First Day Bad...Is this what the whole year is going to be?

[Valarie]

It is sad that the first day can't go smooth. With all the rezoning and things we had to adjust to whether we like it or not and then when they get to school to find out they changed all class that we pre-register for before school was out (why pre-register if they are not going accept any class you sign up for), we weren’t late we actually turned ours in before other kids because when you went to the meetings they held the gave us a date 3 days prior to others that hadn’t been at the meetings and even got the packet to fill them out… and gave son classes he didn't request. You know it’s bad enough that we can't do anything to keep kids in there community school and then the one we are required to go to do what they want and don't worry about what the parents and child signed up for. Oh yeah and one more thing...they rezoning and saving money; the Karns bus ran the length of Meredith Road, Emory Road and Beaver Creek passing 12-17 subdivision's to pick up only 8 kids for the morning and afternoon...while the Powell bus ran 2 minutes after the Karns the EXACT same route...how is it saving money? The Powell bus wasn't full! Doesn't make sense.

[Vic Spencer]

Could someone tell me who selects the courses for a student's coming school year? The student, parent or the school? Shouldn't the school be involved in getting the students to take a number of very specific courses, and then the student/parent select "elective" courses if any? In every single school?

Vic

[Valarie]

I totally agree with you Vic!!! We had to go to several meetings last year before school (middle) was out and listen to the high school principals and teachers. Because of the "rezoning issues" I set through all of Powell's and Karn's meetings and filled out papers for BOTH schools because we had a court date set to try keep our son in Powell. I agree for the schools to put the kids in the Math, English and Science that best suits them for the grades on the assessment test but the electives...come on. We had a spot to fill out for 8-10 electives that the kids would like to do and they would put you in one...we that didn't happen at all!! And I have left 4 messages at the school since Monday and I have yet to have the principal and/or guidance contact me back. Why take the time to pre-register if the schools are going to do what they want!!

[Vic Spencer]

Well, it would be nice if the school reacted differently. Also the bus route planning could be done a lot better, especially with the cost of gas. There is probably some free scheduling software out there that could identify timing coincidences and low loads, if someone at the school never had math and is charged with doing scheduling.

Could someone from the board of education comment on how the two issues, that Valarie identified can happen?

Vic

[Vic Spencer]

Valarie, which school was the problem? You will need to talk this out with them. Maybe someone can help with that to make it happen. If no one helps within a couple of weeks, then email me some names, telephone numbers, the child's full name and so on. Do you know who your representative is on the school Board? He/she would help you also to arrange the discussion.

Just remember that there are at least two sides to all dilemmas. I forget that sometimes myself when I get mad. But to be fair, we should learn about all sides of the problem first, or after we cooled down.

Vic

[Angela Wilder]

At Weset High School, they have a thing called the lottery for certain elective classes. Students have to put their name on a list for electives such as Nutrition and Food, Cosmetology, Film Studies, and a few other courses. Usually 60 people are drawn out of that list for each course the student chose. A lot of students were dissappointed for not being chosen(especially their senior year). Other than that, you pretty much received whatever electives you chose.

[Mom Knox]

My child selected her courses last spring. After marking her required classes, she had a choice of several electives and numbered those in the order of preference. She was also called into guidance before school ended in May to make sure she was on track and had made good choices. Guidance did not make any changes. When she received her schedule, everything was correct and she had been placed in her first choice electives. She did not handle her electives alone. We discussed her choices and decisions.

[Cathy McCaughan]

My daughter selected her core and electives last spring. After I signed the schedule, it was turned in to guidance. Except for not getting driver's ed, she is very happy with her schedule.

[Valarie]

I wish things would have gone that way for my son. We did exactly what both of you done, and yes we did it before school was out last year and him and I discussed it and signed it and turned it in. When he gets to school Monday morning the major classes were fine but electives for this semester and next semester are way off...it is nothing of what we filled out. I started calling the school Monday afternoon to try and find out what was going on and its Wed and I have heard nothing...I even emailed the principal, teachers and guidance...I will stop by there in the morning on my way to work to see if I can get some answers and get it resolved. My daughter graduated two years ago and things went great for her and we didn't have any issues...I'm not sure what happen this time. Thanks for your all's opinions.

[granma2]

Valarie,
I don't know where your child goes to school, but KCS cut 52 teaching positions in middle and high schools which eliminated MANY sections of classes including electives. My friend who teaches at Farragut said there were 84 sections of classes eliminated there, which means that in your child's school, his choices could have been eliminated because there was no teacher for them. Also, Farragut had to send desks to Fulton and now does not have enough because kids from all over Knox County are transferring there. Also, they had to box up books and send them to all the failing schools. It seems to me that the school board has made some hasty decisions without realizing what the results would be. However, without a tax increase, Knox County does not have the money for schools. Does anyone know where the wheel tax money goes? Is it to pay the debt for Hardin Valley? And, incidentally, they also got books from FHS.

[Pamela Treacy]

Granma2

Do you know how many kids transferred into Farragut from other zones?

[Valarie]

Thanks granma2 for trying to clarify some of this....but that is not the issues of what happen in our case. The classes are still there that he signed up for it is lack of communication from the schools to the parents on the most part!! Farragut is the reason we are all in this situation to begin with...they are the ones that wanted the new school...new school was built...Farragut didn't like the area it was built...so the rest of Knox county schools get to suffer...the ones to blame is Farragut and bad decision making on the school board with the rezoning issues. I don't mind that my son was rezoned to a different school we live it...its all about principle and the way it was handled!!! As adults and having a family you check out schools and move to the community to have your kids in the school that you choose. When you live .4 (point 4) and can watch and here the band/football from you own yard and they change you to a school that is 6.9 miles from your home ...where does that make sense? Not because this affects my child it is in the way they ran the lines and cut it off. I have always believed in neighborhood schools and I worked for the Knox County Schools for 15 years and didn't agree with alot of things and who children came from across town because their parents worked closer to a specific school...

[Cathy McCaughan]

Farragut did not ask for a new school. Farragut did not choose Hardin Valley. If you want to complain about the location, place blame with the school board. Or, you can accept that we have what we have and offer constructive ways to make it work. As for parents placing their children in schools closer to their work, so what? Parents and students should be able to attend any school they choose. If you attend out of your zone, you provide your own transportation. Add teachers and supplies based on the number of transfer students.