Trenton's Schools of Choice Decision Sparks Debate Among Patch Readers

Officials at Trenton Public Schools voted in favor of continuing limited open enrollment Monday night.

Trenton Public Schools will remain a schools of choice district for the 2013-14 school year and some Patch readers have mixed feelings regarding the decision. Officials voted in favor of continuing limited open enrollment Monday night. The district will allow students from outside districts, that meet specific criteria, to apply to enroll in kindergarten and sixth, seventh and ninth grades. The district is offering ten openings for kindergarten, 15 openings for sixth grade, two openings for seventh grade and 30 openings for ninth grade. Trenton-Grosse Ile Patch readers expressed mixed feelings about the decision on the Trenton-Grosse Ile Patch Facebook page and on the article published following the meeting. Patch readers said: What do you…

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Will Trenton Be a Schools of Choice District Next Year?

Nearly one year ago Trenton Public Schools became a limited schools of choice district for the first time.

Trenton Board of Education members voted in favor of continuing limited schools of choice for the 2013-14 school year Monday night. Trenton will allow for limited open enrollment for new kindergarten, sixth and ninth grade students, and siblings of current schools of choice students. When the decision was made to allow limited open enrollment for the first time in April 2012 the district was to open to 20 kindergartners, 10 first graders and 30 ninth graders living outside Trenton. At the start of the 2012-13 school year, six kindergartners, three first graders and nine ninth graders from outside districts began classes at Trenton Public Schools. Of the 18 enrolled at the start of the school year, 16 currently remain in the district. The …

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How is Schools of Choice Going at Trenton Public Schools?

There are currently 16 students enrolled in Trenton Public Schools from outside districts. Find out how things are going in this schools of choice update.

Trenton Board of Education members voted in favor of making Trenton Public Schools a limited schools of choice district in April 2012 and the district took on 18 students from outside districts to start the 2012-13 school year. Despite many concerns raised by community members and Trenton-Grosse Ile Patch readers, the schools of choice students have performed much the same as the majority of students living in the district. Superintendent Rod Wakeham explained the new students' progress, so far, at Monday's Trenton Board of Education meeting. District officials opened 60 seats for schools of choice: 20 seats in kindergarten, 10 seats in first grade and 30 seats in ninth grade. Of the 60 seats, just 22 students showed interest in filling …

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Trenton Board of Education President Continues to Back Schools of Choice

Trenton Board of Education President Mike Hawkins said having schools of choice now in place can help the district lower class sizes.

Trenton Board of Education President Continues to Back Schools of Choice

Trenton Board of Education President Mike Hawkins said having schools of choice now in place can help the district lower class sizes.

It was announced officially Monday at the Trenton Board of Education meeting that 23 new out-of-district students are registered for school this fall. The extra students result from an April 16 decision by the board, which voted 6-1 to made Trenton a limited open enrollment schools of choice district. Following that decision, one of the main criticisms was that allowing schools of choice would create overcrowded classrooms in Trenton. But Board President Mike Hawkins said Monday that having limited open enrollment in place should actually do the opposite. Revenue gained per new pupil will allow for additional teachers to be hired, Hawkins said, therefore having students split into smaller groups to learn. “The goal was to bring in students…

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Board Members to Discuss Schools of Choice Enrollment Tonight

The decision to allow for limited open enrollment was made on April 16.

Trenton Board of Education members are expected to discuss schools of choice enrollment at tonight's regularly scheduled board of education meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the board of education building. The final day for registration for schools of choice students was June 1. There were 34 applications mailed out to prospective students including eight kindergartners, six first graders and 20 ninth graders according to the superintendent's report available on the Trenton Public Schools website. Of the 34 applications mailed out, 23 students registered including eight kindergartners, four first graders and 11 ninth graders. This is the first year Trenton Public Schools have adopted the schools of choice policy. The decision to allow for…

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Budget Projections Show Possible Continued Need for Schools of Choice in Trenton

Budget projections for the coming years leave Trenton Public Schools with a need for additional revenue.

Trenton School Board President Responds to Readers' Questions on Schools of Choice

Trenton Patch spoke with Trenton Board of Education President Mike Hawkins to clear the air about a few lingering questions regarding limited open enrollment.

Trenton School Board President Responds to Readers' Questions on Schools of Choice

Trenton Patch spoke with Trenton Board of Education President Mike Hawkins to clear the air about a few lingering questions regarding limited open enrollment.

Many Trenton Patch readers have been vocal about the Trenton Board of Education's recent decision to make Trenton a schools of choice district. Students from other districts are now allowed to attend Trenton schools for kindergarten and first and ninth grades. The district will accept up to 20 kindergartners, 10 first-graders and 30 ninth-graders. Since Monday's decision, readers have begun a heated conversation on Trenton Patch and the Trenton Patch Facebook page. Among the comments were issues regarding overcrowding, discipline, sports and taxes. Mike Hawkins, president of the Trenton Board of Education, spoke to Trenton Patch editor Nate Stemen on Wednesday to answer questions and dispel misconceptions about limited open enrollment. …

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adam sullivan

8:28 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012

sounds like if we don't have the kids to fill the classrooms we need to make cuts, every other industry had to make tough cuts to make them more competitive. staff how many teachers we need, not bring in kids to fill a quota and cash in the check. teachers are no different, its a job and thats all. maybe they need to implement a 30 and out rule for teachers and get rid of high paid teachers like …   more ›