Our pact question 14

How can the district strive to keep class size manageable and equitable across all elementary schools? Would you consider redistricting as a potential option? 

We can set reasonable limits on the number of students per class at each grade level and ensure that teachers are adequately supported based on class size and student needs. I am concerned about the perception that education quality differs across schools; class size variation may be a contributing factor but I do not think that it fully explains perceived disparities.

Redistricting would require comprehensive consideration of the benefits, costs, and perspectives of all stakeholders who would potentially be affected, but yes, I think it is always a potential option.

Is there anything else you would like to share about you / your candidacy?*

I personally received an excellent education from CUSD 200 and I am confident that high-achieving students have continued to receive an excellent education here. However, we are falling short of our mission to educate and support all students. I am running for the Board of Education in CUSD 200 because the status quo is a threat to the educational access and social-emotional well-being of many students, including my first grader. 

We have the ability and responsibility to decide what we value as a community. I value the diversity of our community. I understand the fundamental importance of equity – it is the foundation of special education services. We can re-imagine our approach to general education to be inclusive of learning differences. We can work toward providing our students with disabilities – some of the most vulnerable children in our communities – with the opportunity to transition schools with their non-disabled peers and give them meaningful access to community. And, we can make all students feel welcome and included in their school community regardless of their backgrounds.

If you have made it this far in my responses, I sincerely appreciate your interest and engagement. I enjoyed reading through the appendix of questions from OUR Pact group members. Please reach out to me at paver4cusd200@gmail.com if you would like to have a conversation about any of the questions. I love thinking and talking about special education, inclusion, and belonging – so please connect with me if this is an interest of yours as well.

Regarding one of the appendix questions on special education: My son is placed in a self-contained classroom that is not at our “home” school. The Hawthorne PTA has been very welcoming and inclusive of SAIL students at school events. Staff have created the “Hawk Squad” to foster connections between SAIL students and general education peers. It is a shame that the general education students at Hawthorne will go to Franklin while any SAIL students remaining in the self-contained pipeline for middle school will be sent to Monroe or Hubble (assuming the best-case scenario that they are able to remain at Hawthorne for their remaining years of elementary school).