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Parents take concerns to board, and it finally adds up

By Michele Tjin

Parents of Redwood Middle School students have urged change in the school's math department, and bringing their concerns to the school board equals one victory.

Parents have complained the school's math teachers have been too conservative in how they place students in classes. In some cases, parents have wanted their child placed in a more advanced class, but they say they have faced resistance from teachers.

The school has convened a math advisory committee made up of teachers, parents and administrators to resolve this issue. Parents were especially interested in allowing more eighth-graders to be able to take a full year of algebra. At the May 22 board meeting of the Saratoga Union School District, trustees agreed with parents and voted for recommendations that would place more students in such a course.

Superintendent Lane Weiss' first recommendation was to have school staff expand the criteria that would put more students in a full algebra course. In addition, if parents want to appeal their child's placement, they can request a conference with the principal to discuss it. If the student, parents and teacher can't come to an agreement about the decision, parents could sign a waiver to allow their eighth-grader into the full-year course.

Board members all liked the recommendations, but trustee Cindy Ruby called for a backup plan for the less successful students.

"I want a fall-back plan so that we don't have kids who don't graduate," she said. "If they don't graduate, they don't get to go to the [graduation] party, and that's what they'll remember more than what math chapter they're on."

School representatives said they could live with the recommendations, though they had concerns about the logistics of carrying them out and the staffing that would be necessary.

"Teachers wouldn't be teaching if they didn't care about their students," said Mardi Kambish, who trains teachers in the math department. "If they are not succeeding, how much of that responsibility is going to fall on the teachers?"

Parents have been vocal about class placement because the courses students take in middle school can have a direct impact on what they take in high school. In trying to set change at Redwood, parents looked at what other schools are doing, particularly in Palo Alto and Cupertino. But too much competition and too many expectations may not serve students well, said parent Esther Park.

"If you're going to sign the waiver, be wise and be right," she said.

Kittu Kolluri, another parent, said that it is important to give students as much of an edge as possible.

"Once they graduate [from college], they are competing on a level playing field," he said.