School Board: Informal Meeting Tackles Declining Enrollment, Seeks to Spotlight District Programs

School trustees, parents, teachers and principals were invited to Mountain Shadows Education Center Tuesday night to talk informally about turning the school district around. It's that Cotati-Rohnert Park faces . Schools , programs cut.

But the mood Tuesday night was upbeat. About 35 stakeholders hashed out the biggest issues — how to keep students in the district, showcasing programs already in place, such as expeditionary learning at Lawrence E. Jones Middle School, special study "pathways" at Rancho Cotate, including technology, the environment and music, and what it would take to lower class sizes.

"What do other schools have that we don't," said Trustee Andrew Longmire. "Is there something specific that's driving students and families away?"

Superintendent Robert Haley said there's no doubt that class sizes and interdistrict transfers are related.

"We know parents are leaving to go to other school districts because class sizes are lower," Haley said. "The most important thing in our school district, for me, is keeping families and students enrolled here."

Others grappled with what they called "low morale" amongst teachers, being afraid they'll get moved or laid off becuase of budget cuts.

"There's often conversations about how hard things are — it creates a mood," said Gaylene Rosaschi, the principal of Evergreen Elementary. "They're doing a great job in the classrooms, but they're scared."

Teachers and parents also said what was needed are things like after-school programs, access to grades and homework online and a focus on publicizing sports, arts and music programs.

"We need a place where kids can just go to do homework," said Abel Moya, a local parent.

Other ideas for increasing district enrollment include:

• Increase student achievement and API scores.
• Lowering class sizes.
• Creating a charter or magnet school.
• Re-open La Fiesta Elementary.
• Creating online classes at the high school level.
• Marketing to local businesses, preschools and within the district.
• Partnering with Sonoma State University.
• Creating a stronger relationship between the City of Rohnert Park, the City of Cotati, Sonoma State and the district.

See our video to the right — it provides a snapshot of what the community had to say at the two-hour meeting.