM |
Alert | Ok, well, just what I thought.
Thanks for your input. | | | |
|
|
|
famof5
Posts:24
| | 09/29/2008 1:04 PM |
Alert | | We made the hard decision of pulling our children from Legacy--the uncertainties of everything were just not working for our family, so we did what was best for us and transfered them to another school. By the way they are all happy where they are currently attending. Everyone needs to do what is best for their children and family. | | | |
|
|
|
DaybyDay
Posts:314
| | 09/29/2008 1:48 PM |
Alert | | I actually wanted to get people's thoughts on the new stuff, not bash the school. I am at the point where if there is just one more thing....I want to see what their new proposal is. Hopefully they will remain true to their written word and give more information at the end of the week. | | | |
|
|
|
haphazard
Posts:1
| | 09/29/2008 4:17 PM |
Alert | From what I can discern, kindergarten doesn't have the same hour requirements as the older grades. I am assuming they would would take the EIGHT kindergarten classes (more than any other grade) and keep them half day, and get the older grades going full day. Since I've got a kindergartener and an older student in our family, I'm wondering what that schedule would actually look like. I bet numbers are being calculated to make it all work. I wish they would just get the "permanent" building done and scrap the temps.
Mentioning the "no student would be asked to leave" kind of goes without saying, but someone would ask--I think they are covering all of their bases.
As far as their written word, I think they are at the mercy of other parties involved--and I'm not referring to the city. Only if charter schools had the same privleges as state funded public schools--buildings and land being given, busing etc. parents wouldn't have to worry about all of this.
I think any parent you ask would have to agree their student is getting a much greater quality education there. It's easy to judge a school by the beauty of their buildings rather than the amount of learning going on inside! | | | |
|
|
|
*rikimaru*
Posts:491
| | 09/29/2008 6:32 PM |
Alert | so whats the deal with the letter? is it saying they may or may not finish the temp site, maybe they have run out of funds to do that?
another local websites forum is saying the perm site has been lost by LTS too. can anyone confirm this? if so, how does that make everyone feel knowing the temp site is it for the foreseeable future?
| |
listened for, they cannot be heard;looked for, they cannot be seen; felt for, they cannot be touched: old ninja proverb | |
|
|
 |
anotheruser
Posts:25
| | 09/29/2008 8:11 PM |
Alert | Please allow me to summarize:
Good:
This is a great school where the kids are getting a FANTASTIC education. GREAT JOB in this respect.
Bad:
LTS has been unable to secure enough financing to move forward with building out the new school location. I was told that until they pay off the entire new build cost that they can't move forward and they have been unable to secure a loan to cover the new build costs. There's nothing like learning about a major issue such as this, oh say, 3 weeks before school starts.
Ugly:
The "men behind the curtain", to ripoff the wizard of OZ have ZERO communication skills. And I mean Zero. I know that both of them are college grads...wasn't communication 101 a requirement? They absolutely refuse to provide any updates until the absolute last minute. Backs against the wall, upset parents, and then we receive an extremely vague list of bullet items. I'm SICK of the excuses that they are educators and not project managers. Um, HELLO, isn't it about time right now, considering you aren't running the school (the principles are) that you suck it up and take some ownership of the situation, proactively communicate with the parents, not to mention the staff? I know you are in a tight spot with all of the current circumstances. Just follow these three steps.
1. Communicate when you know something.
2. Communicate when you are working on something, even when things aren't definite. This tells us that you are "working on it, its in progress, and that you expect to have an answer or resolution by a certain date". When that date comes, communicate that it has been firmed up, or that there has been a delay. Communicate.
3. Communicate the bad news as soon as possible. Bad news doesn't get better with age. People would rather hear SOMETHING rather than NOTHING.
Or not. And continue to watch the number of students who will be removed or see next years enrollment decline.
It's your choice. | | | |
|
|
|
mom 2 BNM
Posts:122
| | 09/29/2008 9:12 PM |
Alert | | If they're currently in mediation as the letter implies, are they maybe unable to inform us on the details until everything is worked out? Let's hope this week brings some good news, or at least some definite plans for the rest of the school year. Aside from the fact that my kids have ample time to complete their homework and enjoy the rest of their day, they need to get back to full days. | | | |
|
|
|
buzymom
Posts:73
| | 09/29/2008 9:20 PM |
Alert | | COMMUNICATION.....This is why I pulled my son. I am sure many parents would be more tolerant and understanding if they actually respected you enough to inform you. Thats what made me so upset not that there was not a promised perm site but they wait till the last minute. I know personally several who pulled their kids before the school year started and many contemplating it now. | | | |
|
|
|
DaybyDay
Posts:314
| | 09/29/2008 9:27 PM |
Alert | I can appreciate everyone's input here. I certainly hadn't heard some of what has been added here. I just wish that they would communicate with all of us to let us know what the real deal is. IF they have lost the permanent site, then that would be something to communicate quickly (I would think). Rikamaru, what is the site that you found this information on? And, it might not make a big deal to parents. I don't know that people would immediately pull their kids knowing the permanent site is not going to happen but I think that they certainly need to let us know what is really going on here. The more the school administrators hide, the worse it looks.
Anotheruser, you spoke about needing funding/credit. Apparently this is diffcult to get (all over the country)- hmmm? But, wouldn't their funding have been secured long before this current credit crisis? I guess I don't understand why LTS would set a goal so high before they had the current elementary school up and running well.
Like I said, I actually like the 3 hour day. It is working for us and isn't causing too many crimps in our daily plan...except for the fact that we are in the afternoon schedule. But otherwise, I think my children are doing well and the schedule is working. I just don't like these vague messages. | | | |
|
|
|
anotheruser
Posts:25
| | 09/29/2008 9:27 PM |
Alert | That explains the last 2 weeks. Now if only someone could concisely explain the past year and a half. Keep in mind that the new school was "to be completed by December of 2007". Here in 3 months it will be a year late, and the "temporary" campus is grinding to a halt. Apparently there is supposed to be more information coming out tomorrow. Another slip of paper? | | | |
|
|
|
anotheruser
Posts:25
| | 09/29/2008 9:31 PM |
Alert | Anotheruser, you spoke about needing funding/credit. Apparently this is diffcult to get (all over the country)- hmmm? But, wouldn't their funding have been secured long before this current credit crisis? I guess I don't understand why LTS would set a goal so high before they had the current elementary school up and running well.
Exactly. In another letter they blamed quite a few different things for not having the funds in place (the developer, the state of the economy, etc). I can deal with "bad news". What I have a hard time dealing with is the founders of the school withholding information that allows parents to make educated decisions. And when I speak of "information" I'm not referring to direct dealings with attorneys or mediators. | | | |
|
|
|
DaybyDay
Posts:314
| | 09/29/2008 9:39 PM |
Alert | That is so funny. I think its hillarious that the "temporary site" has become the permanent site too. Are they purposefully giving misinformation?? I remember in the newsletter (about two weeks ago) saying that trenchers were on the way! LTS needs to just lay it out and then let the cards fall as they may. Exactly. In another letter they blamed quite a few different things for not having the funds in place (the developer, the state of the economy, etc). Blaming someone else for our "issues" and shortcomings goes all the way back to Adam blaming Eve; Eve blaming the serpent...In the end, it all comes to light. | | | |
|
|
|
mamaof5
Posts:18
| | 09/29/2008 11:03 PM |
Alert | | I don't usually post much but on this I would like to say that Legacy was set to start in fall of 06. I had gotten a letter from the just before school started to go to a meeting, which at this meeting they said their campus did not open due to funding. They were going to bus the kids to a temp site untill the building was set up. Then a week or 2 later they sent emails letting us know that it was not going to work out and they would open the school in fall of 07. It did open, but I decided to see how the year of 07-08 turn out and I would register them for 08-09 year. Last year they had a great year everyone raved about how good they were. I registered my kids for this year and only to find out last minute things were not going well and of course no communication. I wanted to give them a try, but not at my children's expense. It is really sad because none of the schools here are wotrth anything. My kids attend Connections Academy and are doing great. I hope that this town can work out the school issues because these children need a good education. | |
Joanna Robinson
formally crzmama05 | |
|
|
|
DaybyDay
Posts:314
| | 09/30/2008 8:12 AM |
Alert | Well, if AZ schools rank 50 out of 50 then I would say AZ schools as a whole have a whole lot of problems.
I actually blame overreaching and overextending on this problem. I am not sure why the administrators felt they should expand the school AND open a Jr. High when the permanent site for the elementary school children they already had was not up and running properly. And I mean, while the education may have been very good, the fact that there was no proper building site should have given them pause, to take a step back before expanding the school vision.
Also, what happened to the money the school won in the law suit against the city? I do remember reading something to that affect at the beginning of summer. | | | |
|
|
|
CyndiWitczak
Posts:223
| | 10/01/2008 9:08 AM |
Alert | | Drama, drama, drama. We are able to roll with the changes because it's worth it. Everyone's situation is different and that's the way the world works. My daughter has told me of kids leaving because of the schedule, etc. She has also told me of many new kids and kids returning after they leave. The bottom line for us is simply that whether they are there for 3 hours, 5 hours, 10 hours, they are getting a great education. She is being challenged daily, even in 3 hours. Do we look forward to the days being back to normal? Of course. Will any of this little stuff matter in 10 years? No. Will the kids be better off and reaping the benefits of a great education? Absolutely. Nothing in life is perfect. Take a deep breath and relax. | |
Yes, that's really my name | |
|
|
|
Bfroncillo
Posts:7
| | 10/02/2008 7:46 AM |
Alert | Anyone have new thoughts on the letter sent home yesterday (10/2)? I, for one, am absolutely LIVID. Maybe it isn't a complete inconvenience to some to have their First Grader start the school day at 10:30. How are parents that work outside the home supposed to get them to school and get to work??? Have they spoken to Tutor Time regarding the new schedules so they can prepare to assist these families? My bet is NO. | | | |
|
|
|
famof5
Posts:24
| | 10/02/2008 9:07 AM |
Alert | | Yes received the letter and again not sure why the different hours. We decided to pull our children from legacy and are at ease with our decision. As I have found by speaking with parents whom have pulled their children sooner--their kids were not as ahead as they thought. What it boils down to is that Legacy and the other public schools just have different teaching methods. Do whats best for your family and if it is stressful to have them there at Legacy the pull them and be involved in their "new" school. Legacy has not been forthcoming with information and this shows such disrespect for the students and their families. All schools are "businesses" and they need to be ran like one--if you don't communicate with those who contribute to your business then you business will fail! We invest in our schools so therefore we need to communicate with them as well as them communicating with us. | | | |
|
|
|
buzzymom
Posts:43
| | 10/02/2008 2:51 PM |
Alert | | I totally agree with you famof5, I pulled my kid out before school even started because I could tell the building was not going to be complete. At that time they were telling me a bunch of junk that I now know were totally untrue. Schools serve the community and need to have good customer service. The adminstration at Legacy has got to be crazy to think that so many parents will put up with this. At a certain point they can take the "better education" and shove it. They owe the community a big apology. The way they have been switching times left and right is just appalling, how is a parent supposed to function if they work outside of the home? | | | |
|
|
|
buzymom
Posts:73
| | 10/02/2008 6:40 PM |
Alert | | I also pulled my son before the school year started and as I watch the school now I am so HAPPY we did! I have had my eye on that school since last year and fully intended on sending him there this year but the way they operate I feel they don't deserve to even teach and have my child! I fel everyone needs to choose what is right for them but I personally know of many who plan to pull their kids at this rate! Which is bad that these poor kids have to adjust to another school when if they did as they say this would not have to happen. AT the very leaste BE HONEST! We teach our kids to be honest yet this school knows what is going on and doesn't tell you gusy till the last minute...I would be LIVID! | | | |
|
|
|