As children walked through the doors of the Jasper Elementary School on the first day of school, Sept. 8, they were all on a level playing field, although, that nearly wasn't the case.
Last month, a concerned parent launched an online petition calling on the school to provide equal education for all of its students, after she discovered her daughter, who started Grade 4 this week, would be in a split class for the entire day, without individualized instruction for her core studies, like math and language arts.
The reason for that classroom configuration was a lack of funding.
Marta Rode posted the petition Aug. 20, addressing it to the minister of education, principal of Jasper Elementary School and Jasper’s school trustee, asking that the school find another solution to its funding shortfall, and she garnered 107 signatures.
The Fitzhugh published a story about the petition in its Aug. 27 issue and, on Sept. 4, parents received a letter from the school's principal, announcing new funding—which will allow for a 0.25 teaching position—and a new classroom structure.
“It looks like our voices were heard,” said Rode, who received the good news on her birthday. “I know a lot of work went into this and I super appreciate it.
“In the end, the kids won, so we all won.”
In his letter, Raymond Blanchette-Dube explained to the parents that class configurations are never set in stone, as they are based on enrolment, which can change all the way up to the first week of school.
“Class sizes have fluctuated up and down in the past two weeks which has made us revisit and make changes to our original plan,” he wrote.
The original plan was to have the Grade 4 class split in half, with one group spending the year with the Grade 3s and the other group with the Grade 5s.
Although split classes are par for the course in a small school, Rode's concern was those split classes were full time, meaning the Grade 4s would be learning math and language arts, with the Grade 3s or 5s in the classroom, and vice versa.
The new plan includes two split classes—a Grade 4/5 and Grade 5/6—but thanks to the new funding, all of the students will receive individualized core instruction.
“Currently we have a posting for a 0.25 teaching position to support these two combined classes,” wrote Blanchette-Dube in his letter, explaining that the position will give all Grade 4, 5 and 6 students a quarter of a day for individualized core instruction.
In an email, Sept. 7, Blanchette-Dube said Jasper Elementary School received “Hot Spot Funding” from Grande Yellowhead Public School Division to allow for the position. He said that funding is “for schools who need support to provide the best opportunity for students to learn.”
Although it's not a lot of money, Jasper's school trustee said she's happy it will make an impact.
“I'm glad Jasper got it,” said Betsy DeClercq. “It was understandable that parents were upset about the Grade 4 class being split, but the teachers came up with another solution and the school board came up with some money and presto!
“Now there's a standalone Grade 3 and a standalone Grade 4 with four Grade 5s and a Grade 6 with four Grade 5s.
“The school did the reconfiguration and I'm totally excited," she said.
“It just makes such a difference for the parents. You want them to get off on the right foot at the beginning of the school year.”
Nicole Veerman
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