It's only the start of the new school year, but the Washoe County School District isn't wasting any time to get the word out about what difficulties students are facing in overcrowded classrooms.
With some children being taught in the hallways and old buildings deteriorating, the community learned more about the growth problems in schools at a district presentation Monday night.
The school district says it legally cannot support or oppose funding, but it can educate about the need for it. At the community forum in the Wooster High School Theater, staff hoped to clear up some misconceptions, especially about money and how it is allocated. District officials also discussed double sessions and multi track schedules both as real possibilities in the coming years, making some parents concerned about their children's futures.
"As a parent of an elementary school student, I'm less concerned about aesthetics of a building and more concerned about technology and solid teachers," said Laura Oltman, a parent of a Hall Elementary student.
Oltman raised a question about how much it would cost for a new school to be built in the district. She's worried about the possibility of double sessions for her son when he goes to middle school next year.
Oltman adds, "Double sessions would put him at the bus stop at about 5 a.m. That's difficult as a parent to swallow and my husband and I have absolutely talked about maybe leaving the district because of these things."
Double Diamond Elementary School is facing that reality next year, with one group of students going to school in the morning, and another in the afternoon. At 130% capacity, 940 students are being pushed outside of the classroom. Hallways, the quad, cafeteria and even the library have all been converted into temporary classrooms.
Mike Dixon, the principal at Double Diamond Elementary School said, "We are physically out of space to teach. Which is the biggest thing I'm advocating for as the principal, is that kids need to be in quiet spaces to be learning. Typically that's your classroom. Common areas are not conducive to learning."
The school district says there simply are no options left.
"If we cannot build schools, then parents need to be aware that we will look at an alternative schedule," said WCSD Superintendent Traci Davis.
District staff anticipates three elementary schools will be moved to multi-track year round schedules next year, with staggered break times for four "tracks" of students. And four middle and four high schools may have to convert to double sessions. But one thing will never change, the school district says.
David adds, "Every child by name and face hasn't changed because of our space issues, but what we know is that we have great challenges and what can we afford our students in our community."
Voters will head to the ballot box in November to vote on WC-1, an initiative to increase the sales tax in Washoe County that will raise money for schools.
WCSD Overcrowding Information: http://www.washoeschools.net/overcrowding
