... yes portable ... but storm clouds

OK, so if anyone else feels a little whipsawed, I concur.

First, Rieke Parents got an email on Tuesday entitled "Portable for Rieke," in which Principal Russell told us that despite the news from last month's PTA meeting, and despite concerns regarding the general fund, the stimulus package was yielding results (see my post below)

I'm very happy to let you know that Rieke will receive a new modular unit (portable) with two classrooms for the 2009-2010 school year. Earlier in the winter, we were told we were not getting a portable, but funding for PPS capital improvements was re-prioritized due in part to the addition of federal stimulus funds. ... For now, we can celebrate the addition of more classroom space.

This was great news, and yet ... Congress hadn't actually agreed to the stimulus money. Indeed, hints abounded that maybe things weren't as certain as one might have hoped. First, despite the extra space, there were suggestions that the school would take no transfers (though that was perhaps partially alleviated by the Principal's suggestion at K roundup that there might be possibilities for transfer spaces).

And now, the suggestion from DC is that the "compromise" reached Friday night that will allow the stimulus package to pass the Senate included an agreement to "cut nearly $20 billion proposed for school construction." (See this New York Times piece.) While we've yet to see the final bill, this almost certainly means cutting the $14B for primary and secondary school reconstruction as well as cutting $6B for higher education capital improvements.

So that's not so good, even if it doesn't directly lead to effects at Rieke. To be sure, this will have to go to the Conference Committee in which the House bill (with the $14B) and the Senate bill (without) will have to be reconciled. So it could get in (or stay in). But given the mood, I'm not entirely hopeful.

In any event, it might be time to call or email Senators Wyden and Merkley and encourage them to keep those school construction funds in the mix. I'll post later whatever I send.

... or no portables

Despite the below post, Charlene announced at the January PTA meeting that apparently PPS is now -- something out of the blue, from my perspective -- considering not providing an additional portable at Rieke next year. The budget gaps are part of the problem, of course. Obviously, such a decision, if it holds, would be fundamentally inconsistent with the District's endorsement of the Rieke growth plan. Based at least on our observations of the surrounding neighborhood, it will be a full kindergarten class next year, and it wouldn't take much to fill three K classes once again. But if we don't have another classroom -- i.e., if we don't have enough space to add the third 2nd grade class (as well as three 1st and K classes) -- there's nowhere to put the kids while maintaining space for enrichment.

So that means probably no transfers -- and limited growth. Depending on the numbers, it may even be that it will mean that we can't guarantee a full day K. We'll see how this plays out over the next couple of months.

Enrollment Continues Strong Upward Trend

With this year's enrollment numbers "official" as of October 1, here's what Rieke's enrollment has looked like over the last 13 years. Remember, it was at the end of the 05-06 school year that the School Board agreed to the idea of the growth plan. I'll soon be doing some posts on the growth plan and the history of Rieke; as you'll see, this growth has outstripped even the most optimistic growth under the Growth Plan (link to large PDF file on PPS web site).

It's my understanding that this growth is similar, but still more substantial, than growth being seen throughout SW elementary schools.