vashonmom
As a vashon mom and resident, I have to disagree with the statement that we Vashon families “like the fresh blood” idea of off Island students coming over to attend our schools. What benefit could this possibly have for us and OUR kids? we have new families moving to Island every year…that brings fresh blood. Besides, unlike myself and my Husband (who grew up on Vashon), I like the idea of my kids going to school with the same group of kids they are growing up with.
Most of us made the decision and the commitment to move to Vashon for the very reason that we like the quite, safe and rural lifestyle you get by living on the Island. We chose to live in and send our kids to school in a small, rural community because we wanted to keep our kids somewhat sheltered from the “big city ” ways of the off Island school system. We also liked the fact that the Vashon school district is highly rated, with small class sizes and a better student to teacher ratio. That has gone up with the influx of off Island students. My son has 32 students in his science class this year (Mc Murray middle school).
We like the fact that we all pretty much know the other families in our community and if we don’t, we can get to know them and their kids quite easily through an acquaintance . We know the kids and families of the kids that our children are hanging out with.
We Residents pay high levies that go into high property taxes which go toward the Vashon school district. Both the residents and businesses of Vashon donate hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the school system every year.
We certainly DON’T willingly do this so that West Seattle families can send their kids over and reap the rewards of our labors and also change the demographics of the schools.
Our kids are on over- crowded busses, sometimes, don’t get one of top 3 choices in electives, sit in larger class sizes and just miss placement in AP classes because of the large influx of off Island students attending our schools every year.
The District receives$ 5,200 per off Island student…the 2012/2013 per pupil expenditure is $11,011. I suppose it’s our donations and tax dollars that is making up the difference there??
Truly the way most of us are feeling is that WE are paying the price for your kids to attend “private school”…both monetarily and otherwise.