Eanes ISD Class Sizes

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EANES ISD - CLASS SIZE

April 3, 2009 Update:

KeepEanesInformed continues to hear from parents who are disheartened over the expanding class sizes at Eanes ISD elementary schools. During a March 25, 2009 board meeting parents spoke out during open forum of the Eanes ISD board meeting and the issue is now on the April 6, 2009 board agenda (7:30 a.m.).

Class Size Issue on April 6, 2009 Board Meeting Agenda - 7:30 a.m. - Link here.

From April 1, 2009 Westlake Picayune article:

<<<Parents addressing the <March 25, 2009 board meeting> board on the class size issue included Ginny Scott, who asked the board to set an open floor discussion meeting date; Holly Grancolas, who expressed concern over what she termed a district lack of importance to elementary school class size; Rob Hirshfeld, who said teaching in fifth-grade classes had become a matter of crowd control; Catherine Horne, who handed board members printouts showing enrollment levels at Lake Travis Elementary School; and Julia Webber, who asked the board to explain why preschool classes were hosted at elementary school campuses, which she said prevented the expansion of classrooms and the lowering of class sizes.>>>

Class Size Does Matter.

March 2009 - KeepEanesInformed supports the efforts of district elementary parents who are working to reduce class sizes. Links: Page One and Page Two

Class size does matter. Research confirms this:

U.S. Department of Education on class size: www.ed.gov/pubs/ClassSize/academic.html
Tennessee STAR Report: www.heros-inc.org/summary.pdf

Back in 2004, I noticed that the Westlake High School AP classes were much larger than the regular classes. Packed actually. At the same time, I noticed that elementary classes for my younger child were also growing. Athletic program cuts were nonexistent. I requested class size information from Eanes ISD and the district refused to provide it. For a full year, I waited. Finally, with the assistance of law enforcement, I received various documents from district. When I spoke with Nola Wellman about the issue, she offered no insight, no solution, and frankly, no interest.

Has anyone ever asked what the ratio is between the varsity football team and the coaches? Eanes ISD routinely asserts low class sizes and this must be possible only by averaging the small ratio between athletes and coaches into the academic classroom setting because my children certainly never experienced a class ratio of 20:1.

While our class sizes continue to soar, Nola Wellman has packed the central administration building with staff while pretending she can't afford teachers due to Robin Hood.

Eanes ISD claims it must cut teachers because it needs more money. But how do we know? If your legislator asks you to explain where your tax dollars are spent, can you answer? This district needs new priorities. This district needs new leadership. We need new board members and a new superintendent that pays her fair share of property taxes.

We must redirect funds from the athletics wish list to quality teachers and smaller class size.

The Eanes ISD administration and board of trustees have already responded to the community's concern about class size and teacher compensation. They have responded by repeatedly encouraging the community to give more time and more money to EEF, so they can continue spending our tax revenue on highly paid football coaches, more artificial turf, and state of the art scoreboard technology.

I applaud the efforts of elementary school parents and their good faith attempt to remedy this long-standing problem. However, this community can flood the Texas Capitol with letters but the legislators don't give a damn about Eanes when Eanes can afford four $100,000 video cameras on robotic arms hooked to broadcast transmission cables, the highest paid football coach in the state, three fields (millions of dollars) of artificial turf, $317,000 batting cages, and so on. And the Eanes ISD board is glad that the legislators don't care. Because that way, they can create their "private school" with public money.

There is only one entity that really can make Eanes ISD classes smaller. And that's the Eanes ISD school board.

Eanes ISD parent Julia Webber says it well in the comment section of the Westlake Picayune this week:

Say it with your vote, parents. Say it with your pen. Say it with your attendance at board meetings. Let this passion be heard in the only language that matters these days….your vote and your pocket book. Come to the next Board Meeting March 25th. Write your Board Members and your state representatives. Rally the troops. Email me if you’d like more info on this movement to refocus EISD spending back where it belongs….maintaining the quality of our teachers and reducing class sizes.

Dianna Pharr - March 9, 2009

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