Hollister
– With questions flying at the parent meeting to discuss the new
magnet programs, one of the main concerns seemed to be: How can I
be assured my child will get in?
Hollister – With questions flying at the parent meeting to discuss the new magnet programs, one of the main concerns seemed to be: How can I be assured my child will get in?
One mother raised her hand to clarify the testing process for the school, explaining that her daughter could become shy if she was interviewed by a large group of adults. Another parent questioned the fairness of the application process, pointing out that if her child tested high enough, he should be assured a spot in the program.
These women were some of more than 30 parents gathered in the Calaveras School library Wednesday morning to learn about the new Accelerated Achievement Academy magnet school that will be on the campus.
The program is one of two new magnet schools, the other being an International Dual Language Academy housed at Gabilan Hills School, that the Hollister School District will launch in the 2007-08 school year.
“We have many different needs in our district,” said Christine White, the principal at Calaveras School. “All students need to be addressed. Sometimes we forget about the high achievers.”
Twenty third-graders, 30 fourth-graders and 30 fifth-graders will be selected for the Accelerated Achievement Academy. Students will be selected based on range of criteria, from standardized test scores to parent and teacher observations. Also taken into consideration will be what school each student comes from. This concerned some parents who felt their children should be chosen solely based on achievement levels.
Dr. Sharon Kurtz, who is the interim coordinator of special programs for the district, explained that there needs to be equity across the district in student selection.
“We want to make sure this program is open to all students in the district,” Kurtz said, “Some of these students may not have even been properly identified yet.”
Most of the parents in attendance seemed enthusiastic about the new magnet schools, although many concerns were raised.
Mary Maggio, who has two children in the district, explained that she is still undecided whether her 8-year-old daughter, who currently attends Ladd Lane Elementary, will apply for the academy.
“I’m really pro the magnet schools. But for me personally, I chose my house so that my children could walk to school,” Maggio said.
Transportation to the magnet schools will not be provided, so parents will have to drive their children to and from school.
When the magnet schools are introduced next year, they will be two of more than 1,000 magnet schools nationwide. Magnet schools are created at public schools so that parents and students can pursue a certain theme or subject area, focusing on the arts or a bilingual education.
The teaching staff for the Accelerated Achievement Academy has yet to be hired, although it will be required that they are certified in gifted and talented education. The program is hoping to hire the initial three teachers internally from staff already teaching in the district.
While many of the details of the program have yet to be worked out, it is expected that they will add a new grade level every year, eventually turning Calaveras into a small K-8 school.
“It just sounds like an exciting program,” said Maria Spandri, who has a fourth-grade daughter at Cerra Vista School. “I would love to get involved in it.”
Applications for the school are due at the district office by Feb. 9.
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. She can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 336 or
aj**@fr***********.com
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