The Irony of it All

One Friday during second semester, just before the start of the first period, I watched one of our counselors, directing a group of students and a teacher from Irvington High School, to Mr. Sach’s social studies class. I laughed to myself at the irony of this scene because this counselor is the transition counselor for Walters’ 8^th graders who will be going to Kennedy High School and there she was assisting the Irvington head hunters.

Now I have had the rationale for this visit explained to me. The visit was FUSD Board approved. The Irvington scouts would be visiting all the junior high schools. And, yes they are limited to accepting only 20 Walters’ students. I also know that the Irvington teacher stated that they accepted 75 Walters’ students into their freshman class last year. And when asked if one had to stay involved in the “Arts” after the freshman year he admitted that no one really checked.

There was really no need to disrupt our social studies classes for this farce. No doubt, considerably more than 20 of our students will apply for acceptance into Irvington’s freshman class. The question remains will that number increase by considering extenuating circumstances like: sibling attendance, distance factor or FUSD board meddling?

Earlier this month the FUSD Board of Education, in an obvious display of preferential treatment for one of its own, declared Centerville Junior High School an open school, ready willing and able to accept transfer students from the other junior high schools. Now if this was done to ease the crowded conditions at Horner, Thornton and Hopkins, it could be viewed as appropriate; but under populated Walters was also included. Walters was included because this would allow for a specific student transfer that had previously been denied. More than likely Centerville, following the practice established by Irvington, will probably attempt to actively recruit from the Walters student body.Will we soon find recruitment flyers in our message boxes? No doubt Centerville will want to visit the Walters campus to drum up interest in their school as the alternative school to attend.

It seems the concept of “equity” is rather hollow and meaningless in this district. Irvington’s past and present recruiting actions hurt Kennedy High School and that damage trickles down to Walters. If 75 of our best and brightest were skimmed off the freshman class of Kennedy to attend Irvington using the ruse of participation in the Arts & Performance Magnet School Program, Kennedy’s loss is our loss. Those 75 students took their academic excellence, serious study skills and highly proficient test scores to Irvington not Kennedy. As a result Kennedy looks bad and to some extent so does Walters.

Involved parents, not wanting their 6^th graders to eventually attend Kennedy High School (for whatever reasons), may opt to place their children at Centerville hoping that attendance at Centerville may lead to admission to Washington High School. Another incidence of Board meddling and this could happen. Walters has already endured the loss of the Ardenwood students and we may see a significant number of our Mattos students opting for Centerville. Keep in mind that these two schools are in established residential neighborhoods with parents who have high expectations and whose children meet those expectations. Like the loss of Ardenwood students, the loss of Mattos students will have a negative impact on our “numbers”, school climate and test scores.

Finally, the possible loss of students from Walters will also mean the loss of sections and the resulting loss of staff. One can only wonder what the future holds for Walters and this attendance area. Just how low can our population drop before we become unnecessary as a junior high school? Will Walters become the first middle school when the remaining 6^th graders in this attendance area are assigned to our campus? As California copes with an ever growing budget deficit and this district has to cope with the resulting loss of funds, where will the cuts, closings and lay-offs occur?

I have always felt that FUSD is a unified school district in name only. It seems that each attendance area looks out for its own interests and only its own interests. It may be time for Walters to take off the gloves and play as cut throat as the other attendance areas and even the Board. The district in its wisdom once considered closing and selling off both the Kennedy and Walters sites. With future Board member changes and the gloomy financial climate will this plan be re-visited?

The irony is Walters is the largest campus, has survived two rounds of modernization, has well maintained buildings, hard working administrators, dedicated and skilled teachers and an ever increasing population of students who need “more” and yet; always seem to receive “less” from the district. The 2008-2009 school year should certainly prove to be an ( ) <--- insert your word or words here …. school year.