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Schools

Old Adobe School District Board Meeting - kindergarten issues at Sonoma Mtn Elementary

This relates to recent decisions from Old Adobe Unified School District (OAUSD) administration regarding the plan for Kindergarten classes at Sonoma Mountain Elementary School in the Fall.

In short, they plan to have only 2 Kindergarten classes, with class sizes being increased to 29-30 kids and the two teachers, who have worked together for years (and very successfully) are not being allowed to work together as they have. Instead OAUSD administration is insisting that they work side by side in 2 separate classrooms.  Again, this posting pertains to Sonoma Mountain Elementary School.

The disadvantage here is that not only is class size being increased (which I understand cannot be helped), but they are increasing the student to teacher ratio (which can be helped). What could be a 15:1 ratio if they are together will be 30:1 if they are to work individually, and from we know, there will not be any additional teacher aides to assist them, only parental volunteers from time to time.   Of course a generation ago Kindergarten classes were this size, but kids also were not expected to perform academically as they are now (i.e.be able to know how to read and write upon completion).

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The only way for this decision to have any possibility of not being enforced is to get this information to as many parents as possible and parents express their concerns, putting pressure on the District Board and Superintendant, that they are not pleased with this decision. 

A few (4) of us attended the district meeting on May 19th and from the comments of two moms, they were able to get the board to add the issue as a formal discussion at the next meeting and from there they will decide if it is an actionable item. 

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Those with incoming Kindergarteners to Sonoma Mtn must decide if we would rather have 2 AM classes with 30:1 ratio or if you are willing to be placed in the afternoon to help maintain the ratio of 15:1. If there are enough families willing to be placed in the afternoon, we can demonstrate that to the board.

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