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Class sizes attracting families to Underwood
Published Saturday, January 26, 2008
Vicki Melby was seven years old when her family moved from Underwood to Fergus Falls. She spent third grade in a Fergus Falls school before deciding that if she could choose which school to attend, she’d rather stick with Underwood.
“It really wasn’t any different going to either Fergus or Underwood, and I missed all of my friends,” said Melby, 15, now an Underwood freshman.
Melby is just one of the many area students who choose to open enroll outside their hometown. The reasons behind this decision are many — from the draw of athletic programs or Title 1 services to the desire of parents to send students to an alma matter.
In Underwood, one of the few communities to gain students in the past several years, 42 percent of students are from communities including Ashby, Battle Lake, Fergus Falls, Perham, Henning, Pelican Rapids and even Alexandria. Underwood’s enrollment this year is 519, up five students from last spring.
Principal John Hamann says no one reason explains why students chose Underwood Public School, though class size likely plays a part.
“That’s what I really like about here — you walk down the hall and you know everyone,” he said. “It’s really nice to know every student in the building.”
Class size, it seems, is at least one reason why some Fergus Falls parents send their students elsewhere. Beginning last January, Fergus Falls administrators surveyed local parents of open enrolled students to learn why their children enrolled outside the district. While only a handful of parents responded, Superintendent Jerry Ness says class size came up repeatedly.
“Some kids do not fit well in a larger class size and they want a smaller size,” he said. “(Parents) want to make sure their kids aren’t slipping through the cracks — and sometimes that happens at a larger high school — and our job is to make sure it doesn’t.”
Ness said the implementation of six-year educational and career plans for high schoolers is one step the district is taking to give more personal attention to its students.
Yet open enrollment isn’t a one-way street. Though approximately 230 Fergus Falls students enroll elsewhere, about 142 non-residents enrolled in Fergus Falls this year. An Underwood bus picks up Fergus Falls students, said Underwood Superintendent Gary Sletten, but busses also bring students out of Underwood to the Ashby and Dalton areas.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by JL (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Underwood school. Though I attended Fergus Falls school, I was one of the students that they let slip through the cracks. A high school teacher at Fergus told me I was worthless and should drop out that I would amount to nothing! (she is still teaching there by the way) Now I am going to college to become a teacher and help kids stay in school. I guess I want to help the students, not tell them they are worthless. Keep up the good work Underwood
Posted by cheif (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When the "new" school is finished in Fergus, it will bring more families back to Fergus Falls' schools.
Posted by fffoodcritic (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You people in Fergus are in for a big letdown if you think the new school will cause me to send my kids to Fergus. You need to change your arrogant attitude toward smaller towns more than building new schools. I would home school my kids before I would ever even consider sending them to Fergus Falls schools. You don’t get it and I doubt you ever will. Why don’t you do a survey on why people hate Fergus so much. You might find out something you don’t know, but I suspect you don’t want to know either.
Posted by momofthree (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live in the FF school district and I send my children to Underwood. My husband went to high school in FF and I went to high school in Underwood. We both agreed that Underwood would be the place we send our children for there education. Why, you ask? First of all, the class size is smaller, which gives more one on one for the student. And as Mr. Hamann said, you know EVERYONE. Underwood's state testing scores have been great for quite a few years, which has to show for how well the teaching is. And one of the main reasons we will NEVER send our children to FF, is because when my husband was a senior several years ago, on the last day of school is when they told him that he would not be graduating with the rest of his class because he was 1 quarter and a credit short. The LAST DAY! That is truly not letting the student "slip through the cracks", that is just plain carelessness on a teachers behalf. And I agree with fffoodcritic, that if you think when the schools are rebuilt or new, that you will gain more students, you have got to be kidding me! Maybe if you found the money instead, for more teachers per student, you wouldn't have as many "slipped through the cracks" teens in the town. Say what you will, but that's just my opinion.
Posted by justme (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Are you thinking at the same time that you are typing, cheif? I suspect not.
Do you seriously believe that hundreds of families go through the trouble of transferring thier children out of district, driving back and forth for activities, and arranging for transportation to and from school because of a building? Not to mention that we still pay property taxes that support your school no matter where our child our educated? You are sadly, sadly mistaken.
I can speak from personal experience that the cracks in the Fergus Falls school system are huge and that what I have personally seen happen there would never, ever happen in Underwood. I chose open enrollment for many reasons, and the building is not one of them. Period.
Posted by cheif (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do think that the new updated buildings in Fergus will attract families back, though. I think that Fergus has a great school system - but that's just me. Feel free to comment in the topic I started at Fergus Forum: http://www.fergusforum.com/forum/index.p...
Posted by fffoodcritic (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It’s pretty low to use this site to drum up business for your own site chief, especially when you don’t identify yourself and want us to tell you our email address to register . What kind of a scam are you running?
Posted by cheif (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I registered on that site and the admin sent me a PM asking me to do so. It's not like I had anything better to do... ;-)
Posted by MyFurryFriend56537 (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where does Underwood send their special needs students?
I would also be interested in knowing the the number of students in the smaller schools v. FFHS who end up pursuing higher ed.
By the way, *their, there, they're = I was edumacated in FF (which is probably why I know the difference between the three)
Posted by lenny (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Special needs students from Underwood go to Fergus Falls where they graduate valedictorian and salutatorian.
Posted by MyFurryFriend56537 (anonymous) on January 27, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
See pg 135 in particular.
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/malenezi/Dis...
Posted by MyFurryFriend56537 (anonymous) on January 27, 2008 at 6:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The UK has done quite a few studies on building conditions in relation to student performance:
http://www.coe.uga.edu/sdpl/research/ken...
Posted by MyFurryFriend56537 (anonymous) on January 27, 2008 at 6:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While school building conditions are not the ultimate factors in student performace, they certainly are causal ones. I reacall the worse job that I ever had: I worked at a computer, alone, in a windowless basement room with walls of white painted cinder blocks. The heating was bad in the winter, and in the summer it was muggier than a bog. Now take the next job that I had: at a computer, alone, in the middle of an office with natural lighting. The heating and cooling system was up-to-date. For those who doubt the positive effects of improved school building conditions: in which of my previous jobs would you be most productive?
Posted by MyFurryFriend56537 (anonymous) on January 27, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While school building conditions are not the ultimate factors in student performace, they certainly are causal ones. I reacall the worst job that I ever had: I worked at a computer, alone, in a windowless basement room with walls of white painted cinder blocks. The heating was bad in the winter, and in the summer it was muggier than a bog. Now take the next job that I had: at a computer, alone, in the middle of an office with natural lighting. The heating and cooling system was up-to-date. For those who doubt the positive effects of improved school building conditions: in which of my previous jobs would you be most productive?
Posted by caregiver90 (anonymous) on January 27, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My children have gone to various area schools and they have all received a great education and have all received a college eduation, too. The students must work hard themselves and ask for help when they need it. If they don't get the help they need, ask someone else. And the parents must also be involved in the education of their children. Don't sit back and complain about the teachers and school administrators. Some folks just seem to need to blame someone else for the problems. When you point your finger at someone else, look at your hand and see how many fingers are pointing back at you.
Posted by justme (anonymous) on January 27, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The facilities are only as good as the staff, administration, and programs they house. Of course you're going to have people who will transfer back as soon as there are shiny new classrooms and fancy gymnasiums, but at what expense?
Let's get back to the topic of this article for a moment. Most families who have decided to open enroll in the smaller surrounding schools prefer a smaller class size. I believe my kids are better off in a school environment where the staff and administration actually know and care about each student's academic success. They don't let kids slack, and they don't just ship them off to alternative school. They encourage students and expect them to perform to their full potential, all the way to Graduation Day.
If you were truly interested in the statistics regarding college-bound grads, or special education programs offered in Underwood, you'd give Gary Sletten a call, and while you're at it, you may want to remind him that he's not just sending one bus to pick up students in Fergus Falls. There are two.
Posted by Mom41 (anonymous) on January 27, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Caregiver90,
I have talked to several people that have also taken their kids out of the district. It is not because they have not tried to get help from teachers, principals, administration.
These people have tried to talk with these people, but of course bullying does not happen in our schools! What a JOKE! The administration needs to open their eyes to see that people are leaving the School system not just because of the size of classes or because we did not get a fancy School. The problems lie much deeper than that! There are a lot of kids that have had this problem only to find out nothing gets done about it. People are SICK and TIRED of getting the run around and no ANSWERS!! That is another reason people are not going to school at the FERGUS FALLS SCHOOLS! These people have even wanted to talk with the SCHOOL BOARD, but of course that is on live T.V., they don't want people to hear what really goes on in this School system.
Posted by jdartin (anonymous) on January 28, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TO: Mom41
I am impartial to all opinions related to this article as I have no children that attend school. My question for you regarding your comment is: Could you please elaborate on what you think the problem is in the FF district? You made mention to "the problem," but did not state what the problems are. I would be interested to hear more.
Thank you.
Posted by momofthree (anonymous) on January 28, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MyFurryFriend56537, oh gee, I mispelled "their" one time. I am so glad that your "edumacation" taught you to pick apart a person's comments and bring them down. But, whatever. I move on. As far as special needs kids...two of my children have some special needs, and those needs are being addressed at Underwood School with excellent teachers who take the time to get to know my child and really work with "their" specific needs. They always keep in contact with me about my child's progress and always listen to what I have to say or if I have any questions or concerns. THIS, is one of the biggest reasons I have my children at UHS.
Posted by Kurtisishere (anonymous) on January 28, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's all ship our kids to Underwood for school because they have a better student-to-teacher ratio! What's happening is we are creating larger class sizes in Underwood and smaller calss sizes in Fergus. Pretty soon our students will be able to get more direct teacher help in Fergus classes, and the Underwood students will be slipping through the cracks. Then we'll all hear about how horrible the teachers are in Underwood, and how awesome little Johnny's teacher in Fergus is. Underwood will start vying for a new, improved, larger school, and the process will repeat itself.
Please feel free to flame me in all caps now...
Posted by momofthree (anonymous) on January 28, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a mother of Underwood Students, Kurtisishere does make a great point. I won't flame you, because what goes around comes around, and I fully understand that. But, for now, I am still much happier with Underwood.
Posted by Mom41 (anonymous) on January 28, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kids being bullied, is one of the problems that Fergus Falls Schools have. School Administation likes to pretend bullying
does not happen in their school. I know of a 17 year old kid that was burned with a torch under a car he was working on in Auto Mechanics class.
He was underneath the car with flamable fluids by him and 3 kids torched him.
The Administation did nothing about this, his Mom had to go to the police station and file charges on her own with NO HELP from the School! The Court system found them all guilty and they were punished for it legally, but still were in School
for class the next day!!!
Also, my 8th grade boy was assulted last week by 5 other 8th grade boys, I had enough and so had he, I talked to the Assistant Principal and Counselor about these problems many times and nothing is ever done to these kids that prey on others. I took him out of School in Fergus Falls, he will never return.
Posted by JL (anonymous) on January 28, 2008 at 8:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for you Mom41, I am glad that somebody is doing something. I know first hand that the teachers don't give a hoot about bullying that goes on. They too as a matter of fact bully kids if you have checked out my last comment. I hope your son is alright and hope you find a good school for him.
Posted by INUHSITRUST (anonymous) on January 28, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I GO TO UNDERWOOD
I became a user for this site ONLY because of this article. I came from a big city school to Underwood and I hated the small school thing at first, but now, I THANK GOD my parents make me go there. The enviroment is so much different because the teachers actually care about us ( the students ) and we care about them and actually don't want to dissapoint them by failing. Also I tend to get better grades because the students I go to class with mostly get good grades ( not all of course but an overwhelming majority ) . It might not make sense to some of you but when your one of the ONLY kids in a particular class failing and other students asking you why you feel EMBARRASSED and WANT ( go figure ) to do better and the teachers are always there to help you with that. There are alot of my freinds that came from Fergus and there is alot of BEHIND THE SCENES STUFF you adults don't here about. At Underwood this stuff happens far less, if not at all. It really makes you want to learn and go to school when you can laugh and have fun during every class with the teachers THEMSELVES when they are teaching. Of course Underwood IS NOT PERFECT BUT I CAN NEVER THINK OF GOING TO A BETTER SCHOOL B/C I CAN'T IMAGINE ONE THAT IS BETTER.
THIS A STUDENTS OPINION
Posted by Mom41 (anonymous) on January 29, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a friend of Mom41 who does not currently have an email address so I am commenting under her username. I am the mother of the student who was taunted for over a year at the FFHS and the school continuelly turned it's back both on my son and us.(my husband and myself) In the course of the years time we had been to the school principle, activities director, 2 school liason officers, 2 school superintendents, school councelors, the school board and the local police even became involved. I even requested a new bullying policy be implemented. The policy was reveiwed
and changed. This makes no difference if the policy is not followed. In April of 2007 the same group of kids chose to burn my son on two yes I said TWO seperate occasions along with other students who happened to be friends of my sons.
This was the last straw. My son was in welding class the first time (no the lighter they burnt him with was not school property, it was brought in) and then the second time he was in Auto Tech 3rd year under a car working on the transmission with flammable fluids. If you think about this it will make you sick. What do you think could happen if a flammable fluid would catch on fire under a car in the school?When school ended that day my son came home to me without reporting the incident to the school because from his experience they would be of no help. He abd myself went back to the school immediatly to find the Liason Officer, Principal, Activities Director and the Vice Principal all unavailable. We were asked to wait 15 minutes until the Vice-Principal could finish up a meeting. How wonderful of them to take such action. After talking to the VP we returned home and called the city police. If you would like to read anything about this check the Halloween issue of the Daily Journal, Page 3. It took me from April until the Halloween issue to get anything published. Thank You new EDITOR for taking us seriously and finally publishing part of what happened to my son. Thank You Someplace Safe for all the help you gave us in processing the restraining orders and in court. I am only telling a small portion of our story because it will take forever to start at the beginning. I am meeting with the school board again in a work session on Feb. 11th after the televised meeting. If anyone has a story they would like me to tell just let me know. I plan on attending the live meeting also, if anyone fells strongly about the bullying issue I encourage you to also be present for the board to see. We need to take a stand for our children. Thank Goodness my son has graduated and gone on to College. But I have 2 more that need to finish their education here. I will not let the school system WIN. DJ
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