Alternative elementary school has rocky first semester, sixth grade class still wanted
Behaviorial problems may have led some parents to pull their children out
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

The Las Virgenes Community Learning Center says it wants to add a sixth grade class even though the school has lost 50 students since it began operations.

The alternative kindergarten through fifth grade school opened last September on the campus of A. E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas with seven classes and 154 students. Currently, 96 students attend classes. Another 25 students are affiliated as part of a home school partnership program.

According to one of the school's operators, there were student behavioral problems when classes began, which may have influenced some parents to pull their children from the school.

Several members of the community still encouraged the addition of a sixth grade class.

Fifth-grader Daniel Smith said during a Jan. 22 meeting of the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education that he "loved" his new school and the thought of going back to a regular public school was stressful. Daniel, who suffers from a tic disorder, said he was constantly teased at his previous school and felt stressed.

"At my new school no one makes fun of me," he said. "Please let me stay at my school in sixth grade."

Parent Betty Aviad said that while the school has experienced growing pains, the programs have become "cohesive and successful." She said former LVUSD Superintendent of Education Joe Nardo assured parents that a sixth grade class would be added. Aviad suggested another multiage class that combined fifth and sixth grade students would be appropriate.

Itamar and Brenda Harari, the husband-and-wife educational team who run the school, attended the school board meeting.

Brenda Harari said her school offers a pair of combined kindergarten and first-grade classes, one first- and second-grade class, and one second- and third-grade class. The school offers another class that combines third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students.

Harari reiterated the school's philosophy of social and emotional development with a focus on individualized learning. The curriculum emphasizes role playing and conflict resolution, Harari said.

Parent education has been an important ingredient at Las Virgenes Community Learning Center. The weekly parent workshops and monthly roundtables are well attended, Harari said.

"They really feel like they have a voice and what they say matters," she said.

Tough love

Harari said issues of "inconsistent discipline" lead to the hiring of assistant director Jeff Lough.

Harari said since Lough was hired there has been a "dramatic decline" in disruptive or inappropriate behavior in the classrooms and on the playground.

Harari said some parents who pulled their children from the school wanted a curriculum that took them "above and beyond" standard classes. Harari expects that once the alternative program evolves some of those same students may return.

Assessment needed

School board president Cindy Iser said she was concerned about how students' progress was being assessed.

"How do we know they are learning?" Iser asked. "The reality is (students) have to take tests. No matter what their learning styles are they have to learn how to take tests."

Itamar Harari said teachers are being trained how to use certain assessment skills to determine where students stand in language arts and math.

Rose Dunn, the school district's director of elementary education, said a window of opportunity was missed on base line testing. "It is our goal to have baseline data to track progress," Dunn said.

Brenda Harari said the school is able to assess students' progress by collecting their work and saving it into a portfolio.

Transition to middle school

Board member Terilyn Finders wants a study of students who plan to leave the district during their middle school years to attend another school district or a private school.

"Some of (these students) may have been right for this program," Finders said.

Board member Jill Gaines suggested identifying students who might fit into the alternative school setting at an earlier time during their development.

Research shows middle school as being the most difficult time for students, Brenda Harari said. But students in alternative schools have little problem making the transition into high school, she said.

Harari hopes to expand the program to include sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

High price tag

Board member Gordon Whitehead called the high cost of the program the "elephant in the room." At $400,000 per year, the cost is higher than the typical elementary school, he said.

Whitehead said the school board has to be comfortable with the cost since it is responsible for 12,000 students, not just 96.

"I think the district knew it was going to be expensive getting the program going," said Rose Dunn, the school district's Director of elementary education.

The district expected a 10 percent attrition rate, but the loss of 50 students led to an unacceptably high teacher-student ratio that drove costs higher, Dunn said. Next steps

Itamar Harari told board members the school will fine tune its programs now that a series of parent, teacher and student surveys have been completed.

Further teacher training, assessment of student progress, and a continued focus on the school's guiding philosophy will be the challenge for school administrators during the remainder of the year, Brenda Harari said.

The school board postponed its decision on whether a sixth grade class would be added for the 2008/2009 school year.