Opinion: Brookfield Parent Speaks Out About 'Sibling Preference' at AIS

Written by Shari Styranovski

BROOKFIELD, CT--

"I am writing to request reconsideration and an explanation, for the removal of Sibling Preference for the Danbury families that attend the WCAIS school. When I look for a reason, to upset the exceptional community at this school, I'm expecting the response to include; 'to allow a greater number of individual families from Danbury to attend.'

I am writing to you, with nothing to gain or loose, but I do have a lot of insight. I live in Brookfield, and have triplet girls in the 3rd grade at AIS. I bought a home in Brookfield, because the schools are very good. Before moving to Brookfield, I was a middle school science teacher in NYC for many years, eight of which I spent as a Union Representative, and I had the fortunate experience to be able to be a long term substitute teacher at the wonderful Westside Academy.

Here is what I know... My children have had/ are getting an exceptional, well rounded education at AIS, But it's not magic! There is no Fairy Dust sprinkled on the building. It's hard work! There is no smaller class size, increased services or money to give this school an advantage. All the wonderful things that go on at AIS are because the administration, teachers, students and families, have formed a community that is supportive... a family. The staff at AIS believes in enhancing life experiences, for a basis for the retention of knowledge. When teachers are interviewed for positions in AIS, Dr. Nitowski is sure to inform applicants, that in order to expose our students to experiences that will make them well rounded, it might take time away from learning, and they would need to work extra hard to make sure all materials and learning takes place. I can give you so many examples, but just to name a few.

Dr. Nitowski, each morning, stands outside and greets each student as they enter the building. She has "Student of the Month" luncheons each month, with a hand full of students, and talks with each of them as individual people. Mrs. Aponte, the school secretary, handles EVERYTHING! The parents have a schedule, where they volunteer 1 day a week, to sit in the office for 1 hour, so Mrs. Aponte can leave her desk for lunch and the phones will still be answered. Many of the teachers not only show up, but participate in ALL the evening activities, plays, concerts, art shows etc. When a teacher has a great idea, all the other staff members 'buy in' and take the time to make it a school wide effort, such as "Hello Week," "Ben's Bells," Field Day, Valentines Day, Bed Time Stories where they came in PJs.

When they change "Continents of Study," each student in the school displays a theme related piece of art to decorate the halls and parents come in to hang them on display for everyone to see, etc. As these activities are happening in this school, the teachers ask the parents for help. I have volunteered to: Hang Artwork, Hang Continent Study Extensions, Garden, Make a Scavenger Hunt, Monitor Students on Field Day, replace library books to their rightful place on the library shelves, teach a guest science lesson, and run a Junior Achievement program.

Last year, the students put on a play written by Mrs. Woodruff. Dr. Nitowski, came each night and played herself, Mrs. LaValley played a fairy AND Mrs. Bosworth, created the set with students. Mr. Hauser played his guitar (and they are only at AIS 3 days a week!). Mrs. Teagarden, the school Nurse, made the costumes. A parent trained students to be escorts, and printed Playbills. The amount of fundraising the school PTO does, affords the students many of these opportunities, as well as scholarships for those who cannot afford paid programs such as Natures Classroom. These monies and fundraising efforts will need to be split, if families are split between different schools.

The International Studies component, is a curriculum written by the staff, and there are additions and changes made each year as they discuss it. Mrs. Dyer has worked very hard to bring a gardening program to AIS, with a Master Gardener, but for it to work, each teacher brings their class to the Garden each week to learn, care for and plant, in the garden. The PTO raises money to purchase the materials needed, and parents volunteer to help with these gardening classes, AND volunteer to maintain the garden during the summer months.

Mrs. Dyer and Mrs. Woodruff bring in Therapy Dogs for the students to read to each week. There is no cost for this; just their time! Mr. Calvanese participates in every fundraiser as an MC, and will return your emails almost immediately until very late in the evening. He created a power point presentation to teach parents how to do the new Common Core math! Each year my daughters have been in the school, their teachers have planned wonderful Earth Day Activities. One is better than the next! I cannot wait to see what they do this year! Again... None of this is magic! It takes time and dedication. Any school can implement these programs if they want to take the time and collaboration to do so. This should be Danbury's goal for the future!

Because I am a mother of multiples, I have done a lot of research on Sibling Preference for my own family. I have learned quite a bit... CARLA (Center For Advanced Research On Language Acquisition) have documented that a "Lack of Sibling Preference fragments parent support and erodes commitment to programs in a number of ways: 1- Parent Involvement, 2- Attrition, 3- Materials due to donations/ fundraising, 4- Parent Time and Support, 5- Fostering Cultural Goals which requires a family commitment, and 6- Sibling Expectations." (carla.umn.edu). Because I have multiples, I have researched studies on separating multiples in school.

Psychology today has published a study that specifically states " The bond between twins cannot be mistakenly divided: an attempt to divide them artificially will focus their attention on the separation rather than what needs to be learned." (David A. Hay & Pat Preedy, (2006). “Meeting the Educational Needs of Multiple Birth Children,” Early Human Development, 82, 397-403.) The latest studies over the last 10 years have even showed that multiples should stay in the same class until age 6. By eliminating Sibling Preference, many parents of multiples will be faced with a difficult decision if both of their multiples are not accepted.

I can't help but wonder, how many Kindergarten students are we really talking about? Instead of possibly disrupting this dynamic balance, by revoking the sibling privilege, I think your time would be best spent, learning from the staff at AIS, and implementing some of their practices in the other elementary schools in Danbury.

According the numbers, from last years lottery numbers taken from the Danbury Board of Education Minutes, there were 664 Lottery applications, and 573 were from Danbury. According to data over the last 3 years, the number of 'siblings' filling Kindergarten seats ranged from 14 to 19 of the 43 seats for Danbury residents, which is between 30%-47% of the Kindergarten seats. If 'Sibling Preference' were removed, the Danbury community would increase their chances of getting a seat in Kindergarten by 2.4%-3.1% because siblings would still be allowed to enter the lottery. That would increase their chances of getting 0-1 additional seats, than with the sibling preference in place. I've done the math! This number is negligible! Is it worth disrupting the stellar community this school has created, for a handful of additional seats?

If the dynamics of this school is disrupted, it will take years to recreate it. You will take a "2014/2015 Connecticut Outstanding Elementary School of the Year", and make the possibility to win that award again, a harder goal. In my opinion, Danbury should do everything in their power to maintain this school of excellence, and use it as a model for the rest of the schools in the district. Hire Foreign Language teachers for each elementary school, as most school districts in the area are now doing, and find a passion to promote amongst your other elementary schools, as AIS is doing."

--Shari Styranovski, Brookfield, Conn.

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