Woodside School faces decision on building new classrooms Woodside School faces decision on building new classrooms (February 16, 2005)

** Elementary district will also focus on middle-school and character education, new board president says.

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

The new president of the governing board of the Woodside Elementary School District is Bettina Pike, a former Wall Street investment banker who has left that world behind and now has four children -- including two children from a previous marriage -- in the district's one school.

Ms. Pike, 38, came to the board in 2001. Her term expires this year. The Almanac interviewed her recently to learn the board's priorities and concerns for 2005.

The board is keeping one eye on the state budget process, but Woodside Elementary School is in good shape financially and academically, said Ms. Pike.

A couple of issues did come to the fore:

** The 16 temporary buildings serving as classrooms need to be replaced with permanent structures.

** The district is focusing on grades 6-8 in response to competitive pressures from middle schools in the area.

** A new program in "character education" is attempting to address a slight increase in bullying on campus.
New facilties?

Over the past 11 years, officials have planned -- off and on -- to replace the 16 temporary buildings on the Woodside campus, but fourth- and fifth-graders are still attending classes there.

With leaking roofs and access ramps that have been costly to maintain, many of these structures are now past their prime.

The aging buildings, coupled with drainage problems on the playing fields and around campus, are reason enough for the board to be considering another construction bond campaign, said Ms. Pike.

A bond proposal is likely, but first the district must determine the cost of replacing the temporary buildings and fixing the drainage problems, said Ms. Pike.

A consultant estimated the district's capacity for bond indebtedness at $15 million.

Voters rejected a $10.2-million bond measure in 1998, but approved a $5 million bond in 1999. That money, combined with private donations of about $7.5 million, bought a new gym, six new classrooms and the conversion of Sellman Auditorium to a performing arts venue.
Middle-school focus

Students who want to go to a private high school sometimes leave a public middle school before eighth-grade. They sign up for a private middle school to improve their chances of getting into that school's high school.

Having siblings at the private high school also tends to improve a student's chances of getting one of the scarce spots.

In response to this situation, Woodside is focusing more on grades 6-8, said Ms. Pike. The classrooms for these students are grouped together, the students eat lunch together, and the teachers meet regularly and work exclusively in the middle school.

"We have every intention of being as strong a choice as the private schools in the area," said Ms. Pike. Woodside graduates who want to attend private high schools do get in, she added.
Building character

Character education has been an informal program at Woodside for some time, but now assistant principal Bob Sherman, in cooperation with a middle school teacher and the school counselor, will teach a formal life-skills class.

The district surveys parents periodically, said Ms. Pike. In the latest poll, the question "Has your child ever felt bullied?" drew a response that was "slightly higher" than normal.

There had been a few isolated incidents, though not during recess or lunchtime, said Ms. Pike. "It was higher than we found acceptable. I think that sort of started the ball rolling in terms of what can we be doing."

The new program emphasizes tolerance, acceptance, inclusion, and how to interact on a day-to-day basis, she added.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.