A Tale Of Two Schools

Once upon a time the Greeley/Evans area was booming.  Houses were being built by the dozens and prices were escalating before lots were sold.  The region was one of the top-growth areas in the nation, and families were looking to the region for housing, families and education.  During that era the pressure was on District 6 to provide competent education for students, and innovation was allowed on a limited basis.  Charter schools were grudgingly accepted on limited terms.  Union Colony was not allowed to open an elementary school because they were "unproven." Frontier Academy had an elementary program, but was only allowed a middle and high school program with a limited number of students.  Furthermore, both Frontier and Union Colony had to build or provide their own buildings.  After the principal of John Evans Middle School was convicted of criminal activity, the Chappelow magnet school was allowed to expand into the middle school realm.  And District 6 built Ann K. Heiman elementary in a newly-emerging subdivision, to accomodate student growth.  The District paid for this new elementary, and staffed it fully with teachers paid at higher rates than those in the charter schools.

Now, fast forward to the present day.  Union Colony has emerged as one of the highest-performing schools in the region, surpassing District expectations.  Ann Heiman Elementary and others have continued to languish in their CSAP test scores, particularly in the hard sciences.  This has caused Union Colony to step into the elementary education realm, with an offer to expand their school into that area.  What does District 6 think about that?  They hate it!  Union Colony has faced hostile questioning and rejection of their application at this point.  They have been successful under their charter, whereas District 6 has failed in their educational model.  It's not about the children at all.  It's about perpetuating a failing system, under a failing school board.

Ann K. Heiman should be one of the flagship schools in the District 6 stable, but it's not.  They have one of the newest buildings, they built in a growing section of town, and they brought in teachers and administrators with excitement and vision.  Union Colony had to build their own building, staff with less pay per capita, and do more with less.  What was the difference?  The charter school functioned under the leadership of parents, and Heiman was controlled by District 6.  True, there are other variables that may be argued.  Some may try to say charter schools are exclusive and don't take a fair representation of at-risk students, but they do accept people from all strata of society.  Furthermore, they have offered to position their elementary school so that it focuses particularly on at-risk children.  That hasn't been enough.  It's not about education; it's about control, unions, a closed-loop system within the District 6 administrative offices, and patting each other on the back.

Next time you drive past these schools, ask yourself which one you would rather see educating your children and grandchildren.  Look beyond hard-working teachers and administrators, and ask yourself how you would want the broken system to be fixed.  Then call District 6 and give them an earful of your opinion.  They need it!

 

Comments

[Shirley]

Who are you going to shoot first, Dennis?

[Dennis]

The authors of our Constitution understood that ALL governments are corrupt, it's like gravity. That's why they built in protections for the citizens, like the 2nd Amendment.

From the Preamble to our Declaration of Independence:

"That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."

So, what will we do? Vote? That's worked real well, hasn't it? Is it time to start pushing back?

[Bobby J.]

Shirley,

Proof of corrupt political system. Here you have the man who helped author and pass, yet this corrupt judge has the nerve to say,

TABOR "does not say 'cash' nor does it say what comprises this emergency reserve fund or what it is that the state shall 'reserve,' " Frick wrote. "Therefore the court finds the provision ambiguous."

Read more: Judge rejects Douglas Bruce's challenge over buildings as TABOR reserves - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_18519013?source=commented-#ixzz1U5PZM6hE
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse pass the measure explaining intent and the judge has teh nerve to say,

[Bobby J.]

Shirley,

The Colorado Constitution is not followed by elected officials and has been rewritten by the black robes.

If it were only so simple as passing laws.

[Shirley]

The laws of the State of Colorado must change.

[Bobby J.]

Only the State can fix the State, LOL.

Shirley, spend 5 years reading the website link and get back to me.

mises.org

[Powerball]

Shirley, what should we call them?
Seriously, is there anything that progressive liberals have gotten right? I am nearly convinced there are two species of mankind out there; liberals and conservatives. The problem is conservatives want to live and let live. Liberals want the conservatives to "serve" them. Slavery at their core.
It seems if liberals cannot control their appetite for servitude and the situation gets any worse the solution is, "If you can't beat them, join them". Suck the living air out of their programs and ideals by demanding the same. Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie private sector retirement plans, free healthcare, and exorbitant wages. Level the playing field and poof, their gone.
It's just like a snakes bite is managed with snake venom.
Milk them suckers!

[Shirley]

Call your state legislators. The District is a component in a flawed system. Only the state has the power to unwind the monopoly of state-delivered education.