Anonymous said...
"My Goodness People! Quit moaning and groaning! If you don't like what the district is doing with the preschool program, go elsewhere. There are plenty of outstanding independant preschools out there available to your child. Do some research! Maybe the school needs to pick their battles with grants and such. I would be thoroughly embarrassed if I were making $88,000 a year and accepted assistance thru grant money for preschool!!! This money should go to the folks who are below, at or slightly above poverty level (the folks who really can't afford it and need it)or the kids in our district with special needs. Grant money should not to the general public. Just because it's free money doesn't mean we should use it. I would support a grant for a huge expenditure such as laptops for all middle school students and/or technology education upgrades..."
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for your comments. To set the record straight, grant money does not go to the general public or to individuals. Grant money is distributed only to qualifying preschool programs. The goal of the Preschool for All (PFA) grant program is to provide educational services to all 3- to 5-year old children whose families choose to participate. The Preschool for All program focuses on providing high-quality educational programs for children who are determined to be at risk of academic failure. It also provides funding for programs serving families of low to moderate income whose children are not considered to be at risk academically and other families that choose to participate. Currently, the following local districts have preschool programs that are funded with grant money through the PFA program: La Grange School Districts 102 and 105, LaGrange Highlands School District 106 and Gower District 62.
Yes, there are other programs that children can attend, but since the community’s tax dollars already support Pleasantdale’s Bright Beginnings Preschool Program, why should community members have to go somewhere else? According to the preschool report that was released in Feb. by our school district, our preschool/ED program lost approx. $234,000 this year. Who do you think pays for this loss? The taxpayers do!
A recent survey letter was administered to parents of the children in the three year old preschool program to gather information in regard to the PFA grant. We applaud the district for taking this small step. However, our district is much larger than the 25 families in the three year old program that received the letter; and criteria that determines eligibility goes much farther than family income. A larger and more appropriate step would have been to survey the entire community to gather all the data needed. Children that already attend our preschool program most likely have the financial resources to do so and thus will not help the district qualify for grant assistance. Our district needs to reach out to the entire community in order to gain an accurate picture of eligibility.
Finally, I couldn’t agree more about seeking out grant money for technology program upgrades. We have fallen behind the surrounding districts in the area of technology. It is sad when not only our neighboring districts, but districts such as Markham and Joliet (that spend considerably less money per student), have more advanced technology programs than that of our school district in Burr Ridge.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
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4 comments:
I for one am not complaining, but I guess it seems that it is more important to build a brick garage sitting in the rear of the property that no one will really see, than to update technology for our own kids, like with laptops as the other surrounding schools have.
You say we show a loss of $234,000 this year. Well with what we charge for pre-school who wants to come here when they can go somewhere else at a lower rate.
I hear people talk about what a great district this is. Is it really? I thought it was when I moved here, thats why I moved here, but honestly its not all that great. Its been steadily getting worse.
Spending money on things we really don't need instead of giving back to our kids. Getting rid of good teachers that really like to teach and like kids, and keeping the ones that only are here to get a paycheck.
No I'm not complaining I'm just disappointed!
Wow! "Quit moaning and groaning" you say. Well you must have a money tree in your back yard. Have you not seen what things cost lately.
Number one this is a PUBLIC school not a private school. To be charging people that kind of money for a public school education is robbery. Whether you make $88,000 or 8,000 we all work hard for our money and we shouldn't have to pay that kind of money for pre-school. There are a lot of people who make less than 25,000 dollard in this district and are to proud to ask for assistance. So they cannot send their kids to pleasantdale or anywhere else.
Shame on you for telling us to quit moaning and groaning. School should be affordable to everyone!
And what about this brick garage thats being mentioned. Is this why the price of pre-school and all day kindergarten went up?
What kind of school district are we running here.
It is definately time for change!!!!
I am shocked as I sit here reading these comments. Preschool is completely elective. If you don't like the amount Pleasantdale charges, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! As a parent, you make a choice whether your child will or will not attend preschool. How many of you can look back at your own childhood and say you DID NOT attend preschool? How many of those people continued on in school and had a successful education? We do not walk around this community of ours and say "oh there's the one who didn't go to preschool." I am so tired of hearing certain people say “it’s not fair if only some children can attend.” Life isn’t fair and it never will be, but if you empower your children with the knowledge of overcoming all obstacles, then nothing will stand in their way. We cannot make our child’s world perfect, but we can give them a loving home and teach them strong values that will last longer than ANY PRESCHOOL EDUCATION EVER WILL.
No, I definately do not have a money tree in my back yard! Thank you "Anonymous April 1,2:16pm" for pointing out that preschool is elective. I totally agree that if you have a child who you can prove needs a preschool program because they are lacking some sort of skill (many preschoolers are naturally lacking skills at that age)and you make $25,000 a year then absolutely give him a grant. If you make anywhere near $88,000 and want to use a grant to send your child to an elective program, shame on you!!!! At preschool age, all the child wants is love and attention from his parents. If he has that in his life, he will do fine. He doesn't need preschool unless you plan on using it as childcare which is the only reason my kids went to preschool (not at Pleaseantdale) because I had to work for a living. Most of us parents never went to preschool (my parents made less than $25,000 a year and we lived in a poor south suburb community), we also went to a half day kindergarten and we turned out fine. My kids are doing great. My 8th grader gets straight A's (less 1 B in spanish) and he is in the above level classes and my Sophomore at LT who is also in accelerated classes has been on the honor role every semester even while participating in sports. So yes, stop moaning and groaning and be proactive with your child.
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