Midwest fights for equal opportunities

by Wyoma Groenenberg
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 6:19 PM MDT

While many people involved at Midwest School are unhappy with recent staffing reductions, most believe that the Natrona County School District and school board members are listening.

Midwest parents have come out in force to bring attention to their dilemma, having lost two teaching positions at the NCSD level for next year, plus the cut of one teacher and three classified employees through Title 1 funding, which the school no longer receives.

In return, board members have visited Midwest, talked with and listened to concerned parents and staff. The NCSD is working on a separate recalibration, or staffing, model for Midwest, which is the district's only pre-K-12 school.

Student population as of May 9 was 203, according to Paula Chapman, the school's office manager, with 100 kids in elementary (pre-K-6) and 103 in secondary. Sixteen teachers are employed at Midwest School through the district.

For next school year, after graduation and likely some students not returning because of the staffing cuts, the rolls showed 182 students had registered as of May 9, Chapman said.

Mark Mathern, NCSD's executive director of curriculum and instruction, said he and Cheryl Gettings, the mentor for instructional facilitators, are working to develop a new staffing formula for the small school.

The Wyoming Legislature directed that there be 17 students to one teacher, with funding given accordingly.

"We're working within our means for a solution," Mathern said, noting that there already are discrepancies between the formula's wage suggestions and what some employees actually are paid.

So, for example, when a classified employee makes more than what the model states, there is that much less funding available for other positions, Mathern explained.

He added, "We're looking at a 'basket of goods' in Midwest, and we have to deliver it" while meeting all of the requirements for honors classes, body of evidence, the Hathaway Scholarship and more.

Mathern said the goal is to present a preliminary staffing plan to the board at its board meeting on Monday, May 19, which coincidentally already was scheduled in Midwest.

Meanwhile, those with an interest in the school continue to contact board members and district personnel, relaying their concerns.

School board member Tandi Rinker said that NCSD is taking the right direction in studying how to make the recalibration model work in Midwest.

"If it means fixing it, great," Rinker said. "If we can't, OK. But let's do something. Let's make a plan and figure out why it's not working and what we can do to make it work."

Making sacrifices

A couple of issues already have been addressed. Midwest's preschool was going to be cut, but was saved through continued Title 1 federal funding.

In an effort to balance core classes and student numbers, Principal Bruce Youngquist, who declined an interview, decided to cut the positions for technology/business and art for secondary students.

However, he offered alternative opportunities. The hiring of a special education teacher with art certification is said to be in process. That teacher will offer two art periods for secondary students.

An elementary art teacher will travel from Casper to teach grades 1-6.

Nancy Warren, whose position as the tech and business instructor is getting cut, has accepted a job as a full-time tutor at Midwest next year.

"I think the students will be short-changed," Warren said about not having tech classes. "I think it's really important for kids to know computers, especially since (PAWS) testing is done on computers."

She added, "I understand why the choices that were made were made; I don't think it's in the best interest of kids."

While the students, staff and parents are used to "a give and take" environment, according to Chapman, many think the students have to give up more than they should.

Sophomore Katie Robinson said, "What (the district) is doing is unfair to us. Elective classes are more restricted."

Robinson said she has heard rumors that some of the older students won't return to Midwest next year because of the limited opportunities.

According to Chapman, "We're very concerned about not having the classes. ... It's very important to have Casper students pick our school. With less to offer, fewer Casper kids would come to Midwest."

Combining grades has been done over the years at Midwest, but normally is between two classes. For next year, a combination of grades 4-6 under two teachers is proposed.

Sheila Crowson, the fourth-grade teacher, will teach a combination of grades 4-5, while the rest of the fifth graders would be in sixth grade.

"It feels like these kids are going to have to sacrifice something," the third-year teacher said, noting that she will not have an aide and worries how to teach two grades' curricula.

"Educational neglect" is how Melissa Rouse termed the combination. As the parent of an upcoming fifth-grader, she is concerned that her son won't get the same opportunities that kids in other schools already have.

Rouse hasn't discussed the class combination with him, hoping that it will be changed.

"What's best for the kids?"

One Midwest employee, who asked not to be identified, is troubled that students are not considered enough in this issue.

"I question again, what's best for the kids?" the employee asked. "Are they keeping that in the forefront? Because at this point, it sure feels it's not what's best for kids."

That employee said continual cuts to teachers' jobs will result in Midwest School not being able to function.

"Is that what's best for kids? I just don't think it is."

The employee brought up a five-year school vision plan that the entire Midwest community and school community composed and submitted two years ago.

"That was a futile, jump through the hoops kind of effort. ... It was a wonderful process because it gave everyone a vision of what we could be.

"But when you don't have support, then it makes it really hard to carry those things out because we don't have tools and resources to grow," the employee noted.

"Other schools are allowed to grow and add things to their programs. We get to be stagnant."

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