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Pardon Me While I Freak Out

12/19/2014

5 Comments

 
I'm incredibly disheartened and overwhelmed right now.

My husband wants to move our family to a new district this spring which means I've had to research all new options for Vincent's education (I do NOT want to move, but it's his call, not mine).  Vince has done so well in Kindergarten this year that we are planning to try him in 1st grade; however, I fully understand that 1st grade is going to be significantly more structured than Kindergarten.  It's also going to be a big jump because instead of being one of eight, he'll be one of 20.  

Owning to his Sensory Processing Disorder, larger class-sizes are overwhelming to him due to the increase in visual / auditory stimulation.  It was why he had such major melt-downs last year when we attempted to place him in several mainstream Pre-K classes.  Intellectually, he can handle the material; behaviorally, he has difficulty keeping himself in check when so many things are vying for his attention.  

As such, I checked out the school district we'd be moving to.  Given the giant increase in taxes we'll be paying, I expected the school system to be top-ranked.  Imagine my surprise when these schools couldn't even muster more than a C average.  

?!

I was sickened.  My husband, who grew up in that area, seemed unconcerned.  I was flabbergasted.  If we're expected to pay 5 figures for taxes each year (FIVE FIGURES!), I expect to see that reflected in top-notch schooling.  The fact that not one - NOT ONE - could muster more than a "C" average makes me believe that property taxes in that area are not being spent properly.  It also makes me not to want move there.  

But since it is my husband's decision, we will be moving there anyway, and I'm left to figure out how to make up for an objectively horrible (and obviously corrupt) district.  Even the private schools are terrible.

So I've been doing my best trying to research as much as possible.  I've found an average Catholic school that seems to fair much better than any of its counterparts, but since it is a private school, there isn't much in the way of supplemental aid (which again just makes me annoyed that my property taxes can't go to fund the school that my son will benefit from).  

I contacted the special education program coordinator that oversees supplemental aid for private schools and she informed me that they would likely not have financial assistance available to pay for the Occupational Therapist my son would need because he'd be in the Catholic school system. If I were to pull him from the Catholic school, however, she would be able to "squeeze him in somewhere."

Bull shizz.

Believe it or not, America, there is still such a thing as school choice.  Their fear-mongering just made me superbly angry.  How dare they tell me that just because I wanted my son to attend a Catholic school they couldn't afford to send an OT to him?  That I should seriously consider enrolling him in one of their terribly ranked schools?!  Ew.  No thank you.  

I'm just so upset / angry / disgruntled.  

I know there are those of you who are still pulling for me to homeschool, but I'm still not certain that's the best option.  

However, it's also NOT an option for us to place him into a sub-par school just so we can get him a bit of OT when a good Catholic school can provide that for him as well.  

Argh.  Sorry... this entire post was one huge vent.  It's precisely why I haven't blogged consistently the last few weeks.  I've been wading through all this research and back and forth with schools that I just feel depleted.  

Ya know what, though?  I need to keep reminding myself that God has provided thus far and will continue to do so.  He made sure we had safety nets when things didn't work out each and every time a bump in the road knocked us off-track, so I'm sure He's got something in mind for Vince. 
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5 Comments
dymphna link
12/24/2014 12:16:20 pm

If the schools average a C there must be an above average somewhere. The high school in my city is in the lowest ranking in the state but nobody cares. People either send their kids to private school or they move just over the county line. In the lower grades their are a number of Blue Star schools but you have to enter the lottery or move to the most expensive part of town. Have a blessed Christmas.

Reply
Gina
12/30/2014 08:06:41 am

Thanks, Dymphna. I hope your Christmas seasons was (and still is) blessed!

As for the schools, unfortunately, I meant that each school ranked (individually) an average of C or less. They weren't averaged across the district. They were each rated according to a certain standard, and every. single. one. did poorly.

That's a sad state of affairs for our youth. I'll be sending him to the Catholic school, but my mind cannot comprehend how taxes are being spent if the schools can't muster more than a C. I'm already feeling cheated and I haven't even moved.

Reply
Amanda link
12/29/2014 05:44:40 am

Ugh that is awful. We live in an expensive area as well, we are just renting, but our rent is high for a duplex, so we are probably paying at a higher rate because of their taxes, too.
The lower level public schools in the area are really great, but middle and high school levels are iffy. One has a high number of Rhodes Scholars (I think the highest in the state), but standardized testing is low. And, the school is located in an awful neighborhood.

Even though there are excellent elementary schools we made the decision to start our son in Catholic School and hope to keep him and his siblings in Catholic School through high school.

We didn't think we could afford it at first, but our parish has been phenomenal with aid, we worked our schedules around before/after school care to eliminate that cost, and my husband works for a Catholic University that provides discounts to children of their employees at a local Catholic high school, assuming he is still working there when our kids are in high school.

My son does not have SPD, but we had other struggles that we weren't sure how to overcome, and God does provide. Trust in Him and continue to pray. Pray that God provides the solution, and pray that you have eyes to see it- maybe you are called to homeschool? Maybe you aren't, but pray that He allows you to see if that is part of His plan for you?

I will send prayers your way, too, Gina! Don't worry too much, it is not good for the baby:) Trust that God has a plan and this is part of it!

Reply
Gina
12/30/2014 08:08:11 am

Ha ha - that whole homeschooling thing does tempt me now and again, and it really might be my only recourse should things not go well at the start of next year. We shall see. I trust He'll let me know one way or the other. He always does. :)

Thanks for your prayers. Know of mine for you and your family, too, Amanda! :) <3

Reply
Rae
3/2/2015 03:46:41 am

Have you thought of contacting a lawyer that specializes in educational law? A quick letter written to the district on how OT is being denied to a child. You may have to have afterschool OT, but they have to give you access to that service, for free, in most states.

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